Sarah Shambaugh – Sarah Shambaugh Photo https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com Blog Wed, 08 Nov 2017 02:18:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.25 Featured! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3995 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3995#respond Sat, 09 Jan 2016 04:54:08 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3995 The surrogate birth I posted a few weeks ago was featured on Babycenter.com! Isn’t that incredible? Babycenter contacted me to see if they could feature this story. Of course! Everyone was thrilled. A big big thank you to the Intended Parents and to their gestational carrier for allowing me to document their amazing story and share it with the world!

Here is the link! babycenter.com

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3995 0 That’s a wrap! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3926 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3926#respond Fri, 08 Jan 2016 04:50:47 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3926 2015 was so so good to me. Honestly. I am really excited to see what 2016 brings. I had 3-4 births a month for an entire year in 2015. It isn’t easy, I’ll say that. It’s so hard, but so worth it. 2016 will bring changes from what I have learned in 2015 and I am excited to start implementing these changes to have an even more successful year. In 2015 I photographed a surrogacy, a home birth, two out of state births, countless c-sections, a few natural, visited the nicu often, volunteered with NILMDTS, I was chosen to travel to California to photograph foster children go to Disneyland (I’m pretty sure we left a few pieces of our heart in California that weekend), A few sets of twins, another out of state surrogacy, a few maternity sessions, a few gender reveal sessions, first birthdays and 5 days of mini sessions. I had TWO births in ONE day. Twice. I’ve missed a birth… or two. I’ve watched a baby take her last breath. I’ve been scared during a birth, I’ve left a birth shaken to my core. I have literally been invited into the lives of so many families, most with the most happiest days of their lives. While some are the saddest days of their lives. I am still blown away by the fact that I get be so involved with my clients. These photographs will forever hold an irreplaceable value. These will be your most prized possessions. You just never know when you will never have the chance to hold these memories tight. Life is too short. Don’t wait.

Back on track… I hired an assistant, purchased a custom made logo for fresh re-branding of my business and in the works of a small studio space in my home. Complete with a barn wood wall. I would say that blessed is an understatement.

In 2015 I have learned to say NO. It’s hard. I love my people and I hate to turn anyone away. BUT. In order to not burn myself and resent my job, I have finally learned to say no. So, in 2016 please don’t take it personally. I have set a number of sessions per month I will take on, including births. I am planning on taking on two sessions per month free of cost to those in need. I really do love to give my services as a gift to those I love, I wish I could make a living to provide for my family by just giving and helping. Unfortunately we all know that’s just not possible 😉

Personally this year, I have learned that LOVE IS a choice. You choose to love those around you regardless of their imperfections. Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. and then its amazing again. and in between the amazing and the awful, it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful. -L.R. Knost.

 

 

 

 

Anyway, thank you for 2015! Happy New Year.

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3926 0 Happy First Birthday Eliana! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3750 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3750#respond Sat, 05 Dec 2015 05:37:56 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3750 It’s honestly kind of hard to find the words for this post.  First I will say, I can’t believe its been a year.  It’s been a whole entire year since this sweetie began making waves. She was born to change the world, and she  did just that. I never blogged the time I got to spend with Eliana. What a better time to honor her than on her first birthday. I met Naomi, Eliana’s momma the day before her scheduled c-section. We had been in contact for months before that when Naomi was planning a home birth. Shortly after Eliana’s parents found out her diagnoses of Trisomy 18, I said no matter what, I would still be at her birth. I walked into the hospital on December 4th for our meeting to talk about all the different scenarios of how Eliana’s birth could go, nervous as ever. I had no idea what to expect, but like I told myself for weeks, it’s not about me. It’s about them. It’s about her. The following day, December 5th. Eliana would be born. Would she be alive? How long will she live if so? Minutes? Days? Weeks? I (we) had no idea. How would she look? I will admit, I have never ever been as nervous as I was on this day. This day forever changed me.  Here is a little tribute to honor my favorite and most inspiring baby I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I’ll keep it short, because I could go on and on… but Thank you Eliana for leaving your heart with me <3

Eliana’s memorial video that was played during her memorial service:

This slideshow is one that Matthew Eliana’s Daddy asked me to make for Naomi as a surprise.

eliana (matthew slideshow) from Sarah Shambaugh on Vimeo.

