Fall 2016 Mini Session Recap!
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Remember, Remember, Remember
There has been a change in my heart regarding photography. And this little girl in my arms is the key that has unlocked an entirely different side of it to me.
I knew once I became a mother there would be some kind of change in how I looked at photography but to be honest, I didn’t expect it to be so drastic, so life-changing. I remember my mentor, Amy, mentioning that it would happen & I believed it. But I had no clue of what a vast difference it would make.
Every mother can attest to the fact that once a child has been entrusted into your care for the first time, whether by adoption or birth, your life as a woman is never the same. Never. Becoming a mother has changed everything about me. I remember going through changes when I became a wife & becoming a mother has continued that journey of change.
These changes have affected every part of my life including photography. In May of 2013, with the support of my husband, I launched Nomi Photography. As each session, each month, each year passed by, I continued to learn & experience so many changes in my photography skills. But I can say without a doubt that the biggest thing I’ve had happened to me that has GREATLY revamped, improved, challenged & reshaped the way I look at my photography is having a daughter.
Before Elizabeth, I would say that I wanted to “document” during my photography sessions. That little girl’s beautiful freckles. That little guy’s first steps. That couple’s laughter.
document: something (as a photograph or a recording) that serves as evidence or proof; a material substance having on it a representation of thoughts by means of some conventional mark or symbol
But now that I’m a mom & have felt the emotions, feelings, fears & love that a mother does, I want to “remember” with my photography.
remember: to bring to mind or think of again; to retain in the memory; record, commemorate
I want to help a mom remember what that warm embrace feels like from her son every time she looks back at a photo from our session together. I want to help that dad remember what it’s like to hold his little girl’s hand before it can no longer fit into his. I want to help the new mom remember what her new baby smells like every time she looks at the images from their newborn session even when he’s started to drive at 16. I want to remember those first wobbly steps of a mom & dad’s toddler before she’s off running to college. And yes, I can barely type that without tears flowing!
Remember, remember, remember.
I’m excited. Every day as I step further into motherhood, I’m excited to see how it shapes my photography. There will still be a lot of documenting going on with Nomi Photography 😉 But I promise you, there will be lots & lots of remembering.
I ask for you to join me on this journey. There are very fun & special changes coming to Nomi Photography. Thanks to Elizabeth & thanks to my amazing clients. I want to make the Nomi Photography experience smoother & even better! Follow along at @naomiwilcox on Instagram or at www.nomi-photography.com/blog to see it unfold. (Or better yet, signup for my e-newsletter HERE. When you do, you’ll receive a free gift just for signing up!)
And even though this photo is out of focus, I love it so much! 
Mommy Loves Elizabeth Leah Part I
My self-portraits with Elizabeth began pretty early. When I was pregnant with her I stood in front of this very window in our living room at every 5 week mark in my pregnancy & took a photograph with her. I moved furniture, waited for the right time of day & used our tripod & self-timer to get this special silhouette moment.
As I took these photo’s, they became so special to me. And then on her due date, Eric helped me & we took this picture below together.
December 31, 2015 – Elizabeth was 12 days old 
I knew while taking the 5 week bump photo’s, that I wanted to incorporate photo’s of myself with our children. I knew it would take work & time but I’ve come to treasure these photographs of Elizabeth & I so very much.
I look forward to in the future adding other children into the photo’s & commemorating more & more memories.
This project has stretched me as a mother & as a photographer. I wanted to share these photos to encourage other momma’s & momma photographers to remember moments with their littles. For they won’t be little long.
This is a project of love and out of the desire to leave a legacy for our children.
May 2016 – Elizabeth was 5 Months 
June 2016 – Elizabeth was 6 Months | Full disclosure, I wasn’t able to get the angle of the room that I wanted while holding a sleeping baby girl 🙂 Eric stepped in & took the photo for me after I set up the settings of my camera. 
August 2016 – Elizabeth was 8 Months 
September 2016 – Elizabeth was 9 Months | I wanted to capture our routine of me feeding her because I knew it was a brief season we shared together. 
September 2016 – Elizabeth was 9 Months 
October 2016 – Elizabeth was 10 Months | Elizabeth sits at my feet when I get ready in the morning & I wanted to record that. 
November 2016 – Elizabeth was 11 Months | We had a storm & I was trying to distract Elizabeth from the noise of it & these precious moments happened.
Thank you for walking through my self-portraits with Elizabeth from 2016. I wish there were more but I am so thankful for the ones we have together.
My very best tip for making a self-portrait with your kiddos happen, is to do it. When you see a moment that you want to remember, do it. Grab your camera & make it happen.
McBee | Family Session
If you ask pretty much any mom, of any age, what would they REALLY REALLY want as a gift? You’ll find out that most of the time their answer is “A picture with my whole family.” I can’t tell you how many of my sessions are gifts that children get their parents so that their mom can have an updated picture of the whole family & pictures of all the kids, grandkids, etc.
I seriously LOVE these sessions. Why? Because everyone is there for mom. And dad. Everyone is there to show them they love them & are wanting to make them happy by giving them a gift that will last a lifetime. I get to meet so many family members, hear so many family inside jokes & just all around, I have a great time.
