Oliver Newborn Film // Flagstaff Family Videographer

I love this family. I met L + K in a Flagstaff coffee shop in early 2019 to talk about filming the birth of their baby girl. They were so excited and bubbly. A few months later, I sat in the hospital waiting room with my cameras, when I was told the unimaginable news that baby girl Lennon had died. Since then, I’ve thought about Lennon, L + K every single day. I’ve watched them grieve with so much vulnerability, strength, and sadness. After heartache that I can’t begin to understand, infertility, and an anxiety ridden pregnancy, little Oliver was born. I knew I wanted to gift them a home film, and being in their home was a beautiful experience. I could feel Lennon’s spirit and I have so much hope that she was there welcoming her baby brother home and comforting her parents.

Sweet Baby James {Flagstaff newborn videographer}

This is an incredible family. They have five biological children of their own, but started to strongly feel that someone was missing from their family, and more specifically, that they should adopt a child with Down Syndrome. After lots of preparation and waiting, James came to their family through the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network. The birth parents and the adoptive parents both decided that he should be named James.

As the adopted parents flew across the country, they could not get the song “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor out of their head. The adopted father was constantly whistling and humming the tune on the plane, in the hospital, and as he held him those first times. After filming this wonderful family, they asked if I could use James Taylor’s song in their film. I said we could contact him, but licensing songs from such well known musicians is often difficult and costly. Amazingly, after a heartfelt email from the family to James Taylor, James Taylor said yes.

I have to say that James Taylor has been phenomenal. He shared the film on his Instagram, bringing wonderful attention to the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network. He also sent the family an autographed copy of his children’s book “Sweet Baby James”.

During a global pandemic and a time of intense turmoil, it was so wonderful to be a part of this sweet family’s journey and share the love. So many people commented on my post and James Taylor’s post about how encouraging it was to see such loving, selfless people in the world. I think we are all craving some good news.

Click here to read this family’s incredible story.

Newborn Family Film // Ivy {Flagstaff Family Videographer}

Filming newborn family sessions is one of my absolute favorite things to do. And every time I cry. Seriously- there is nothing like a newborn. Often on social media, you see hospital newborn shoots. These are lovely too, but definitely not for everybody. In this film, Ivy was close to a month old, everyone was a bit more relaxed, and it was wonderful. There is no wrong or right way to document this time! I am still over the moon for this family and can’t wait to see how much she’s grown during quarantine!!

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