It was a warm Sunday afternoon, a perfect bright and sunny beacon of the coming spring. In an upstairs room overlooking Columbia’s Main Street, preparations were underway in Lula Drake’s upper room, called the Pastor’s Study, for the most beautiful baby shower. As the midday sun beamed through the windows, fresh greenery and flowers were draped elegantly across each table, but the true focal point of the room was the wooden wheelbarrow filled with vegetables and adorned with a stuffed Peter Rabbit, a nod to the theme of the shower. Shortly after noon, family and friends from near and far began to arrive, and the room buzzed with the excited thrum of conversation as they awaited the arrival of the guest of honor. Suddenly, the two grandmothers-to-be whisked away to the stairwell to meet Caitlin—the glowing mama-to-be. As she entered the room, her eyes shining with joy and excitement, she began to exclaim over all the dear ones who had come from great distances to be there to celebrate her and the sweet baby on the way. It was impossible not to feel the love in the room, and I could only begin to imagine how it will surround this sweet family as they bring this new life into the world!

Oh, what a perfect November afternoon it was to capture this joyful maternity session at the Peak Trestle on the Palmetto Trail! The weather was absolutely perfect, with the golden leaves showing off their gorgeous hues and perfect blue skies shining over the Broad River. The sweetest little family — a glowing mama-to be, proud daddy, and a sweet little girl over-the-moon excited about her baby brother on the way — was overflowing with joy as we made our way down the Peak Trestle bridge in the golden afternoon sunlight. I cannot think of a more perfect ending for my 2019 photography season than this!

Oh, what an adventurous afternoon this was! The sweetest family, perfectly coordinated in their blue and green ensembles. Games of chase, peek-a-boo and pretending to launch rockets! Endless enchantment with the simplest parts of nature — rocks, leaves, Spanish moss, blades of grass — and enjoying the beauty of nature along the river. Even though we had to make a last minute change to our original session location because of the Columbia Veteran’s Day parade, I think that this dear family was just destined for another family session on the river — and the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park never disappoints!

What does it look like to be three years old? Sometimes, it looks like brown ringlets glowing in the morning light. It also looks like spinning and dancing in twirly dresses, and showing just how fast you can run. And then befriending every dog that you encounter, examining every flower, and searching out the best puddles — so you can stomp in them! Ah, what a joyful age is three: Endless curiosity. Zeal for life. Drinking in every ounce of the world and all it has to offer. And what a joy it was to meet up with this sweet girl and her mama at Colonial Lake Park in Charleston to capture this new age and stage with this fun “mommy and me” session!