More than Just a Pretty Picture: Newborn Photography after IVF, Loss, and Surrogacy

a new mom in a white dress is lying next to her new baby girl on a bed

An Increasing Number of IVF and Surrogacy Families

In 2023, more than 35% of my newborn and maternity photography clients were families who were welcoming a baby after loss, undergoing IVF, or from surrogacy. I have been thinking a lot of these families and the experience we had together during their session. This has provided me the opportunity to think about why I do newborn and maternity photography. What is it about photographing these sessions that shapes the very mission of my work?

Why Do Couples Choose to Have Newborn Photos After IVF?

For couples who have faced challenges with infertility and undergone IVF treatment, or have lost a pregnancy before having a baby, the arrival of a precious newborn marks the joyful end to a long and emotionally difficult journey. After waiting, hoping, and working so diligently for this baby, it’s completely understandable to want to capture as many memories as possible and celebrate this incredible gift of life. This is why many IVF families decide to have professional newborn photography - to remember how special and meaningful this long-awaited little one is.

I imagine that these families want to be able to look back years from now and remember every detail of just how tiny their baby was at birth after spending years wondering if they would ever get to meet them. Perhaps it provides reassurance and closure after being surrounded by uncertainty for so long. Or maybe it’s simply because they still can’t believe this beautiful dream is a reality now! Whatever the specific reasons, newborn photography enables families to honor their one-of-a-kind IVF journey while cherishing the miracle that has resulted. In the challenging seasons when they felt hopeless and exhausted from treatments, they may have wondered if everything they poured so much effort and longing into would ever amount to holding their baby in their arms. Now a perfectly precious little human is lying in their arms who’s both everything hoped for, and more than they could have imagined.

How Does This Impact My Photography Business?

How does all of this relate to how I run my photography business? It is one of the biggest motivators of how and why I do newborn and maternity photography. Life is a winding path filled with deeply personal experiences that profoundly shape us along the way. As families, we walk this path together, facing difficulties and celebrating triumphs hand-in-hand.

In my photography, I seek to honor and preserve these meaningful stories. Whether it's the grief of losing a child followed by the joy of new life, the challenges of trying to become parents finally rewarded with a long-awaited baby, a child's health issues that send a family down an unexpected road, or the simple milestones of regular family life - these are valuable stories to record, reflect upon regularly, and to celebrate.

My goal is to capture these personal journeys in an artistic, thoughtful manner. I want my clients to look back on the images I create and see beauty woven through their own narratives - the beauty that comes from living fully, facing struggles with courage, and continuing forward as a family. Photos preserve fleeting moments as lasting memories.

Life shapes us through its ups and downs. In my photography, I hope to honor what makes each family story unique. Our journeys may all be different, but the beauty lies in supporting each other along the way.

IVF Services and Support

For a list of resources to help support you during your IVF, Infertility and Surrogacy journey, here are links for services for Twin Cities families, for postpartum care after IVF, and amazing doula and postpartum care for all.

What is a Newborn Session Experience like with Ann Marie? Find out:

Your Newborn Session Questions Answered

A Newborn Photos Session Experience with Ann Marie

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