Lennon Wilde // Los Angeles Birth Photography

The fire was crackling as I sat there in a lawn chair staring at the stars, and listening to some of my dearest friends laugh in the background. I soaked in the cool, crisp fall air and wished I could take it back to LA with me. The conversation shifted and a few of us started talking to Nikki about her due date, and if her and Chris had decided on the baby's name (they had, and it's the best...Lennon). Meanwhile, I got the idea in my head that I would come back to Calgary and do a birth story for Nikki. Me being me, I excitedly blurted out my idea. And while everyone got a good little laugh, I was shut down. Nikki teased that with the way her labors go, I would never make it there in time, and I agreed that it would be near impossible to plan. So, sadly, I let my new little dream go. A month later when Nikki messaged me about flying out there to do their newborn shoot I was all for it! I figured if I couldn't do a birth story for her this was the next best thing. So we planned it out, and booked my flight for what we assumed would be a week after baby Lennon was born. And as the days went by, that sweet little babe stayed in there. As Nikki started to worry about getting this kid out, I started bringing up the idea of me doing a birth story. I mean, I was going to be there in Canada after all so it would be awesome do to both, right?!? But Nikki wasn't having it. She laughed at me and I'm sure rolled her eyes a bit at my texts as I would bring it up here and there. And then there I was, standing outside in the frigid cold of what is known as Calgary, waiting to be picked up from the airport by a still very pregnant Nikki. The next couple of days came and went...still no baby. By this point there was a little bit of panic in all of us. As I got an email telling me it was time to check-in for my flight home, I thought there was a decent chance that not only would I go home the next day without being able to do her newborn shoot but I wouldn't be there for her birth story either. Luckily, baby Lennon really wanted to meet her honorary Aunt Lo ;) That night (my last night there), things started picking up for Nikki. We all went to bed with hopes that we would be up in a few hours to head to the hospital...and sure enough that's what happened. And since I had won Nikki over with doing a birth story (actually I think logic won her over...I mean, she flew a photographer from LA out she might as well get something while I was there), I excitedly grabbed my stuff and hopped into the car. Once we were at the hospital and knew that little Lennon was for sure on her way, we called and changed my flight so that I could stay and do her newborn shoot as well...yay! And then just like that, everything worked out. My little dream to do Lennon's birth story came true, and Nikki got the family newborn session she originally wanted. And then, as if that wasn't cool enough, Nikki's view on having a birth photographer totally changed. She loved it. And my birth photographer's heart exploded with happiness. You can read all about why she never wanted a birth photographer, here! I love Nikki and her sweet family. It means so much to me that she valued my work enough to fly me to Calgary to be there for such a sweet time in her family's life! And even more so, that she trusted me enough to let me photograph Lennon's birth even though she had hesitations. Here is a look at Lennon's birth and newborn session!