Capturing the Miracle: A Photographer's Perspective on Morgan's Birth Experience

Morgan and I go way back—over ten years now. We both graduated from Shawnee Heights High School, just a year apart, and not long after, we found ourselves on the same path again, training as 911 dispatchers. Those long months of learning and late nights on the job built a bond between us that has always stuck. From hanging out at the farm and OC, going up in the aerial together, working out at Colaw, to our very similar reasons for leaving the job, we did a lot together. She also happens to be the first person I ever photographed in a portrait session, so when her life shifted into motherhood, it felt natural that I would be there with my camera to help preserve it. While there were years where we grew our lives separately, got married, began building our lives as adults, there was a bond there that stuck.

I still smile remembering the days when she first started dating Colby. We’d sit around and she would go on and on about this boy. Who would have thought then that he would turn out to be her forever? Years later, when I heard she was pregnant, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I would be photographing each step of this milestone.

We started with her announcement session in the winter at Illif Commons. The weather surprised us by being absolutely beautiful, and the whole evening felt like a gift. We were able to catch up, and getting to see how she and Colby were doing brought me so much joy.

They brought a few things along with them for the session, including a sign announcing his gender and name! Baby Beckett was well on the way!

Goodness, editing this session was a dream. The colors were creamy and warm. You can feel the sunshine in each image.

By May, her pregnancy was blooming, and we met again for maternity photos. She chose their land north of Rossville for her session, the very place they dream of building their home together. It couldn’t have been a more meaningful location to choose.

We walked through different areas of the property and Colby drove us around in the off road vehicle. I captured the warm rays of the sun resting on Morgan's perfectly round baby bump as they overlooked the pond together.

Then in another area of the land, where you can see Colby's brother's house from a distance, we captured some images of the two of them together. They have a village behind them, supporting them as they walk into parenthood.

Then, I noticed this old tree not too far way and moved the session in that direction. I thought it was representative of their little family. Colby is a hunter and is outdoorsy, and one day their little boy may come out and climb on that same old tree, unless it gets used of course.

Closing up Morgan's maternity session, she walked along side the pond. It was another beautiful evening and her birth would follow not to long after.

On June 7th, Morgan and Colby arrived at the hospital for an elective induction. They checked in around 8 p.m., after a full day at Colby’s dad’s garage sale and then suitcase packing. Colby managed to get some sleep from 10:30 to 1:30, but Morgan couldn’t. They had placed Cytotec shortly after her arrival and she took melatonin for a sleep aid, but it was useless. Her mind was restless thinking of the journey ahead. I joined them at 2:45 a.m. Before unpacking my equipment, I snapped a selfie with Morgan, excited for what was coming!

The room was dim and quiet, just the soft clicks of the nurse’s mouse and keyboard and the rhythmic beeping of the baby’s monitor. Morgan’s contractions had picked up quickly—intense, close together, with the sharp edge of back labor. She was only 2 cm dilated but already talking about an epidural. The nurses decided to hold off on starting Pitocin, hoping the contractions would space out a bit for Beckett’s safety. Colby was asleep on the corner couch, and I hadn’t lifted my camera yet. I just stood there, soaking in the stillness of that moment—knowing how close Morgan was to meeting her son. Then, I started documenting her journey.

Morgan tried hands-and-knees to give the baby more room to descend and to ease the pain in her back. Around 3:15, her nurse gently rocked her hips, encouraging baby to shift positions. They increased her fluids, and Morgan shifted to her side with a peanut ball between her knees. By 3:45, Colby was snoring, and Morgan laughed, telling me to ignore him. By 4 a.m., her contractions had slowed a bit, and a cervical check showed no progress. She still had the same exhausting back labor, and she wanted an epidural before Pitocin was added. I reminded her that it was normal for things to begin slowly, especially with only Cytotec on board. A low dose of Pitocin was hung, and we waited for anesthesia.

An anesthesiologist arrived around 4:40. Because of Morgan’s scoliosis, it wasn’t straightforward. He was all business—serious, efficient, thorough. He explained everything to Morgan, but he shut me down before I could even ask about photographing, sending me from the room. Morgan remembers how detailed he was, how her nurse supported her, and how Colby stood nearby, though she still doesn’t know why he wasn’t the one right there. The epidural was placed by 5 a.m. After fifteen minutes of careful work, she had some relief.

