Motherhood Maternity Breastfeeding Sessions | Jungle By The Falls Baltimore Maryland | April Bly| #2

Part 2!

One of the best parts of this awesome venue is its versatility!  As the light changed throughout the day, we moved around and worked with different outfits and moods.  We also worked with a super sweet family for a breastfeeding session---I love capturing these moments!  Breastfeeding, snuggling, mothering---all of it!  The adorable wiggly little man in the images was born with a very rare condition called Tibial Hemimelia.  He'll be having surgery this month to amputate so that he'll be able to learn to adjust to a prosthetic with the help of physical therapy.  His mama and sisters were just delightful and lit up the jungle with their presence!

(This entire session was a dream come true!  Not only did I get to work with some of my very favorite people....but we were able to style the entire shoot in Hilton Carter's incredible Jungle By The Falls!

I reached out to my sweet friend, Stephania, who owns My Eventful Beauty. She's done some modeling for me before, and we totally hit it off! https://www.instagram.com/eventfulbeauty/

Then I grabbed another fun contact, Amanda, who owns Boutique44.  https://www.instagram.com/boutiquefortyfour/  Amanda and I have collaborated quite a few times through local Baltimore fashion bloggers, so it was awesome that she could join us for the day----especially since she used her styling expertise along with her fashion inventory to dress pregnant women creatively in non-maternity clothes!  Genius!   There are SO many gorgeous images that I will have to post 2 separate blog posts--my website deems that only so many may be shared at a time(ridiculousness.)

Interested in having your own session at this Baltimore hot spot?  Just contact me and we can set it up!)

Baltimore, HGTV, Family Photography, Lifestyle, Documentary, Storytelling, Motherhood, Nursing, Breastfeeding, Memories, Childhood, Siblings, Special Needs, Maryland, Photographer

Motherhood Maternity Breastfeeding Sessions | Jungle By The Falls Baltimore Maryland | April Bly| #1

This entire session was a dream come true!  Not only did I get to work with some of my very favorite people....but we were able to style the entire shoot in Hilton Carter's incredible Jungle By The Falls!

I reached out to my sweet friend, Stephania, who owns My Eventful Beauty. She's done some modeling for me before, and we totally hit it off! https://www.instagram.com/eventfulbeauty/

Then I grabbed another fun contact, Amanda, who owns Boutique44.  https://www.instagram.com/boutiquefortyfour/  Amanda and I have collaborated quite a few times through local Baltimore fashion bloggers, so it was awesome that she could join us for the day----especially since she used her styling expertise along with her fashion inventory to dress pregnant women creatively in non-maternity clothes!  Genius!   There are SO many gorgeous images that I will have to post 2 separate blog posts--my website deems that only so many may be shared at a time(ridiculousness.)

Interested in having your own session at this Baltimore hot spot?  Just contact me and we can set it up!

Maternity, Fashion, Session, Baltimore, Annapolis, Pregnant, Pregnancy, Photos, Photographer, Shoot, Jungle By The Falls, HGTV, Boutique, Portraits, Motherhood, Family, Breastfeeding, Hair, Make Up, On Location, Model, Whitehall Mill, Maryland, Event, Styled, Charm City, Photography

Mother's Day Gift Ideas | Maryland Family Photographer| April Bly Photography | Gift Guide

Soooo, Mother's Day.  I realize that there are quite a few Dads out there that have a real knack for gift giving---it's their love language or whatever.  For anyone else who would like some suggestions, read on :)

At the very top of most of our lists is at least acknowledgement and thanks.  Teaching the kiddos to say (and write ahead of time) thank you and reserve a day to make us feel special while also reflecting on the effort spent to "do what we do" is really what its all about.  Make that a priority and most likely everything else will fall into place.  That is really the heart of Mother's Day, at least from my humble perspective.

Next I would say would be a great meal!  Preferably one where there is no fighting or clean-up from Mom required afterwards.  Brunch is awesome.  Not a place where sports are blasting is key, unless that is her thing.  Reservations need to be made EARLY, and kids need to be prepped and packed for ahead of time.  Expect to not relax if you have littles, but again, making the effort is MASSIVE!

Gifts!  Alrighty! There are a few categories here, so either know your woman or ASK her or her bestie.  If you're family unit is at all like mine and presents are reserved for twice a year due to budget constraints and you decide to blow that budget on something without checking there may be a blowback.  ASK if you are unsure.  Trust me on this one!

Time.  Always time!  Some Moms like time together as a family as a gift.  Some like time alone promised.  Either way, time is a gift.  Especially when it is promised, planned, and thoughtfully executed.  Knowing that not only has she has been thought of, but also planned for to have a break for refreshment will be good for everyone!  Not just to go grocery shopping by herself, that should be as often as possible.  But offering an entire day or 3 days(heaven!) to be able to make her own choices and schedule (knowing that everyone is cared for and that you WANT her to have this gift!)is a pretty amazing gift and typically well deserved.

Memories.  Here's my shameless plug, but I actually believe it.  Photography matters.  Documenting our lives matters.  You can buy a session, add on a hair/make-up artist, as well as a boutique stylist to bring a wardrobe for her to wear for the session.  Want her to look and feel amazing?  Boom!  Now you have memories, wall art, Christmas cards, gifts for the grandparents, your Facebook profile is updated and your office is decorated.  Plus you updated your family's history, created an album to take to the reunion this summer and supported local small businesses. How's that for one-stop shopping? :)  Email me! 

Gift Cards/Certificates.  There is something SO fun about knowing that you can dream/plan spend money on yourself!  Amazon, Target, Etsy, Wayfair... depending on what she loves!  Not sure?  ASK!  Do not buy a gift card to Home Depot if she loves Fashion.  Just ask her or her friend.  Seriously.  Here are some of my favorite local, Maryland based small businesses (besides myself!)that I think Mom would appreciate:

https://www.marylandstatedoulas.com/ 

Owner Heather Delaney not only offers birth, postpartum, OVER NIGHT and sibling doulas, but also teaches tons of classes from pregnancy to parenting as well as a wide variety of consultancy!

https://www.esquiremeals.com/

Offers a wide variety of premade, healthy meals delivered to your door.  Premade. Healthy. DELIVERED TO YOU!

http://www.organizebaltimore.com/

They come to your home, help you find solutions, implement them, remove the donations/trash, keep you organized!  Genius!

https://washdayfloral.com/

Love!  Owner Tiffany Rueckert is a floral genius!  She has gorgeous, fresh, sustainable and affordable arrangements available at every price point! 

https://www.whippedweddings.com/

Really want to go nuts?  Tracy Love makes delicious cakes!  Omgoodness!  Booking her requires a bit of scheduling, but SO well worth it!  Contact her to make your confectionary delights come to fruition!

Alrighty Dads!  You have some ideas here!  Lets do this! 

Howard County, Baltimore, Maryland, Annapolis, Crofton, Anne Arundel, Carroll , Ellicott City , Severna Park, Bel Air,  Chevy Chase, Edgewood, Severn, Glen Burnie, College Park, Elkridge, Columbia, Rockville, Reisterstown, Westminster, Burtonsville, Towson, Bethesda, Owings Mills, Parkville, Catonsville, Laurel

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