kovak family waiting for baby

Rachel and her husband are the kind of people who get excited when they invite someone over. When I invite someone over, I'm secretly counting down the minutes until I get my "me time" again, but Rachel and Dan, I can see the giddiness in their faces every time I ring their doorbell.

Rachel is a student turned client turned friend who teaches me about hospitality, selflessness, and kindness every timeI'm around her. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to photograph her and her loving family as they wait for the arrival of their newest baby girl

From Rachel
"As a mother of five, soon to be six, children, I see now more clearly than ever the truth in the poem "Babies Don’t Keep". Babies don’t keep... and neither do toddlers or children or pre-teens. I am acutely aware of that feeling that time is slipping through my fingers.

"I often contemplate the Psalm: “Teach us the brevity of life that we may grow in wisdom.” These days with my children at home are so precious to me and have been my motivation to be a photographer myself, if only a hobbyist."

"Yet even with the very best intentions, with a long to-do list, I often miss capturing the everyday moments that I hold so dear. And as the one behind the camera, it is rare for me to be in the photo with my children, even though I spend every day with them as a homeschooling mom.

"It was such a gift to have Mae come into our home to take photos of our family, capturing a glimpse of our everyday, in a way that was artful and beautiful. I feel so awkward in front of the camera but she put me completely at ease. She urged us not to smile at the camera but to just be ourselves. She talked with us throughout the shoot and it felt like connecting with an old friend. She captured authentic connections between us and that is what I treasure most of all. These are the moments I want to remember forever, not a staged photoshoot in a field where everyone forces a smile at the camera. I couldn’t be happier with Mae’s work. She is a true artist."

I can't wait to revisit this family in a few months to meet the new little person they welcome into their love. Thank you, Rachel, for allowing me into this beautiful time in your life.

---

I will be visiting San Antonio more frequently as well as Houston, Austin, and DFW.
Dates are scheduled for November through March in select cities.
Please email me at hello@maeburke.com for more info,
or visit my store to purchase your session.

Hurricane Harvey

As I'm sure you've heard by now, my hometown of Rockport, Texas has been completely devastated by a horrific category four hurricane. Rockport was at the eye of the storm at landfall and Hurrican Harvey still carries widespread and deep devastation as it moves up through Texas.

Now, first things first, my entire family, maternal, paternal, in-laws, you name it, are all safe after evacuating Thursday night/Friday morning. We are so thankful that we were not stubborn about staying and were loaned a reliable vehicle to take us far away from the wind and rain and destruction.

As many of you have held your breath watching these events unfold for our family, you found out that we, like the majority of our town, lost our home. My home was located on the bay that the eye passed over and was torn to shreds by wind, rain, and debris. Nine tornadoes went through our neighborhood and took every casualty they could. A beautiful thing that we learned this afternoon is that even though there are only two windows remaining on our house, even though the neighbor's roof from four houses down was slammed into the north side of our home, EVEN THOUGH we only had a few holes in our roof that caused the ceiling to collapse - one of the two windows that didn't break was my girl's bedroom window and the wind whipping through the house slammed their door shut leaving their room with minimal damage. For my family to walk out of this with clothes on our children's backs is a blessing and miracle that I won't soon forget.

Unfortunately, my family is not alone in this.
Countless families I know and love are on their way home. (I have to stop a moment as I type that, because in the past 48 hours that word "home" has changed so drastically for the residents of Rockport) What they will find is trees that are over 100 years old in their living room. Debris piled up everywhere they look. Boats on rooftops and in the middle of the street. The roadways are a maze of downed oaks, glass, fences and power lines. Homes and small businesses are leveled. We are expected to be without power or water for at least 4-6 weeks. And after that the process of rebuilding can begin. It seems like a lifetime away for so many.

Along with this extreme heartbreak we've endured the last 48 hours, we've experienced great love and blessing. From having a free place to stay for me and the girls while my husband (along with many of our friends) returns to Rockport in an effort to start clean up, to receiving monetary blessings from friends and strangers to support us and the families who are now unable to work. I've heard your heart's desire to help so I wanted to share some ways for you to help.

General:
Southern Baptist Texas Convention Disaster Relief Fund
Baker Ripley.org

Rockport
Chamber of Commerce GoFundMe
Rockport Farms Rebuild
Please Search Go Fund Me's Website for the tag "Harvey" and "Hurricane Harvey" to find relief efforts for Port Aransas, Houston, and other Texas Coastal communities.

We are unsure what navigating this level of grief and change looks like, but I do know that our community is enthusiastic about rebuilding. It is a beautiful opportunity to watch God's hand at work through His people. I'm sure more specific needs will come in the weeks and months ahead, and I'm very well aware that this storm is leaving so many of us with so little and we are unsure when it's reign of wreckage will be over. Asking any of you for your consideration, prayers, and resources seems so selfish. The world is a hurting place, the hardships that face mankind are far-reaching and innumerable. But I do know that we tend to want to help the people we've made a connection with, so I won't deny any desire to help my community!
With limited access to email and cell service, I do welcome any questions you may have. If I don't have the answer, I'll try to point you in the direction of someone who does.

*CLIENTS*
I have always been so proud of what amazing people you all are.
I am so sorry to say that all sessions and mentoring/portfolio reviews are postponed until further notice. I promise that all of your time with me will come eventually, but I have no way of knowing what that looks like right now and am so grateful for your patience and understanding at this time.

I will leave you with some words from a very wise friend, Shane Sampson
"When you see a place and people that you love left in ruin it's horrifying. Fear can grip and hold you. Angst builds and anger seems to be the default. I have never seen anything like what I saw yesterday in Rockport. But I have hope!

If you have hope in Jesus my encouragement to you is to share in that hope. Where ever you are, provide comfort for the discomforted. Hug people even strangers, hold them like HE holds us. Be a strength for people who have none. I'm praying needs are met, food, water, shelter, finances... whatever! I'm praying for moments when there is laughter and breaking bread with different people. Times went people are lifted above things and relationships are celebrated above situations and circumstances.

People of need please drop any pride and share your needs with the people who love you. Maybe even a strangers who ask?!? It's not easy but everyone needs help and now more than ever people will be around to deliver hope! Don't let that be stolen from you or them because of fear and perception.

Trust me when I say this is not the end of Rockport! The Rockport community is tough and will work through this together. They will help each other and the many visitors that come will come and serve this community."

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