Madison Documentary Newborn Photography | French Toast Mornings

On school days, the dark, sleepy stillness in our house breaks at 6:15am. Coffee brewing, feet shuffling, spoons clattering, “I can’t find my socks” shouting, and whirlwind of backpack stuffing and heads to kiss happens in a forty-five minute lightning round of organized chaos. With violin in hand, my middle schooler grabs the “before 7am” city bus, while my bed-headed fourth grader dazes off on the corner for neighborhood boys to herd together for their daily walk to school. I throw out an enthusiastic cheerleader-style wave to my kindergartner through the smudged, yellow bus windows, and then head across town through commuter-heavy streets while NPR croons on the radio.

That late September sunrise means daybreak is still thick and dewy at 8am. The sun hasn’t climbed above the old, reaching trees, so when Buddy excitedly greets me at the door, the fresh-from-slumber home is deliciously cool and dark. Insulated. The buzzing clangor of the outside world stays there, and I follow Jenny upstairs to where her people are just waking.

Kitchen lights flicker on, coffee begins to burble, and Benton and Mayla work on assembling french toast. Wilder yawns & stretches to Buddy’s curious nudge. All are kindling to those hallowed, slow-to-wake newborn mornings.

Jenny brushes Mayla’s hair while wearing Wilder. 

A slow wake, a leisurely breakfast, park play in the sunshine, all while snuggling on the newest member of the family. Nestled in the sweet routine there is also an immeasurable daily exhaustion and grocery shopping and sickness and so many needs to be met that pop up like a game of Whack-A-Mole.  I believe in the documentary approach because it allows us to marinate in the realness long after the moment has passed. My own personal newborn mornings were similar–busy yet without pressing agenda. I have a different, not easier/harder, not better/worse, type of morning now that my boys are older, and I can deeply appreciate the contrast of an ordinary day between newborn and school-aged kiddos. And both have infinite value to me.

Jenny shared her thoughts on working with me:

Jen is wonderful to work with – fun, flexible, energetic and great with kids. But her images truly set her apart from the rest. She captures the magic in the little details of everyday life. Moments that will make your heart sing and that you may have never realized you never wanted to forget. Her images are both real and works of art.

xo, Jen

Beautifully Ordinary is a trademark of Jen Lucas Photography, LLC.