Salem, Oregon Photographer: Fresh 48 Photography | Landry Jo

I had the honor of spending a little bit of time Christmas Eve morning for this beautiful family’s Fresh 48 session at Salem Hospital. It was so fun getting to see the girls excitement for both meeting their new sister AND getting to tell her who would be visiting them that night! Santa brought this family the best gift~ getting to take their new addition home <3

Fresh 48 Hospital Session | Fresh 48 video | Hospital Birth + Fresh 48 Photography | Salem, Oregon | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com

While these hospital newborn photos give you all the feels- you HAVE to check out the Fresh 48 slideshow below including video clips from the very first moments they were together as a family of 6.

Oregon Fresh 48 Photographer | Fresh 48 Hospital Session | Hospital Birth + Fresh 48 Photography | Salem, Oregon | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com

Welcome to the World, sweet Landry!

Salem, Oregon Photographer: Fresh 48 Photography | Piper Grace

I have a huge love for in-home Fresh 48 sessions! This one was especially meaningful since this gorgeous babe was born AT HOME just outside of Salem <3 She was the fourth girl added to their sweet family, and as you’ll see in their video, these little dolls were SOO excited to have another little sister!

Salem, Oregon Fresh 48 Photographer | In home lifestyle Fresh 48 session |

Having video clips added to these Fresh 48 slideshow’s is something I adore giving to my clients!! I imagine they will be even more meaningful to each family as the years go by. When you watch this video, I hope that it takes you back to that precious time with your own children! I think we can all agree that the newborn stage goes by much too quickly :) (ALTHOUGH- I DO love getting a little more sleep these days having older kiddos ;)) A huge thank you to this family for letting me share a little glimpse into their lives <3

Here is the Fresh 48 story of Piper Grace:

Salem, Oregon Photographer: Fresh 48 Photography | Arianna

Seriously one of my favorite parts about Fresh 48 sessions is when Mom & Dad wait until I’m there for their photography appointment to have big brother or big sister meet the newest babe. I totally got teary eyed watching these clips play back when I got them together in the Fresh 48 video. Baby Arianna will ALWAYS know how loved she is, from the moment she arrived! <3

We had our session at the Salem Hospital (in downtown Salem, Oregon) and this was the first one that I’ve done there in a while as my last several clients were out of Corvallis, Silverton, Portland etc! The time of day was perfect~ working with that fabulous window light, we got some beautiful photos and video clips (in the Fresh 48 slideshow below!!) of the family together, big sister and big brothers, Mama and baby, Daddy and baby etc! As we all know, this newborn stage passes by SO quickly and I was honored to capture these first precious moments! Take a peek at their keepsake video below!

Welcome, Arianna!

Fresh 48 Hospital Session | Fresh 48 video | Hospital Birth + Fresh 48 Photography | Salem, Oregon | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com

Salem, Oregon Photographer: Fresh 48 | Finnley's Story

"Family is not defined by our genes, it is built and maintained through love."

 -Amalia G., Independent Adoption Center

Yesterday was an incredibly emotional day for me.  I had the incredible honor of photographing a very special Fresh 48.  I'll give you a little bit of a back story!

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story | Finnley Thomas

I am a part of a Mom's group on Facebook, and a few months ago, a woman made a post in the group about how after three YEARS of waiting, she and her husband had been matched with a an AMAZING birth Mom for an Open Adoption.  *They were FINALLY getting their little one!*  (But what they ended up getting was SO much more than that!)  Anyway, it just struck a chord in my heart.  I choked up a little bit just reading her post about how excited she was.  I thought about contacting her to see if she may be interested in a Fresh 48 session, but I didn't want to sound like a weirdo!  Haha!! It was one of those moments in life where you think to yourself, "should I reach out..? No..? Too forward?" Hahah!  I have a lot of moments like that ;)  I put the idea to the back of my mind and went on with my life.  Sometime after that, the woman made another post or commented on something, and I recognized her name.  All my thoughts came flooding back, and I just felt so compelled to contact her.  At the risk of sounding like a crazy person, I reached out and told her how moved I was by their journey and how I would be soo honored if I could capture some memories for them at the hospital.  To my surprise, she wrote back and said that she would talk to the Birth Mom and see what she thought about all of it!  I got another message later saying they were TOTALLY on board, and wanted to hire me.  AHHHHHH!!! <3  We spoke the next day on the phone, and she said something that I'll never forget!  She told me that just the day before, her and her husband were talking about how it would be really amazing if they had someone photograph some of these moments for them.  UMMMM GOOSEBUMPS!!  (THAT totally sealed the deal for me.  This was MEANT to be.)  

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story | John, Britt & Kayla with sweet little Finnley

As I got to know Kayla, she shared with me how incredibly close she was to the Birth Mom, Britt +  her two sweet kiddos and how they LITERALLY had become a family throughout all this.  (Seriously, cue all the tears.)  She sent me some photos of them cooking breakfast together on Mother's Day, and just hanging out at the house together!  She also shared some BEAUTIFUL maternity photos they had done.  I was so moved.  To be honest with you, I didn't know very much about open adoptions.  But I will tell you one of the reasons I wanted to be there to photograph them that day.  I wanted them to be able to see themselves in that moment.  For Britt to see herself holding little Finnley (SUCH A CUTE NAME!)  I wanted Kayla & John to be able to see themselves becoming PARENTS, cuddling with their little man, and most importantly, I wanted Finnley to be able to see these photos someday.  It is my prayer that he will be able to look at these photos when he is older, and see three ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE adults, that LOVE him more than anything in the World.  Three beautiful people, that worked together, to create this precious life for him.  You guys.. He is SOOOOOOO loved already.

Here are some of my favorites from my time with them.   

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story |  Finnley with his precious big brother + sister

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story | Mommy taking a moment with her sweet boy <3

When Kayla and I were first talking, she told me how long they had prayed that a birth mother would pick them that also wanted an Open Adoption.  And it was Britt's desire to find the perfect family very early on in her pregnancy so that they could experience the pregnancy with her.  So Kayla and John were able to go to appointments, to hear his sweet little heartbeat, and share in the joys of pregnancy with her!  She told me they talked every day, and saw each other AT LEAST once a week.  Britt gave them the gift of parenthood in the most beautiful way, and they have truly become a family.  (They call themselves "The Tribe!")  As you can imagine, I cried as I read through her e-mails.  Finnley will grow up knowing Britt, and his big brother and sister, and get to experience ALL of their love.  I am so in awe of this family!

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story | The beautiful Mama's <3

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story | Mama Britt & Finnley <3

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Salem, Oregon Photographer | www.shelbyblantonphotography.com | Fresh 48- An Open Adoption Story | Their Tribe <3

Aren't they amazing?  Sweet little Finnley is so blessed.  I wanted to give Kayla, John, and Britt the biggest THANK YOU for letting me get a glimpse into your beautiful, precious journey.  I know my life has been changed just knowing you all.  You are an inspiration, and an image of HOPE for so many people.  XO  

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