lisa & mark waiting for baby h

Lisa is someone who makes you smile when she's around.
I met her at a five am workout class, and everyday, her smile made me smile.
She was a newlywed when I met her, coming into her own as a wife all while being an encouragement to those around her. When I found out she was expecting, I was thrilled for her! I was thrilled that she was going to get to experience motherhood, thrilled that her happy husband was going to get to watch his wife take on this new role, and thrilled that this baby is coming into a world of love that is just precious.

Thank you, Lisa and Mark, for meeting me at sunrise with your fur-babies to celebrate this beautiful time in your lives.

“I met Mae at the gym shortly after moving to the Rockport area, and her enthusiasm and love for life automatically caught my attention. Once I discovered what her passion and profession was, I (not yet pregnant or even wanting to be) started envisioning my maternity session with her. I’m a planner, and apparently sometimes I plan for things that aren’t even within my grasp. Fast forward a year and here we are - baby in belly and Mae’s beautiful photography on my computer screen. ”
— Lisa J
“Pregnancy has been one of the best periods of my life. I feel very fortunate to not have gone through any difficulties or complications thus far (minus a few weeks of morning sickness and acne that just won’t go away). Pregnancy has strengthened my marriage and positively changed my husband (and myself) in ways I wasn’t expecting. It has also helped me to bond even more with the women in my life. I can only hope to be the kind of mother that my mom, grandmas, aunts, and friends have been.
My husband and I decided to go the ‘natural’ route with our birthing experience shortly after becoming pregnant, and after reading and learning so much about the process, I find it hard not to try and sway others to do the same. A few friends, including Mae, have inspired me to birth naturally and it is what I’m looking forward to most in my pregnancy. Women’s bodies are designed to create, birth, and care for babies. I encourage any future moms-to-be to explore the option of natural birth too!
”
— Lisa J
“ My husband and I are so pleased Mae captured the love we have for each other and the excitement we have for our growing family. She even got our fur babies in a few! I was nervous about the vulnerability of showing my bare belly, but Mae actually snapped all of these shots as we were just catching up as friends. Mae has an eye for beauty through a lens. I can’t wait for our next session once our precious baby has arrived!”
— Lisa J

Thank you again Lisa and Mark for having so much fun with me at the beach. I cannot wait to meet this little fire cracker!

Love what you see down here on the Coast?
Will your family be visiting Rockport, Port Aransas or Corpus Christi this summer?
To book family or maternity session while you are in the Coastal Bend,
be sure to visit the shop for all the details

or email me at hello@maeburke.com

Alyssa & Her Loves | Seattle

When I announced that I was headed for Seattle for Click Away and that I'd be taking a few sessions while I was there, I almost immediately sold this session. I noticed the name on the receipt was a man's name, but didn't think too much of it, because sometimes the women who hire me, use their husband's billing info on my site.
And right after that, I got the sweetest email letting me know that it was, indeed, a man who purchased the session. It was a gift for his expecting wife because he knew she loved my work. Oh, y'all. I for sure bawled like a baby. The. Sweetest. Ever.
And after spending a little bit of time with them, oh my word, the love they have for each other is so real.

From Alyssa:
 

We both agreed that the session with you was our favorite we’ve EVER done! & I promise I’m not just saying that!!!! Your energy was calming, comforting, and it was like we had known you for years not minutes. 

I was first introduced to your work through the purchase of your “moments in motherhood’ LAST October. I started following you on Insta and loved your work. When you announced you would be coming to Seattle to the workshop and offering mini sessions I remember making the comment to Jorel “Oh my gosh, this photographer I love is coming to Seattle… How cool would it be to get photos done with her!” NEVER did I think it would actually happen. You see, my best friend is a photographer and while she doesn’t specialize in family, maternity, or even kids— I knew she could capture a few of us for the sake of the memory. I don’t love being pregnant so I wasn’t overly excited for a maternity shoot. So her coming by and snapping a couple was going to be just fine. 

When he handed me the email confirmation of our shoot with YOU… I burst into tears. We had sworn that we wouldn’t do presents for our anniversary and boy did he surprise me. AND kept it a secret for like 3 months! That was in August and for the last two months Ive been a little nervous. I suddenly went from barely wanting a picture of myself pregnant to a session with someone who specializes in capturing motherhood. 

I just finished reviewing our gallery. Thank you for capturing US. My very favorite is the one of Jorel & I. There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you hit the jackpot of husbands. But the best part about Jorel is he isn’t just a loving husband… He is the BEST dad. My kids are REALLY REALLY lucky :) 

The next stage in motherhood is an exciting one. I turn 30 next month. We will celebrate Archer’s ‘golden’ birthday on the 3rd of December and then in a few short weeks we will welcome our baby girl to our world. Christmas. New Years. So much will happen in the next few months its part terrifying but mostly just exciting. I try to take each day a little slower. I savor moments more than I ever had in the past. I’m soaking up this time with Archer and anxiously preparing myself for whats coming. & lets be honest… I take A LOT of naps! 

I hope these words help tell our story. & thank you from the bottom of my heart for these images. I see me. I see Archer. & I see Jorel. In our truest forms. Happy! :)

Thank you, Jorel and Alyssa for bringing me into all the joy you've cultivated in your family. It was so sweet getting to know you.

Kyndal & Her Third Babe

I have had the pleasure of photographing Kyndal for over three years now. We celebrated her first year of nursing/motherhood with her first baby, Liam, and she has chosen me to photograph her growing family ever since.

Kyndal possesses a rare type of beauty. One that doesn't rely on forces and influences of the world, but one that radiates purely from the depth of her soul. The Spirit in me recognizes the Spirit in her and it made my heart sing as I photographed her carrying her third baby.

A few words from Kyndal

“One of God’s greatest blessings on me has been growing me as a mother and allowing me to carry these sweet babies. I am so thankful for everything that comes with being a mother and I am eternally grateful for the time I have with them. Mae has captured these moments more beautifully than I could have ever imagined and I will treasure these images! She is amazing and feels like part of our family after photographing our growing crew all of these years”