And Then There Were Three // Baby Beckham

There are some people you photograph once, and there are others whose lives you get lucky enough to keep documenting as the years move along. Jessica and Nathan fall into that second category for me, which made getting them in front of my camera with their sweet baby Beckham feel extra special. They’ve been part of my life for so long! Becoming a family of three changes the picture in ways that are hard to understand until you’re living it. Suddenly there is this tiny person at the center of everything, and you’re learning an entirely new version of each other right alongside learning him. That’s one of the reasons I love photographing new parents. Of course I want those sweet images of their baby, but I also want to remember Mom and Dad in this season.

This session didn’t need to be complicated. Beckham gave us plenty to work with just by being himself. The way his parents held him, looked at him and naturally settled in together told the story better than anything I could have staged. I think we naturally focus so much on the baby in newborn photos, but having Mom and Dad in the frame matters too. Someday Beckham will get to see how little he looked in his dad’s arms and the way his mom held him close. He’ll see what his family looked like when it was brand new and just how loved he was right from the beginning.

Those early months can also be a bit of a blur for parents. You’re figuring out sleep, feeding, routines and this whole new version of everyday life. Photographs have a wonderful way of giving some of those little moments back to you once the days aren’t moving quite so fast. That’s what I hope these photos become for this sweet family. Not only a way to remember how tiny Beckham was, but a reminder of the two people who were completely crazy about him from day one.

Welcome to the crew, Beckham. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of good chapters ahead.