“I owned a photography business for 7 years before transitioning my career to become a flight attendant. I may have retired from the business, but the special place in my heart for photography never left.

At a young age, I learned the impact of a photograph. In the early 2000s, FaceTime and social media did not exist. If I wanted to feel “connected”, I pulled out my mom’s 4×6 prints. Treasured memories, family members that lived states away, or a grandfather I had never met..seemed to feel closer to my heart when I pulled out those photos.

Even today, I can still feel the sadness of having to wait for the film to be developed. Dropping off a roll of film at Target for 10 days felt like 10 years. But oh the excitement of going to pick up the prints. I would hurriedly grab the envelope to see if “they turned out”. Ha! How times have changed!

The little girl inside of me hasn’t changed much regarding nostalgia. As simple as it is, photos take me back. They just do. I am not a hoarder of things, I am a hoarder of moments. I say moments instead of memories because a memory sometimes seems a little too grand for me. It’s the mundane-doesn’t probably matter-moments that speak to me. Photos help me relive that time in my life over and over again.

This is why choosing a photographer is very personal to me. The way light is captured matters. The grain of the photo matters. The angle matters. The colors matter. You can’t put a filter on reality. When I look back at a photo, I want to relive the moment as authentically as possible.

What I envision in the “perfect” photo is what Candace creates, effortlessly. Before choosing a photographer for my maternity session I knew there were countless photographers in the DFW metroplex. However, I wanted to start a relationship that was local. I knew that many new seasons of life would begin once our baby arrived. I wanted her to capture each and every one of those seasons. I am grateful for her willingness.

These photographs are important to me because they remind me that God is faithful. My thought-life during this session (17 days away from giving birth) could be summed up in three words: excited but fearful. I questioned, what would delivery look like? Would I be a good mom? How would I deal with postpartum?

After Willa Wren Long entered the world, these photos took on a new meaning. My fears were big, but God was bigger. I knew nothing about babies or parenting, but the Lord led every step of the way. 2 Corinthians 12:11 states, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” This verse truly came alive for me. I was weak, but He was strong.

 

Some of the best advice I have ever been given was by my mother-in-law, “Hannah, when I had my boys…I gave them to God. I told them they were His and asked for His protection over their lives. That released me of fear and worry over their lives.” That advice stunned me at the ripe age of 16. Worry was a big part of my life. I didn’t know life could exist without worry. So I began to pray about it. I would pray for my future children almost a decade before I would actually ever have a baby.

Motherhood to me is all about intention. The way I parent Willa Wren today affects the way she will live the rest of her life. It takes deep reflection to be an intentional mother. Intentionality in motherhood is shown through small, but mighty acts repeated over and over again. The way I respond to her, the atmosphere within our home, how I manage my time, the way I treat my husband (her dad!), the boundaries I set, how I discipline, the quality time I spend with her and the influences I surround her with are just a few. The list is endless.

Though I fail daily at being an intentional mom, I have a desire always in mind of what kind of mother I want to be for Willa Wren. I am not perfect (and never will be). Jesus Christ set the example and I pray daily that He would impact Willa through my words and actions for the rest of her life!” Hannah, Expectant Mother

 

“It was a joy to spend the evening getting to know Hannah and Koby.  Hannah had a beautiful vision for her session and it was so fun getting to bring it to life. We chose two locations for this session to give the gallery variety.  Our first location was a private home that belonged to a friend of my client.  The painted white brick with dark accents created a beautiful, timeless backdrop for the first set of images.  For the second half of our session, we drove just a few minutes to a park in the heart of town.  It features open fields and a small lake.

Being a mother is the hardest, most wonderful role I have ever been blessed to have.  Ultimately, I trust that the work I am doing every day (and night) in my home with my children is the most important work I’ll ever do.  These little immortal souls that have been placed in my care drive me crazy and in the same breath fill me with such love I never knew my heart could hold.  I am forever grateful for the gifts that are my two wild, brave little boys.” Candace, Photographer 

 

CANDACE PAIR
Additional Vendors:  Film Processed By | PhotoVision