07/17/2026
This wasn’t just another maternity session.
In 2015, my friend Cassie lost her beautiful 4-month-old daughter, Karter, to leukemia. I still remember holding Karter. She was absolutely perfect, and I’ll never forget her.
I watched Cassie walk through something no mother should ever have to experience. I watched her navigate unimaginable heartbreak while continuing to love, show up, and be the incredible mother she is to her son and her subsequent daughters. Her strength, her resilience, and the way she has continued to carry so much love with her is something I have always admired.
Fast forward to this month, and I had the honor of photographing Cassie’s final pregnancy.
Throughout the session, rainbows kept appearing. It wasn’t until I got home and started editing that I realized how many images had Karter’s portrait tattoo with a rainbow perfectly behind it.
I don’t know how to explain moments like that. Maybe it was coincidence. Maybe it was a little reminder that Karter was there with us. 🪽
So no, this wasn’t just a maternity session… it was a celebration of a mother’s journey. My beautiful friend who has known unimaginable loss, endless love, and the joy of watching her family continue to grow. A reminder that even after the hardest storms, there can still be beautiful new beginnings. 🌈
