Kaitlyn + Wes - A Polaroid Pregnancy Announcement at the Indianapolis Zoo's White River Gardens

Announcing their Pregnancy with Polaroids

Kaitlyn has been a precious friend of mine for a few years now (feels so weird to say). We met via the magic of social media + I think I knew right then she was someone I’d quickly grow to love. Our friendship has consisted of coffee dates, the realization that we both are huge Heidi Gibson fangirls, creative inspiration, and following one another’s artistic journeys. So you can probably imagine how excited I was when she became the first person to take me up on an all polaroid experience. Yes, you read that correctly. A session consisting only of the magic that comes from a vintage Polaroid 600 camera + the proper accompanying film.

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel bizarre leaving my home while my big boy dslr’s were left to fend for themselves. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, but in the best way possible. Upon arriving to meet Kaitlyn and Wes, I quickly admitted to them that this was the first time in a long time I was feeling anxious before a photo session. A feeling that once upon a time took over my body before every shoot. At the risk of sounding too cheesy, it’s because I care so much + I really do just want the best results for my clients. You all trust me with your life’s most wondrous moments and I do not take that lightly.

But here’s the thing about instant film — it has a mind of its own. If you’ve never had the chance to play around with capturing moments via polaroids, you might not understand what I mean. There are so many moving parts that go into making sure a polaroid exposes correctly + develops to be its best. Temperature matters. Light matters. Avoiding scratches matters. And that’s all just for starters.

So a huge shout out to Wes and Kaitlyn for allowing me to put it all to the test! I am over the moon happy for you both. We created some real magic in the Indianapolis Zoo’s beautiful White River Gardens. During the summer months it serves as a breathtaking home to countless butterflies, but on this cold winter day the three (oh I mean four) of us had it all to ourselves. I know baby Kirkwood is already so SO loved.

I knew going into the session that I wanted to attempt a double exposure, something I personally never had done with my instant film gear. When I set this shot up I knew what I was going after with the composition. I had envisioned a more solemn side profile of them together + my intention was to layer it with the texture of vibrant plants. It so happened that the plant I was most drawn towards for this cause was the Bougainville you see layered over the portrait of Kaitlyn and Wes. A plant I soon found out is commonly grown in Southern California where Kaitlyn is from. To her this plant is nostalgic and a charming reminder of where she’s from. A tidbit I was not aware of when I shot this double exposure — now that’s serendipity at it’s finest.

“My husband and I wanted to announce our pregnancy in an intimate and nostalgic way that felt like moments in time. Polaroids definitely capture that essence, and Loreal is such a talent behind the camera. We truly believe that both forces combined created such a special memory that we are forever grateful for! We were comfortable and the photoshoot was fun and carefree. There’s something that happens when you’re shooting polaroid vs. DSLR — we didn’t overthink our poses and didn’t spend time trying to capture the “perfect shot”. The beauty is in the imperfections! This service was by far one of the best we have ever experienced. Polaroids are such timeless relics and we can’t wait to share these with our children. Thank you Loreal!”

— Kaitlyn + Wes

I’m happy to say that every single polaroid we took made it’s way here. Polaroids are known for being imperfect and sometimes unpredictable. But it’s like our man Bob Ross said, “only happy accidents”. I am in love with these instantly tangible pieces of your story + I think you will be too! Let’s create some unparalleled heirlooms for you to have and to hold. Walking away from our time together with something in hand has never felt so sweet!

* Bonus: I had an old disposable 35mm with exactly eight shots left - so you know we had to take advantage of that. You can see the results below, taken with one of my favorite disposable options (fujifilm quicksnap).