I am so excited to share this post with all of you! It’s super special to me since these are two of my long time, best friends. I have known Daniel and Josie for almost 13 years and am blessed to call them not only friends, but family.

I have known that these two were expecting for about a month now! Being so close to them and knowing them practically their whole marriage, makes finding out that they would be welcoming their first child into this world in January, that much more sweet and precious. Josie reached out about doing their Pregnancy Announcement photos (which we knew had to be at the Bee Yard for this Beekeeping couple) at the beginning of June, but didn’t want to share until after her next doctor’s appointment, which was this past Friday. Our schedules finally aligned for us to do the pictures after her appointment, which looking back on it all now was complete divine intervention. I tagged along to Josie’s appointment Friday which was only supposed to be a regular appointment with maybe a quick ultrasound to check in on baby and to hear the heartbeat. However, that all changed in the blink of an eye! As the ultrasound was happening and I was trying not to cry all over the place after hearing the baby’s heartbeat, the nurse asked Josie if she wanted to try and find out the gender that day! What?! This is not quite what was expected to happen at this appointment! She told the nurse that I could know and to give me the picture, but she wanted to find out with her husband. Talk about patience, and if you know Josie…well, let’s just say it was probably a long two days for her! The nurse worked her magic and then began typing the words I knew were destined across the image on the ultrasound machine. It was then that I went straight faced and withheld the tears! I couldn’t believe that within this quick second that I was being entrusted with this huge secret. One that would shape the reactions below!

Josie and I chatted briefly about how to proceed. We were still needing to take their announcement photos and she originally was thinking about doing a Gender Reveal Party, but how much longer could they wait to find out what they were having? We decided that Daniel and Josie would find out together during their session. She tasked me with making that happen. I scoured the internet looking at these amazing ways to do a Gender Reveal photo session, but ultimately just decided to keep it simple! I had two chalkboards ready with the surprise and put the parents back to back. I told them on the count of three to turn around and show each other which is where it got really good! I think the images speak for themselves and I don’t want to ruin the surprise! It was tough keeping it together during their reactions because they’re my dear friends and I just wanted to cry but knew I had to keep it together and capture this moment. Needless to say, these two are extremely excited…and I’m pretty sure Daniel is still in complete shock!!

Daniel and Josie, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this journey with you! It’s such an honor being a part of your lives and sharing in this experience with you!! I love you both!

xoxo,

Holly

PS – Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom! Also, check out my sweet chalkboard skills!! Not too shabby, right?!