And hanging out with the McBee Fam was as fun & crazy as you’d expect 😉 Any session that has 13 people + a dog in it is going to be loud & hectic 😉 But my favorite part of the entire time together was watching Tammy McBee. She was simply GLOWING with joy as ALL her kids, their spouses & grandkids were all around her & Kevin.
These are the pictures she will be showing off to family & friends.
These are the pictures she will reflect back on in times of sorrow & joy.
These are the pictures that will last a lifetime.
The whole fam!
All the grandkids!
Also, these next three pictures of Tammy & Kevin- MY. FAVORITE. EVER.
Grab your tissues folks. 
And this gal right here, she’s my best friend. I literally cannot write anymore then I’m going to because I would start crying, but she’s my best friend & I love her. 
And that guy with her? Yeah, he’s pretty cool 🙂 
And of course I had to end with the crazy goofy pic last just because 😉 
Love you McBee Fam!!!!
Labertew | Family Session
I think everyone would agree that Ewing Manor is just one of the prettiest place in Bloomington-Normal. Every time I have the opportunity to have a session there I’m just so excited about it!!! The home is gorgeous & has so many fun areas to take pictures. So obviously I was BEYOND thrilled when the Labertew Family decided to have their family session there.
It was my second time taking pictures of this family & I know these are my favorite pictures of the two sessions we’ve had! Jacob, the eldest of the Labertew kids, is at away college in Missouri & so having the whole family together meant a lot to them all. We laughed a lot during our time together & I know you can see it in their expressions through these amazing family images!
Joel & Angela are our pastors at our church & I’m just SO THANKFUL for this amazing family! 
Rumley | Family Session
The Rumley Family has a very full schedule! Put together the calendar of their 5 lives plus mine as a mom & wife, we had quite the time finding a time to get a session in before the fall beautifulness had gone away! THEN when we got to where I wanted us to do our session, the location was being used- I was so bummed! But then I went a little deeper into the wooded area where we were meeting & found an EVEN BETTER spot! I’m honestly so thankful we weren’t able to photograph in the first spot because I like the second spot SO.MUCH.BETTER. Even with all the difficulties we had with getting together & find a great location, the Rumley Family’s session is one of my all time absolute FAVORITES.EVER.
I say all that to say- even when there’s adversity, you can still find beauty.
The Rumley Family has faced a lot of difficulty, pain & unknown in the past couple of years & when I look at these photos I can’t help but see the beauty & the goodness of the Lord. I love their family & I love these photos. I seriously cannot choose a favorite so just get ready for LOTS of pictures of the Rumley Family 😉
Also let me just say when I look at these pictures I think #familygoals 🙂
Nebgen | Family Session
I love the fall! And I love photographing families!!! And when you put those two together- you’ve got one of my all time favorite combinations!!!! I seriously wish the colors & weather of the fall could last longer because it’s just such a gorgeous time of year to take photo’s.
I was SO excited when Brenda connected with me about doing their families photo session! It had been a long time since they’d had photos together & that made me feel even MORE honored that they chose with me to take some updated ones. And we had a blast in the meantime 🙂 I love all of the photos we got! Take a look for yourself 🙂
Birkey | Family Session on the Farm!
When someone invites you out to their farm to hangout & take pictures, as a photographer you can’t say “YES!” quick enough! That’s what happened when Rachel told me she wanted their family session to be on the farm their family has together & for it to be a fun & laid back session. And that’s exactly what it was! Complete with plaid shirts, apple picking, 4-wheel riding & a gorgeous sunset!
Some of you may know that my other part time job is watching them & their brother two days a week. Elizabeth gets to come with me & these three cuties are the big brothers & sister Elizabeth will never have 😉 The Birkey kiddos are just plain special to our family. I’ve been nannying for the Birkey family several years now & I’m just so thankful for the relationship my little family has with theirs & I’m so grateful for the job in general.
Now here are some of my favorites photos from their session!
I’m still catching up on blogging sessions that I had this past fall & this was a favorite I had. Today I wanted to make sure it got published because the twins just turned 5 (their bday is Valentines Day!). I remember when we were praying for Birkey babies to come along & now they’re 5 years old!
And Winston is the adorable baby brother 🙂 
One of my favorite family photos ever!!! Love the joy & realness in this picture! Love you Birkey’s!!!!!!!!
Christmas 2016 Mini Sessions Recap!
Here’s some of my favorites from the Christmas Mini’s!
Poppins | Newborn Session
Amelia is now a BIG sister! Aubrey Maureen was born just a few days after Christmas on December 28. I’m a little partial to December baby’s myself 😉 so I was pretty excited when little Aubrey came before the new year 🙂
Here’s a few of my very favorite photos from my time with the Poppins Family. I just LOVE what we captured!
Sweet, sweet Aubrey Maureen! 
Kymber, you are SOOO gorgeous!!!! Just stop!!! This is seriously a new favorite mother & precious baby photo of mine! 
This is what big sis does while she’s waiting for her turn for pics 😉
