***This is a super long winded post, I’d say sorry in advance, but I promise all the sweet images of Beckham make up for it;)****
Here is a timeline of the past few years:: In 2007 I was attending Lipscomb University to pursue a degree in nursing or to be a teacher. After my first year of college, and not being able to figure out which one I would love more, I decided to take a break. In Fall of 2008 I went to Cosmetology school, as I had always enjoyed hair and makeup. Fickle much??? I became a licensed Cosmetologist, and thought cosmetology was the path where my life was leading me. In 2010 while I was pregnant with Rylan, I received a DSLR, took a camera class, and LOOOVVVVEEDD playing with my camera. After Rylan was born, I just wanted to keep trying to take better and better pictures of him. ALL. OF. THE. TIME. I always had a love for photography, but never thought about it as a profession for myself…
There have been two times in my life where I have thought to myself “WOW. This is why God has put me on Earth and this is exactly what I am suppose to be doing with my life.”
I hadn’t planned to have children until quite a few years down the road, so after finding out I was having a baby at age 21, I was very interested to see how I would adjust to new mommy life!! Would I be any good at it?? When Rylan was probably around 3 weeks old, I was laying down staring at his perfect face and all his tiny flaky fingers and toes.. sailing on cloud 9.”WOW, I am so meant to be a mom!!! This is absolutely incredible!!!” My heart had never been so full and I had never felt like I had more purpose in life than I did at that very moment!!!! After questioning God’s timing, God showed me that he indeed knew what he was doing and that being a mom was exactly what I was meant to do.
Next up, back in April 2011..exactly 2 years ago, My teacher from Cosmetology school Mrs. Hoolihan e-mails me. Her daughter Amber was having a baby, and there was a possibility that Amber’s birth photographer would be out of town. Mrs. Hoolihan asked if I would be interested in photographing the birth. I had just *really* started getting more into photography, so I really did not know much about birth photography. I decided to take Mrs. Hoolihan up on the challenge and was getting pretty excited about *possibly* being able to photograph a birth!! As luck would have it, Amber went into labor while her photographer was out of town, and I was able to be apart of one of the most incredible moments of my life. I was there to to witness and capture the moments of Loralei making her entrance into the world. This is where my second “WOW, this is why God has put me on Earth and this is exactly what I am suppose to be doing with my life.” moment came in.I knew right then I was meant to be a photographer. I was meant to capture these moments for parents to treasure for the rest of their life. To get the first breathe, the first cry, the first moments all on ‘film’.
One of the most AWESOME things about my life, is that I get to keep living in those “WOW” moments over and over all of the time. I am constantly reminded of how I am meant to be a mom and how special motherhood is while I am watching my son grow each and everyday. I still get those “WOW” moments every birth I photograph, every newborn I cuddle, and every little kiddo I get to chase after. I am truly truly blessed. While it would seem that God took me the long route in life to get me discover my true passion, each pitstop served it’s own purpose and I am ever so thankful.
Births are absolutely my favorite ‘thing’ to photograph. I do not accept very many, as being on call can be very difficult since I have a small child. Each and every birth is SOOO very dear to my heart, and the families become like my own.
I say all of that to introduce you to Beckham. Seriously, nothing compares to being able to be apart of this special time when 2 people become 3 and a whole new journey begins.
On a Monday afternoon
I get a text from Katie saying she was headed to the hospital, and that she would update me when she arrived. After a few hours, her labor had not progressed so she was sent home. I get a text later Monday night saying she is back in the hospital and they are keeping her this time!! WOOOHOOOO!!! A few days over her due date, I knew Katie and Billy were ready to meet their little man!!!
**When photographing a birth, I asked the parents to contact me on the way to the hospital, and then again at 4cm and active labor but they can feel free to keep me updated**
Around 7am Tuesday, I received a voicemail from the dad to be saying Katie had been just been put on pitocin and that she had quickly dilated from like a 2 to 6 in no time.. After hearing this I was *sure* I wasn’t going to be able to make it from Smyrna to Franklin in time to meet Beckham. I literally ran out the door to find a winter blizzard..IN THE MONTH MARCH. So now I am having to de-ice my car, warm it up, all while panicking about what would normally be a 40 minute drive, would now be turning into who knows how long due to the snow.
I luckily arrived to the hospital in time, as Katie was taken off pitocin since her and Beckham’s heart rate did not agree with it. (which worked out great for photos sake!!)
*Contraction Times*
Seriously could a laboring woman be anymore beautiful!?!?!
We decided to take guesses on Beckham’s birth time!!
Last sleep they will get for a while 😉
Here were a few of Beckham’s awesome Welcoming squad!!!
At 1:08 this sweet boy entered the world!
(Guess who was the closest to his birth time!!! 😉 )
I have *always* wanted to get photos while they do the footprints, but it is usually done in the nursery! Was very happy that I got to capture this!
Another RRP first!! I got to photograph the first bath!! Love Williamson Medical Center!
Beckham’s dad had NEVER held a newborn before. Saving that special moment for his own! 🙂
Rylan’s Riches Photography specializes in newborn, birth, maternity, child, baby and family photography in Nashville, TN and surrounding areas including but not limited to Murfreesboro, Mt. Juliet, Lebanon, Brentwood, Franklin, Smyrna and Cool Springs.
