Dec 22, 2006

Infant Bereavement Photography

Note: This post contains sensitive subject matter.

Many months ago, when I was pregnant with my second child, I heard about a non-profit organization that offered assistance to families suffering an early infant lose. The services are available for infant lose as early as 20 weeks gestation. Photographers who volunteer their services provide the families with beautiful heirloom portraits of their children to help with the healing process. After many months of consideration, Chris and I signed up with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (nilmdts.org).
Yesterday, for the first time, our studio was called upon to produce portraits for a family at the hospital. The hardest part for me, as a mother, was knowing the grief that the parents' must be going through. As I looked at the parents, I was surprised at how ordinary they appeared to me, like any other couple sitting in a hospital room, so loving and strong. And their little angel looked so perfect laying in their arms.

I pray that God will continue to watch over them and that these photographs give them a tangible memory to cherish.