I believe that life/God/destiny (whatever you believe in) has a way of putting people on our path so that we might take something away from the experience of knowing them, something that, if we’re open to it, might make us better people.

A couple of weeks ago, we got an inquiry for a family portrait session. It was one of those global requests sent to all members of the Professional Photographers of Cape Cod. I must admit, we don’t generally get too excited about those requests, feeling a bit too prideful that folks can’t be bothered to visit our website or reach out to us directly, but instead would rather just see who bites among a pool of 40 or so photographers. Shameful, me feeling that way…I know, particularly since you can never know what’s going on in someone’s life that might cause them to do what they do. But, we get so many emails every day that require an investment of our time, and having to respond to requests that very often don’t lead anywhere really is a bummer.

However, this particular inquiry stopped me dead in my tracks. Here’s what it said…

“My family will be visiting the Cape the last week of August and would love to get some family photos.  I imagine it would be a short ‘family session’ since my children are young 4, 3 and 4 months.  We are looking for wonderful photos of the family and children to capture this moment in time.  These are especially important to our family because I will be starting chemotherapy the following week.  We have no idea how expensive pictures are, but we are very interested. Laurie C.”

How do you not immediately want to respond to that?

Andy & I have been talking for a long time about wanting to use our business to somehow give back, pay it forward if you will….contribute in a way that makes the world a better place. We’re a small business…just the two of us, wearing many hats. We don’t shoot a lot of weddings or family sessions each year, so our contribution wouldn’t be anything monumental. But, I like to believe that every small gesture of love & kindness does make a difference and in some small, karmic way…does change the world for the better.

We still haven’t figured out a formalized way to give back or picked a specific cause to support, but when we read Laurie’s e-mail we both agreed that this was something we could very easily do…in the hopes that if even for just a brief moment…we might help make things a little brighter for a family in need of some TLC.

I immediately wrote Laurie back saying that if they liked our work and were up for it, we’d love to photograph her family and they didn’t have to worry about the cost…the session was on us.

Laurie wrote back the sweetest e-mail, sharing more about her & her family. She told us that when she was 35 weeks pregnant, she had an ultrasound, which detected something alarming, causing doctors to induce Laurie a week later. Baby Brylee spent the next two weeks in intensive care, while Laurie endured more tests.

At first, doctors thought Laurie had Stage IV breast cancer, but it turned out to be a very rare cancer that affects the liver. “It’s a cancer that has absolutely no symptoms until it is too late,” Laurie told us. “So, our little baby Brylee is our precious gift, because she has given me a chance to fight! I am one of only a few that has this chance.”

I can’t even begin to fathom what this experience must be like for Laurie, her husband, Ben, and their families. What was supposed to be a happy, joyous time was marred with scary unknowns and lots of painful tests…all with two young children and a brand new baby needing their care & attention.

On July 14, doctors successfully removed half of Laurie’s liver and today, she begins chemotherapy.

Laurie…we are thinking of you today and hoping these photos put a big smile on that beautiful face of yours…after what has no doubt been a very long day!

Without further ado, we are very proud to introduce Laurie & her beautiful family, including miracle baby Brylee….(left to right: Brynn, Laurie, Ben, Brylee & Bryce)

Ben, carries miracle baby Brylee, as he walks with their oldest daughter, Brynn, who looks back to see if her new friends are coming along too….up ahead is their oldest, Bryce.

It didn’t take long for Brynn & Bryce to warm up to us….one of the most enjoyable parts of our job is getting to meet sweet little people like these two, who make it hard to not toss aside our cameras  and just run around and play with them. Truthfully, it usually ends up being equal parts shooting and playing. And, that’s how we like it.

Fortunately, my sweet husband is really just a big kid himself…and the kids….well, you can see for yourself in this next one how they feel about him.

Love the expression in sweet Brynn’s face in this next one as she takes her big brother’s hand.

Run little boos…run. Love the light here under the docks…heavenly!

Sweet Brylee getting some kisses & snuggles from Daddy.

Beautiful momma…Laurie, as she watches her sweet babes playing…LOVE this photo and the tender man who captured it!

Still recovering from her surgery, this was probably more than she should have been doing, but Brynn was having too much fun to resist. And, Laurie was given the best kind of reward afterwards….swoon!

These next two fill me with such joy because I can see on Laurie’s face how much the moment means to her. {be still my heart}

Love this sweet family…

Momma and her baby boy & Daddy and his girls…sweetness!

Laurie & Ben’s three lovebugs…Brynn, Bylee & Bryce.

Laurie & Ben are high school sweethearts and recently celebrated 13 years of marriage. They are as cute as it gets!

All the best things in life can be found in the eyes of a child…and looking into them is like looking into a sea of hopeful possibility.

Family….where the people who love you most in the world are always there to catch you when you need it.

One of Laurie’s little rays of sunshine….

Like most little kids, Bryce loves to run. He also loves to watch the wake he leaves behind. Too cute! Meanwhile, Brynn explores some sea life with her main guy.

Love this next moment…for so many reasons.

My ridiculously talented husband has a way of capturing a moment from such a unique & creative perspective that leaves me…even after 10+ years of watching him do it…utterly speechless!

Making sandcastles with your favorite people is always fun…but knocking them down….even more fun!

The end of a really fun afternoon and what we hope is the beginning of a long & beautiful friendship with this amazing family!

Laurie & Ben, how do we properly thank you for sharing not only your beautiful family with us during this very pivotal time in your lives, but thank you for opening your lives to us in such a real, honest & loving way? You all are wonderful and inspiring and we are so humbled and grateful that you found your way onto our path. We hope these photos bring you with as much joy & happiness as you and your precious children brought to us that memorable afternoon. We’re thinking of you this week and are sending healing, love-filled thoughts your way. Special thanks too to Laurie’s mom, Paulette, for coming along during the session to help take care of Brylee. We know this has been a very hard several months for you too, and we send lots of love & healing thoughts your family’s way. With love & hugs, Chris & Andy xoxo