beautiful..

i met alexis about 3 1/2 years ago at santa monica gymnastics center, where we both coached. i was a newcomer to los angeles at the time and meeting people in the gymnastics community was a much needed home away from home. alexis and i soon realized that we grew up just a couple of hours away from each other in michigan and were probably unknowingly at many of the same gymnastics competitions. how funny that our paths finally crossed as adults so many years later on the other side of the country.

alexis traveled in for this photo session from las vegas on the last possible weekend before she’ll have to stay put and wait for her little guy to arrive. we were so lucky to have missed the rain by one day. it was totally worth tromping down the muddy path, as we were delighted to see such clear skies and green landscapes that can only result from a rainy winter in LA.

i’ve been envisioning these maternity photographs for quite some time, patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity.. and this was it. the first image is one that i specifically had in mind, a simple and serene moment in time, the shape of the hillsides ever so subtly echoing the beautiful form of an expecting mother.

as i look at these photographs, i am at a loss for words. it fills me with great honor to be asked to document such special moments in life. i am so appreciative to be able to spend time with lovely people in magical places like this one.

thanks so much, alexis and justin!