This little guy was born at home on a Wednesday morning, and it was such an honor to be there to photograph his birth. I went back Sunday afternoon for some more pictures. Here he his, with his family, at four days old.
(If you haven’t seen his birth yet, click here!)
I love how perfectly a baby fits – next to his mama’s body or on her chest, wrapped by his daddy’s arm, and right into his family.
In the summer I visited this family at their home to capture some sweet memories of the three of them. And then early on a Wednesday morning in September, I was there again when they welcomed their baby boy.
This is the story of his birth…
I look at these pictures and feel so fortunate I can do something that means so much to me and so much to other people. I hope that everyone finds work that they enjoy and feel as strongly about as I do about mine. Although this story is not mine to tell, there are a few details that I want to always remember – 1. Kelly (the mama) in the tub saying, “ai ai ai” and singing in Portuguese. So beautiful and endearing. 2. The feeling I had sitting on the back of the toilet with the midwife in front of me, her assistant and the doula next to us, Kelly’s husband and daughter at the door, and Kelly in the shower giving birth. Such amazing energy in that little bathroom! 3. Kelly Facetiming with her sister, showing her the baby. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but I felt the emotion, and that was when I cried the most. 🙂 Thank you Kelly and family for allowing me to be there with you, to capture the beauty of birth!
Included in the incredible birth team were the amazing Vickie Hedley of Seventh Moon Homebirth Midwifery, her awesome assistant, Raizy, and Kelly’s wonderful doula, Angela Smith. Kelly is also a birth and postpartum doula, and an educator. You can find her here on Facebook. If you enjoyed this birth story, I invite you to share it with others, so we can show the world, or at least New Jersey, “how amazing it is to give birth surrounded by amazing people you deeply love.” (I love this quote from Kelly.)
I went back to for a visit a few days later and look forward to sharing the photos from that day with you as well. If you are expecting a baby in Northern NJ, please call or text me at (201) 994-5610 or e-mail me at maegandougherty@gmail.com. I would love to talk with you about the possibility of photographing the birth of your baby.
🙂
You’ve captured this very special day beautifully. Such gorgeous images and a gorgeous family. I love that big sister was right there and included in everything.
Wow, Maegan. Just wow. Incredible.
Beautiful Maegan!!
these are amazing!
Maegan, I keep looking At these over, and over, and over again. Raw beauty. Raw love. Raw emotion. You are gifted!
Kelly, que coisa mais linda! Vc nasceu pra ser mae… Bjo enorme e que Maria, nossa mae do ceu te cubra de bencaos sempre.
Beautiful pics Maegan Dougherty! I would love to have you photograph our next story too! 🙂
just beautiful.
Beautiful as always!!! 🙂
I met this family in Montana had a wonderful time photographing them! 🙂
I loved everything about this photo shoot. It was my first time meeting this family and I knew from a Facebook message exchange and then a wonderful phone conversation with the mom that we were a perfect match. I could have stayed there and photographed them all day.
When a family photo shoot is child-led and the family is relaxed and comfortable, and trusts their photographer to capture their real life, this is what it can look like…
This was the same weekend I saw this other family for their newborn photo shoot, so I was loving what I do even more than usual. So much awesomeness in two days!
If you enjoy these pictures, please feel free to like my Facebook page. And if you are expecting a baby and would like to have your family captured in this way, please contact me!
There are a few families I photograph whom I know some of my blog readers recognize and love seeing, although they’ve never met them. Isn’t it awesome to watch a family grow? This is one of those families. I love spending time with them, and watching their family grow. I love hearing, “Meggie Eggie!” when I arrive at their home, and the way they allow and trust me to capture such special memories for them.
fabulous photos.
Beautiful just beautiful
A stunning family. Congrats again. L & P are darling. Dianne you look great!
Love all of them! We need updated pics!! 🙂
Beautiful famly!!! Beautiful pictures!! God bless you all!,,
© 2025 Maegan Dougherty Photography|ProPhoto Custom Blog
Just beautiful!!