“As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized more and more the link I have to my parents. There is something spiritual in the connection I have with them — I seek guidance from them, wisdom from them, and direction when it seems like my life is at a standstill. Even after college, marriage, claiming independence and moving further away, there is nothing more refreshing than a quick phone call or that tender hug that pulls at my heart strings and makes me feel like a kid all over. Having a mother and a father that love me is something I hold so incredibly precious to me, and even more so as the years go on.”- Allison, Photographer

As for Miss Akia — you know the sort of person you just “click” with immediately? The kind that can carry on conversation like you’ve known each other for years and you feel comfortable enough with to laugh about any and all of the crazy things? When we first met, it was easy. To be honest, I couldn’t even tell that she was pregnant. But as it came up, there was a calmness about her and it became more evident that she may already have a young one at home (she did). She was comfortable and confident, and had a grace to her that hinted that she didn’t take life too terribly seriously. And when I found out that she was a photographer herself (a super talented one, at that!), I couldn’t help but become incredibly honored that she would consider me as the one to photograph the essence of her family and this beautiful chapter of life they are in, and to encourage me to do so with film.

When we scheduled a maternity session with her and her soon-to-be family of four at a local berry farm in Georgia, I began to see and understand the spiritual link that she had with this family that she has started on her own. There was a softness in the banter between she and her husband, Mike, a childlike quality in the way they both played with their first son. They goofed off and laughed amongst each other — and as we continued, I became so enthralled with this family and their precious dynamic. Little man picking grass and offering it to us as gifts, Akia and Mike exchanging smiles and getting so tickled by their son’s excitement at being tossed up in the air — and, although you could just feel the Georgian summer humidity that day, there was so much excitement and joy in the air that it trumped anything else. It was contagious, and I left their session so, so incredibly grateful for God to have given me this new friendship and examples of love in my life.

Now they’ve had their little boy since our session, and in following along with their progress, it is so evident that the love has grown even more for this family of four. They are so unbelievably grateful for their blessings, and it’s taught me in such a short amount of time how that spiritual bond of family just continues to grow as families do. It is such a beautiful life lesson this family has taught me and I am forever appreciative for the opportunity to get to know these wonderful people!

ALLISON PEDIGO PHOTOGRAPHY | Mamiya 645 Pro TL, 80mm 2.8, Porta 400, Canon 5d Mark II, 50mm 1.2
Venue:  Berry Batch Farms
Floral Arrangement: Alpharetta Flower Market