I remember being pregnant with Owen like it was yesterday. Finding a photographer was tiring to say the least. First baby-must find perfect photographer. :)
I found some with pretty pictures and a pretty price tag. Matt doesn't like to tell me no, and he is the greatest husband. He probably would have said "Okay, we will pay more for Owen's pictures than a house payment to make you happy". Matt is an engineer. He analyzes everything...seriously! When we first got married he sent me a budget spreadsheet, that I couldn't even understand. It was like 27 pages, with pop up graphs, and yeah it was crazy! I didn't want
him to have a coronary trying to please me to even ask for one of these pricey photographers.
Then....I had a customer come in and say look at these awesome pictures. The pictures I saw brought tears to my eyes. THIS is the photographer I want! He said her name was Meredith Rowlen, and I needed to look her up.
As soon as he left, I pulled up my browser. Meredith's pictures were better than some of the pricey photographers I had seen. The first thing I did was pull up her prices. I just knew they were going to be the highest in town, and I was preparing my speech for why I NEEDED these pictures. To my surprise her prices were very reasonable!
I read every link on her page. I remember reading her "About Me", and I felt like I knew Meredith. She was so real, and down to earth. I knew our personalities would mesh well. I also read that she had three boys....which is my dream!
I saw a section on her page that said "I Believe" and I clicked it. I started ugly crying
and snotting all over myself. If you are pregnant, DON'T click that link. Don't click it after you have your baby. Wait until your hormones even out, unless you want to be a blubbering mess. Her sweet little boy had cancer. She had a picture of him on the page. He had a sweet little bald head from his chemo treatments, and the sweetest eyes I'd ever seen. It was the most precious picture. I read his story, and looked at his picture over and over again. It really touched my heart! Meredith offers FREE sessions to young cancer patients. What photographer does that? One with a big heart, and I was about to make her mine!
I e-mailed Meredith one million times before I had Owen. I am pretty sure I got the most annoying award. I just wanted to make sure I had her! I think she was one of the first people I texted (is texted a word? It is on my blog) after Owen was born.
We scheduled our newborn session, and went to meet Meredith for the first time when Owen was a few days old.
I read her instructions, and followed them to a tee. On our way to her house, I learned a life lesson. You have NO control over a baby, and they do what they want. Owen stayed awake the whole time. He was supposed to be asleep when I got there....what were we going to do?
I was a nervous wreck. I had the perfect photographer, and I needed to be the perfect parent right? (I didn't know there was no such thing yet- my baby was 3 days old) I have some friends who take pictures, and I didn't want to be the mother who got in the way...so I tried to stand back. I am pretty sure I came across as a lazy parent that didn't want to help at all. ;)
Let's just say during the newborn session, Meredith had her work cut out with Owen. At 3 days old, Owen was already attached to Mommy. I think that is a great thing, but it makes a newborn session hard. Owen cried and cried. He didn't want to take any pictures, he just wanted to sit in Mommy's lap and nurse. I was a new mom and still self-conscious...I had to have my nursing cover perfect. Heaven forbid if my neck even showed! (We've come along way-did you see my previous post?) This just ticked Owen off even more. I can't say I blame him. Who wants a blanket over their head while they eat?
Meredith stayed calm. She never lost her patience. She rocked and rocked, and worked and worked to get my perfect pictures. She worked with us for SIX hours...yes six hours...to try to get the perfect pictures. She didn't even stop for a lunch break. Owen pooped on everything she owned. I am not exaggerating, like she really didn't have any clean blankets when we left. Owen would not go to sleep for her- she had to trick him by making her camera flash to get him to close his eyes. The little newborn frog pose- Owen wasn't having it, and he let everyone know it!
I left Meredith's house wondering if we even got any good shots, and I felt so blessed that she worked SO hard with Owen. I also cried a little. (I cry a lot) I was worried I had traumatized Owen. I kept saying Matt I feel really bad, he hated getting his pictures made, do you think he is scared for life? I don't know how Matt didn't laugh at me, but he didn't. Have I mentioned I have the perfect hubby? He just said honey, no boys like to have their pictures made, and I am sure he has already forgotten.
A few weeks later, we got our pictures.....they were perfect! Here are a few of my favorites.
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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Owen loves to look at this picture and say "Baby poo poo bucket", and that is truly what he did.
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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Then, Owen grew, he grew, and he GREW! I blinked my eyes and it was time for our six month session. He was a HAM for this session....
Here are some of my favorites :)
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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Then, Owen grew even FASTER, and it was time for his one year pictures. I couldn't believe my baby was a year old. We made a mess with our smash cake and had a good time. We even took a bath at Mrs. Meredith's house. Owen fell in love with Meredith's Elmo camera. :)
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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I blinked my eyes, and it was time for Owen's 18 month pictures. Owen didn't really care much about these pictures. He loves all of Meredith's toys, and I think he just wanted to hang around and play. :) Our session involved lots of "pooting noises" and Owen saying the word "Up" a million times. I am so glad Meredith has boys! Again we got some AWESOME pictures!
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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| Photo by Meredith Rowlen www.meredithrowlen.com |
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I can't believe our "Baby Elite" time has come to an end! Meredith has watched our family grow. I've watched her boys grow through facebook as well. They are HILARIOUS to say the least. Meredith has her hands full with three goofy, precious little boys.
If you want a kind, caring photographer, that will not only capture your most precious moments, but will become your friend....Check out her page! www.meredithrowlen.com
Thank you Meredith! We appreciate all you've done. Hope to see you soon!