 



 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3750 0 Baby Lennon | Birth day https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3520 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3520#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2015 15:25:47 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3520 I met Miss Hayley Stell, the beautifully talented photographer based in Tennessee through Facebook. We chatted randomly here and there, she always said that when she gets pregnant she is hiring me. No. Way. Seriously? THE Hayley Stell is saying this to ME!?  It made me so happy. So months later I received a message from her with ultrasound photos. My heart flipped! ” Please tell me this is YOU.”

Then she sends me this…

 

I was beyond happy for her. They SO deserved this. I prayed and hoped for a beautifully healthy pregnancy for her, and then I prayed I would make it down to Tennessee for her birth. I was SO nervous.  I didn’t want to miss this. I wanted so bad to be there for her. She planned an all natural birth and to labor at home for as long as possible. Did I mention how nervous I was that I would miss this? Ah. Nerve wracking!

The last week in July came around… I was leaving for vacation August 1st so we both began to panic lol.  A few days later, Hayley text me and says she thinks its the beginning signs of labor. After a few hours and timing contractions, she was pretty confident this was it. I left Columbus Ohio and headed to her. its a 6 hour drive so I was hoping we timed this right. Hayley lives almost an hour away from the hospital so we met each other there when she decided it was time to head there. Talk about perfect timing…

 She labored beautifully. In fact, it was the most gorgeous labor I have ever seen. Honestly. I left this birth feeling so full

Doula Heidi – Expecting New Life Birth Services

Hayley Stell Photography

I can’t thank you enough Hayley and Matt for trusting me with Lennons Birth Day. I am so proud of both of you, congrats on your gorgeous family.

<3

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3520 3 Baby Solomon https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3074 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3074#respond Thu, 16 Apr 2015 18:24:47 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=3074

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=3074 0 Tennessee baby https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2993 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2993#respond Fri, 13 Mar 2015 02:34:09 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2993  

Long story short…. my husbands best friend and his wife live in Tennessee. The boys were in the Marines together. Went through nightmares together. Have seen things no one should ever have to see together, I’ll never forget the day I got that phone call.

Since then they have stuck together. It doesn’t matter how far apart they are, I think it’s safe to say their bond is unbreakable. When they asked me to come down and stay with them and be there standing next to them when they welcomed their daughter into this world, I knew it had to happen! I was so honored. I made the 6.5 hour trip to Tennessee. It was a whirlwind trip but so worth it. We are so blessed to have this family in our lives. I love them so much!!

Meet “my” Tennessee baby… Miss Addilynn Claire

 

 

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2993 0 Baby Finley https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2979 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2979#respond Wed, 04 Feb 2015 04:10:11 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2979

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2979 0 Surrogacy and adoption! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2973 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2973#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:59:19 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2973 I am currently looking for families who are having a surrogate or will adopt within the next year! I have ideas in my head that are hard to explain so I have made a pinterest board with ideas and inspiration for my thoughts! You can see what I am talking about here:

http://www.pinterest.com/sarahsham/adoption-and-surrogacy-ideas/

If you know someone, send them my way! I would love to hear their story!

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2973 1 1 in 4. https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2847 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2847#respond Fri, 03 Oct 2014 01:43:17 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2847

Did you know October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month? Did you know… October 15th is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. 1 in 4 women lose a baby to miscarriage, & 1 in 160 women will experience the stillbirth of their sweet unborn baby. EVERYDAY over 70 babies in the US will be born silent. Over 26,000 babies each year. Share if you are or know someone who has been 1 in 4. Or has experienced a loss like no other. I am 1 in 4.

This photo here was taken during one of my Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep sessions a few months ago. All of baby’s keepsakes were placed inside. On top is a necklace the hospital gave to Momma. I still think of them so often.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2847 0 Pink or Blue?! https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2840 https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2840#respond Wed, 17 Sep 2014 02:15:43 +0000 http://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?p=2840 Ashley and Ryan have tried for months. No wait, years. To get pregnant. After many many months of endless disappointment, finally it happened for them. All in His timing. always.

 

THREE times they went to find out the gender of their baby. THREE TIMES! and each time baby wouldn’t show. Finally, fourth times a charm. Ashley and Ryan had the ultrasound tech put the ultrasound photo in a sealed envelope for Tasha and I to open. I squealed when we opened it. I couldn’t believe it!  I had to keep my mouth shut (let’s face it, I just didn’t talk to Ashley for two days ;))

http://vimeo.com/106055730

]]> https://blog.sarahshambaughphoto.com/?feed=rss2&p=2840 0