People say you should avoid mixing business and friendship. That there is room for tension and expectations that can make both sides of the equation problematic.  It’s probably good advice, based on oodles of collected wisdom.  But I’m glad I didn’t listen.  In my experience – bringing together business, passion, and friendships creates a space for some serious magic-making.

I try to approach all my clients in such a way that we develop life-long relationships.  I love to photograph a baby over the course of her first year, or to watch a bride and groom travel down the path of parenthood for the first time.  Capturing the lives of my clients as their families grow and change is just one of the many things that makes this job way cooler than anything else I can imagine doing.  Seriously, being a family, child and baby photographer is a damn cool gig indeed.

But when the people who hire me are also dear friends – seriously folks – it’s all just that much sweeter.

Yesterday Phoebe and Tamara came by for a visit, and I got to see just how much their babies have grown.  Little Naomi has turned into the most smiley, drooly bundle of beauty.  Asher – having never been little – is now one seriously big boy.  He is crawling, pulling up and looking for the world like he’s going to be an early walker.

I had no intention of taking any photos, but then I happened to catch a glimpse of the four of them standing out in my yard, and I just had to run for my camera.  Can you blame me?

She’s one of those rare individuals who you can meet just once, and know without a doubt that you’re going to head-over-heels-love-her-forever.  Kind, patient, thoughtful, full of goodness and compassion, Phoebe truly is a blessing to everyone she comes in contact with.   As a mother she is an inspiration, as a friend she is full of sweetness and warmth and calm, welcoming energy.

She was with me for the birth of my youngest daughter Julianna, and I was present for the birth of her middle son Caleb.  She has honored me over and over by asking me to be the photographer for her oldest son, her pregnancy, her birth, her newborn babies.  I was so excited to head to her house last week to meet her newest arrival – 9lb, 10oz baby Asher.  Phoebe’s third son was a squishy, chubby, sleepy bundle of newborn heaven – snoozing for hours and letting me go on my merry photographic way.  With a perfect five day old baby boy and all my luscious knitted goodies from Marie, I was in heaven, let me tell you!

Phoebe, thank you so much for trusting me to be a part of some of the most important times in your life.  It means more than you could possibly know.

Edited to add: For all those who have asked about the knitted goodies, this just represents a small selection of Marie’s brilliance.  Marie just gave birth to her own baby boy, but is in the process of setting up an etsy shop and will begin taking custom orders once she’s back in the swing of things.  If you want to be added to her email list for an announcement when she digs out her knitting needles again, please send me an email at info@jeanetteleblan.com and I’ll forward your infomation along to Marie.