When Brandi reached out to me about her lifestyle newborn session in Fort Collins, I asked some probing questions to see if we were a good fit. Turns out we WERE. Big time. Hailing from Louisiana, then living in San Francisco with her husband Rob, before settling in Fort Collins, Brandi is a home design wizard and one half of Swamp Child, a band that she and her husband formed and performed all over the country and at festivals like SXSW in Austin, Texas. They’ve swapped the rockstar life for the rockstar parents life, and I was lucky enough to photograph them in their newly renovated MCM-with-a-70s-vintage twist home.

I arrived to a house to the scent of freshly baked sourdough bread and the most delicious gumbo ever simmering on the stove. WHAT. JACK POT. Brandi’s mother, visiting from Cajun land, held sweet little Evangeline (named after the poem Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie), while I toured their house, ohhing and ahhing over their vintage design decisions. We spent the next two hours chatting and capturing some beautiful shots of their lives as a family of three + grandma. We even got some shots of Eve wearing Brandi’s own christening gown! I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed my time withe the Hagles. Check tout our session below!

Who are you, what do you do, and where are you from?

I'm Brandi, I'm from New Orleans and I'm a full time parent.

Who was included in our newborn shoot?

I chose a burnt orange dress with loose ruffle detailing at the wrist for myself and the baptism dress my Maw Maw made me for Evangeline.

What did you enjoy most about our photo session?

Since it was so soon after our daughter's birth, it was really neat to watch my husband Rob's father instincts unfold before my eyes. He was so attentive to both Eve and I during the shoot and had already become a pro at soothing her.

Please define motherhood in your own words.

Motherhood is sharing your mind, body and heart with a little precious soul that you are responsible for nurturing and preparing for adulthood.

What advice can you give to our new or soon-to-be mommy readers?

The best thing you can do for your baby is to take care of yourself. Make decisions on how to care for your little one through the lens of what's best for your family and your situation unapologetically.

What Was The Best Advice On Motherhood Have You Ever Received?

Try to take in every moment fully because time flies.

Want to book your own newborn photography session with me?