By 5:20, her blood sugar was stable, and though she still had some sensation, she wasn’t feeling the brunt of her contractions anymore. Hunger kicked in hard. At 5:30, after a catheter, her cervix was at 3 cm. From there, everyone managed bits of sleep between 5:30 and 7.

A new nurse came on that morning, and Morgan adored her. She explained everything, sought consent before each step, and made Morgan feel cared for. At 7:30 Morgan sat “princess style,” propped up and waiting for progress. By 8:15 she was still 3 cm but 75% effaced, so they broke her water. Within thirty minutes her contractions grew more intense and closer together, so Pitocin was cut in half to give Beckett a break.

By 9:15, contractions and baby both looked good. She sipped juice for low blood sugar while everyone planned the next check at 10:20. Breakfast arrived, and by that check she was 4.5 cm and resting, though her blood pressure was dipping at 86/43. Beckett’s cousin, baby Cameron, stopped in for a short visit, and through it all Harry Potter played on the TV. Later Morgan would tell me that those movies became one of the strongest memories of her environment—so much so that even her providers joined in, talking about their favorite Harry Potter films, which lifted her spirits.

At 12:50, dips in Beckett’s heart rate brought another cervical check. She was fully effaced and 5 cm, but baby was turned sideways. Morgan sipped antacid for heartburn and gas and followed it with a protein juice when her blood sugar dropped again. By 2:15 she was back on hands and knees, trying to help him rotate. At 3:15 she measured 5.5/6 cm. By 4 p.m. there were more noticeable decelerations, the pressure becoming constant. Just an hour later, at 4:25, she asked for another check.

She said around 4:45, jokingly. “Feels like I gotta poop.”

Through it all, Harry Potter stayed on, filling the room with a little magic. At 5 p.m., I saw her body begin to shake. By 5:40, she was finally complete—10 cm—and the room shifted into action.

This was Colby’s moment. Morgan had told me afterward that she doesn’t like to be babied when she’s hurting, but she needed him right there, holding her hand, telling her she could do it. He was her anchor in the storm. She never doubted that he would be; what surprised her was herself. She was sure she couldn’t do it. She wanted to quit. The next three hours would test her more than anything in her life—relentless pain, pressure, and the full exertion of her body and mind. She kept repeating to herself, The sooner I push him out, the sooner this will be over.

Finally, at 8:40, Beckett’s head crowned. One more push and he was here. The doctor paused her at the very end to slip the nuchal cord off his neck—a detail Morgan wouldn’t even know until she later read her hospital notes. What she does remember most is the moment of silence, the anxious pause before her son cried. And then—at last—the sound that would echo in her heart forever: his cry.

They placed him on her chest, and everything shifted. “I realized in that moment just how badass women really are and that I can do literally anything,” she told me later. Until then, she had no idea what she was capable of. Holding Beckett, she knew her strength.

As Morgan began her golden hour, the nurse put on Colby and Beckett's hospital bracelets.

Morgan, Colby, and Beckett were surrounded by a village from the start. Many members of their family came to visit right away, and not just to see the baby. They wanted to see Morgan, congratulate the new parents, and offer what support they could during this time!

Postpartum brought its own struggles. Morgan had a hard time with breastfeeding and wished her lactation consultant had been more supportive of her choice to use formula. But she also carried gratitude from her birth. She told me how thankful she was that I stayed the entire time, that I handed her water when she needed it, snapped photos on her phone so she could have images right away while she waited for the edited gallery, and just bore witness to her strength. She talked, too, about her nurses—how their steady encouragement, combined with Colby’s support and my presence, carried her through.

The next day I came back for their Fresh 48 session. He had the wrinkliest little toes and he truly was a fresh baby! He was so clean! Morgan had a cream CL gown picked out for him. We dressed him in it and dressed his bassinet with his custom name blanket.

As exhausting as birth is, Morgan was glowing in her motherhood era. It was beautiful to watch Colby and Morgan both love on their new baby boy.

The last images we captured were of baby Beckett in his freshness. He was wrapped up in his hospital blanket, munching on his little hand, and his hair was precious in the window light.

About a week later, Beckett and his parents joined me in Scranton for a studio newborn session. He was such a great baby for the session! We were able to photograph a few different set ups and get some lovely images of Morgan, Colby, and Beckett together. It has been an honor and blessing to photograph Morgan's birth experience. Thank you for trusting me to document these intimate moments for you, for welcoming me into your birth space, and for what I hope will be a life long friendship. You both are already phenomenal parents and I cannot wait to continue capturing Beckett's milestones along the way, as well as your families!