Friday, September 23, 2016

Stephanie | George M. Sutton Wilderness Park | Norman, OK Maternity Photographer | Michelle Valantine Photography

I received a message on a Sunday evening from a past client asking if I could fit her in that week for a maternity shoot?  She was already 37-weeks pregnant (I usually try to do maternity shoots around the 33rd week).  But she received this golden opportunity from her step-mom, who was in the process of scrapbooking, and realized she didn't have any pictures of Stephanie's second pregnancy.  I came to the rescue, and by that Friday afternoon, we were immersed in golden sunlight in a field of grass and wildflowers.  With a blue sky over our heads and the sun playing peek-a-boo behind big white billowy clouds, we spent the next hour capturing fleeting moments of time as her son sat, stood, pointed, walked, squatted, ran, played peek-a-boo, climbed and jumped!   She describes him as sweet and tender, a little boy who loves to give hugs and kisses.  "He is going to make a wonderful older brother," she exclaimed.  Yes, I quite agree.  And I think you will, too, when you see him.  Set at one of my very favorite parks, George M. Sutton Wilderness Park, on a late summer afternoon, the sun's golden light cast a magical glow, making Stephanie even more radiant than she already is.

One of the first things I noticed about a 2-year old is their sense of sound.  Together we talked about the passing ambulance with lights, the loud motorcycle, "Daddy" (a police car), and an airplane.  Then I noticed his sense of sight.  Together we examined my bag with zoo animals:  "a bear, tiger, elephant, flamingo, lion, giraffe."  Then I noticed his sense of adventure.  I had brought a small wooden stool with me, which to my surprise was not for sitting as much as it was for jumping (which you will see below)!  

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these two, and I think you will, too...


2-year old boy sits on his mom's lap talking about his new little brother who will be here soon. They are sitting on the ground with trees and a sunlit field glowing in the background.

2-year old son gives his mom a hug; she enjoys his snuggles as they sit on the ground, with trees and a sunlit field glowing in the background.

At 37-weeks, she holds her son in her arms as he sits atop her belly. Trees and a beautiful sunlit field glow in the background.

She says her 2-year old son enjoys giving hugs and kisses to her and baby brother. It's mommy's turn for a kiss. Trees and a beautiful field glows in the sunlight behind them.

Sitting atop her 37-week pregnant belly, he leans towards his mom for a kiss on the cheek. Trees and a beautiful field glowing in the sunlight is behind them.

Close-up view of 37-week pregnant mom holding 2-year old son.

37-week pregnant mom puts socks and shoes on her 2-year old son who is sitting on a stool. A beautiful field glows in the afternoon sunlight behind them.

2-year old son tenderly kisses mom's 37-week pregnant belly; his version of giving baby brother a kiss. They have trees and a sunlit field glowing behind them.

She stands in a glowing field of grass and wildflowers lit by the setting sun. She's wearing a beautifully patterned coral colored dress, and at 37-weeks, her belly is full and round and beautiful.

She stands in a glowing field of grass and white wildflowers, holding her hands around her 37-week pregnant belly, looking down and talking to him, saying just how much she is looking forward to meeting her second son.

With the blue sky and billowy white clouds as the backdrop, a 37-week pregnant mom is lifting her son high up in the air, and the look on his face shows how much he loves to fly.

A moment in time capturing his curiosity. What does he see, as he points...something has drawn his attention. I bet this happens a million times on their walks together. "Wook! Wook what I found!" he calls to her. Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman, OK, on a late September afternoon. The perfect setting for walks with 2-year old boys who love adventure.

A moment in time capturing his curiosity. What does he see? Something has drawn his attention as he crouches down to take a closer look. I bet this happens a million times on their walks together. "Wook! Wook what I found!" he calls to her. Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman, OK, on a late September afternoon. The perfect setting for walks with 2-year old boys with bucket loads of curiosity and a love of adventure.

He is caught mid-flight as he runs towards me...a new skill he is quickly developing. The look on his face is pure anticipation and joy, "look what I can do! Here I come!" Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park located in Norman, OK, on a late summer afternoon. The field of grass contains him to moving straight towards me.

At 37-weeks pregnant, she is radiant and strong...and also a little tired. Not far behind her is her 2-year old son, who is eager to meet his younger brother. Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman, OK, on a later summer afternoon in 2016. She is wearing her favorite dress...it is almost as beautiful as she is.

She turns to look at her 2-year old son, who is looking off into the tall grass. I know he is contemplating playing hide and seek, because only moments later, that's exactly what he did! The curves of her hips and belly tell just how big 37-weeks is, and also how amazing she looks while doing it! Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park located in Norman, OK, on a warm late summer day in September 2016.

Canaan is his name. He is 2-years old. And he is mid-sentence telling me about a police car that just drove by. "Daddy!" he says. His father is a policeman. This is what he says when he sees a police car drive by with lights flashing. His eyes are as captivating as he was seeing "Daddy" drive by. Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman, OK, on a late summer afternoon in 2016.

The glow from the late afternoon sun is amazing on a late September day. Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman, OK, she is standing on a gravel path lined with tall grass. A beautiful spot for a lovely 37-week pregnant woman to be captured.

He is in mid-flight as he jumps off the "highest thing he's ever jumped from," according to Mom. He saw my stool and immediately knew what to do: he climbed on top and JUMPED! Mom is proudly standing by with a big smile on her face. Her little boy is growing...and very soon he will be a big brother. Set at George M. Sutton Wildernes Park in Norman, OK, the setting of grass with a lone tree and the low late afternoon sun glowing in the background, this is a beautiful setting for a materniy shoot. Or a boy jumping from a stool shoot.

I am very proud of this picture. I usually shoot wide open, so shots like this take intention for me. I saw that the sun was low in the sky, and BAM! I knew I wanted to make a starburst out of it. Now, what to ask them to do? Ahhh! He likes to give kisses to his younger brother, who is in Mom's 37-week tummy. So he leans over to kiss little brother, with a starburst in the sky between them. Love, love, love this picture. To me, the sun symbolizes baby's spirit, a part of Mom and a part of big brother. So beautiful. Set at George M. Sutton Wilderness Park in Norman, OK on a late summer's day in September. The perfect setting for the blue sky, the white billowy clouds, the tree, the grass, the boy standing on a stool leaning over to kiss Mom's belly.

 To see more shoots at this beautiful location, click HERE.  And to see more Maternity shoots, click HERE.

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Location: George M. Sutton Wilderness Park, 1920 12th Ave NE, Norman, OK 73071, USA

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