Northwest Arkansas Maternity Session | Rustic Arrow Photography
There are some maternity sessions that simply stay with you—and Stephanie’s session was absolutely one of them. From the moment she reached out, I knew this session would be something incredibly special. Stephanie found me through another client’s Instagram story—proof that sharing your joy can inspire someone else’s. As soon as she saw those maternity photos, she knew she had to book, and I’m so thankful she did.
To kick things off, we scheduled a design for the maternity session so she could explore the client closet in person. It’s always fun seeing someone walk into that space for the first time—and Stephanie’s face lit up immediately. She loved the variety and elegance, already picturing herself in a few gowns, dreaming up ideas for her session. She knew she wanted a mix of styles: something elegant and fine art, a signature swish image (you know the one!), and something a little sexy to honor how confident and radiant she’s feeling during her pregnancy.
Originally, Stephanie was drawn to my glimmering mesh mini dress—hello, sparkle goddess! But when session day rolled around, she surprised me by going for something more laid-back: a classic white crop top paired with jeans so her husband could be part of the more relaxed look. And I have to say, the combination was perfect. Sweet, modern, effortless. It was such a fun contrast to her other looks, and it really let her personality shine.
The second we started shooting, Stephanie turned it on. Like, full model mode. I was stunned—but her husband wasn’t even slightly surprised. Turns out she’s modeled for Sam’s Club clothing campaigns through her work with Walmart. And it showed! Her presence in front of the camera was electric—confident, expressive, and completely at ease. She posed with grace, played with the fabrics, and gave me every kind of emotion: strong, soft, playful, sultry.
We laughed a lot throughout the session, talked about the baby, and even chatted about her interest in a newborn session (which I would absolutely love to do!). Stephanie mentioned possibly bringing her dogs and cats into the session too, and I am 100% on board with that idea—more family members, more love!
But what struck me most wasn’t just her beauty or camera presence—it was her story. Stephanie and her husband have been through three years of infertility and two heartbreaking miscarriages. This baby is their miracle. Their joy. Their rainbow. Every image we captured carries that emotion—the hope, the resilience, the overwhelming love they have for this tiny life they’re about to welcome.
Stephanie described their family as “funny, loving, and caring,” and it was written all over their maternity session. You could see the way her husband looked at her, the way she glowed with pride and gratitude, the way they both embraced this long-awaited moment with such tenderness.
These portraits will be printed and displayed in their home, gifted to their moms, and treasured for a lifetime. They are a celebration of a journey that wasn’t easy—but was absolutely worth it.
Stephanie, thank you for trusting me with this chapter of your story. I can’t wait to see what joy this next season brings—and hopefully, I’ll see you and your sweet little one (plus those fur babies!) in the studio soon.
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