Come As You Are- Mardee’s Story

Some moments in motherhood hit you in the gut — in the best way.

For Mardee, it was watching her toddler gently comfort his new baby brother. “He told him, ‘It’s ok buddy,’ and gave him a hug and his paci,” she shared. That one quiet moment stopped time for her. Because sometimes, the magic isn’t in the milestones — it’s in the messy, unexpected in-betweens.

As a Cedarburg newborn photographer, I’ve come to believe the most meaningful photos aren’t always the most polished ones — they’re the ones that feel like you. That’s exactly what this session was all about.

Mardee welcomed her second baby home with all the emotion and exhaustion that comes with newborn life — “overwhelmed” was the word she chose. “So many emotions and so many changes all at once.” And while that’s true for so many moms, it can still feel isolating in the moment. That’s why it meant so much to me when she told me, “You made me feel like I was talking to a longtime friend. I felt comfortable sharing everything going on and knew I wasn’t being judged.”

That’s the heartbeat of this series. As a Cedarburg newborn photographer, I want you to know that these stories are a reminder that you don’t have to clean up your home or your heart before stepping in front of the camera. You can come as you are — full of joy, full of struggle, full of real life — and it’s still worthy of being documented.

Mardee didn’t book a newborn session for her first baby. And it’s something she’s never stopped thinking about. “I really wished I had photos to capture those special moments and details,” she said. “Time goes so fast and that is something I never want to forget.” So this time, she said yes to slowing down, to capturing tiny hands and tender moments — especially the rare family photos, even with a toddler in a “no pictures” phase.

When I asked what it felt like to just be while someone else documented the magic, she said it was “amazing.” Her exact words? “I had a moment where I didn’t have to be the cruise director.”

Yes, mama. You get to take a breath, too. That’s what I want every session to feel like.

And if she could speak to her future self from this season? Her advice is tender and true:
“Slow down. Enjoy the moments, big and small. You will sleep again.”

Looking back, she hopes her child sees one thing in these photos:
“The pure happiness in my eyes and how perfectly he fit into our family.”

And that is what I hope every family feels when they step in front of my lens — that no matter how loud or quiet or wild or uncertain the moment feels, love always finds a way to shine through.