I first met Christa and her family through the non-profit organization I co-founded — Friendship by LiliZach. Friendship is an effort to improve the first few hours,days, weeks, months of families who have received a diagnosis of Down syndrome in and around Frederick County, Maryland. My co-founder and dear friend, Diany, and I both experienced less-than-stellar diagnoses when we had our first-born children Zach and Lili. We want to celebrate the birth of a baby and help an overwhelmed family feel supported and part of something bigger.

We gift these families bags filled with not only baby items and gifts for the parents but resources for local and national organizations that will help them on the journey. AND it includes a complimentary photo session for the family because I understand how hard it can be to capture memories with a child with special needs.

First Birthday Portrait Session

Due to schedules and health concerns, Christa and I weren’t able to connect until she was ready to capture little Sophia with her family just in time for her first birthday.

I met their family at their beautiful home and we had ourselves a fun little adventure while also swapping stories and gifting support. We got Sophia with her big sister and her doting parents and I loved seeing her strong little self work so hard on sitting and crawling and all of the milestones she’s already attacking during this first birthday portrait session.

I might be biased, but of all the things we gift to these new families with a Down syndrome diagnosis, I think the gift of captured joy and memories is one of the best. Thank you to this beautiful family for sharing their story with me!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•