Exuberant, vivacious, extroverted, fun. These are all words that come to mind when we think Brazilian. And Isabela is exactly that and more. And then of course - the Havaianas! These beach sandals exemplify the spirit of Brazil and it became an integral part of the shoot - a presence that made itself felt.
Isabela was just 2-3 weeks away from the big day when we did this photo-shoot and yet she braved it with a big smile throughout. She was quite the trooper and happily posed for all the pictures. Jess was the indulgent husband who did whatever it took to keep the mommy-to-be happy. Such an amazing couple and they were both so excited about the little one who was going to be a part of their lives in just a couple of weeks! The little one kicked a couple of times during the shoot - a kind of reminder that even though we couldn't quite see him in the pictures - he was very much there!
Isabela looked beautiful and when I complimented her on how nice she looked, she was like "Are you kidding me? I look awful!" and laughed her hearty laugh. However, she had no qualms about baring the belly. She believed that it was nothing to hide - it was something to celebrate instead. She didn't care how she looked. She wanted to capture the moment before it was gone. I think she looked amazing and I am honored that she gave me a chance to capture these beautiful moments with her and Jess, and the baby-to-be!
Isabela loved the pictures and told me they made her cry - tears of joy! Perhaps I really was able to bring in just an extra teeny weeny bit of happiness in their lives with the pictures I took :) And I can say happily with a content grin that - this is just one of the wonderful reasons why I do what I do.
“ To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman, and undoubtedly inhabited.”
And here's a little gift - video/slideshow - I gave her. I included some not so technically perfect images as well - simply because they captured the moment. I do believe that great pictures are just a side effect of a strong human connection. Technicality is just an afterthought.
