06/11/2026
People often ask how I got started in photography.
The truth is, it started with my son, Reid.
Almost 5 years ago, I became a mom for the first time. What should have been one of the happiest days of my life quickly became some of the hardest.
My first memories of my son aren't what I ever imagined they would be.
They're memories of a nurse practitioner telling me he had a 50/50 chance of making it through the night. Memories of him on a ventilator, surrounded by tubes and monitors. Memories of not being able to hold or touch my baby.
Instead of learning how to be a mom, I sat beside a NICU bed praying for another day with my baby.
But by the grace of God (and some amazing NICU staff), our little fighter came home 2½ weeks later.
But those first weeks changed me.
After that experience , nothing felt ordinary anymore.
I started documenting everything—every yawn, every stretch, every sleepy snuggle, every moment.
The truth is, I don't remember those first few months very well.
Whether it was the trauma, the exhaustion, or simply survival mode, so much of that season feels blurry now.
But the photographs… they aren't blurry.
They remind me of the details I forgot.
They take me back to moments that I don’t remember and the ones would have otherwise faded with time.
They help me remember what those days felt like.
I've always loved photography. Even as a little girl, I was drawn to photographs and the stories they told.
But it wasn't until Reid came along that I truly understood the power of a photograph.
They anchor us to the memories that we may not be able to hold onto ourselves.
As I celebrate 4 years in business this week, I'm reminded that this is why I do what I do.
Not to create perfect pictures.
But to preserve memories that deserve to be remembered.
Helping other mothers remember their stories has become one of the greatest privileges of my life. ❤️
📸: Savannah Leigh Photography
