First of all, Atticus is one of my all time favorite names. I don’t even think I had a chance to tell them what a cool name it is, so I’m going to do it publicly on this blog 🙂
Anyway, I was actually supposed to photograph baby Atticuses birth. His mom and I met for coffee, we got along great, she paid the deposit, signed contracts and everything was ready to go.
One small problem: I was due just 4 weeks after her. I had never gone early before, so I thought we’d be fine. And as her due date was approaching, I was confidant that I’d be 100% capable of shooting Baby A’s birth.
Then her due date passed. It passed by a week.
Then it passed by almost two weeks.
I was worried.
At that point, I contacted Atticuses mama and told her I needed to get a backup photographer. I just didn’t think it would be feasible for me to shoot a birth at 37-38 weeks pregnant. She decided that she was pretty uncomfortable and a backup photographer wasn’t necessary, she said it was okay if I didn’t do it, her friend would take photos instead. She was super understanding, but I felt awful. Well, in the end it worked out for the best, because our babies ended up being born just a little over a week apart! It would have been pretty stressful for both of us I think.
But, here’s the part that ties in with this mini-session. I had kept her birth deposit, despite the fact that I was the one who cancelled. In the madness of 3rd trimester, I didn’t really think about how that wasn’t what I’d normally do. Usually if I miss a birth or cancel a session (never and never — other that this one), the deposit is refunded. It was my fault, so why should they be punished? But I wasn’t thinking straight… 9 months pregnant and tired, remember? lol. So I kept it.
A few months after giving birth, I was out of the newborn fog and suddenly felt this huge weight on my shoulders for keeping their deposit. I kept thinking, ‘they could have used that money for their new baby!’ I know, this is probably not the best way to do business, but I’m a person before a businesswoman and my conscience weighs heavily. So, I thought to myself ‘maybe I should offer them a complimentary mini-session to make up for that lost deposit?’
And I am SO happy that they took me up on it!
It goes without saying that Baby A is a handsome little dude and super smiley too, but check him out in that carriage!!! It is so gorgeous. Love that they brought it along.
Such sweet smiles!