It is truly an honor to be hired to shoot a family’s birth story.  Birth photography is something that I feel in love with several years ago, after being asked to photograph births by several close friends.  It is really unlike shooting anything else.  It's true documentary photography...which I love.  And there is SO MUCH EMOTION...every where you look.  Just to be a silent observer, looking for those moments is seriously just the best thing ever. As one of Charlotte's grandparents said at the hospital...how can you witness something like this and doubt that there is a God?  I wish I could do more, but with it's unpredictability and requirement to be on call for weeks, I cannot always take on clients who inquire.  Luckily I was able to take this one.

So Baby Charlotte was supposed to be born on Tuesday.  This has been the plan for quite some time and her mother was mostly certain of it and plans had been made.  Charlotte had other plans.  She had a football game to witness.  I was shooting at Lucky Ladd Farms yesterday for one of the marketing sessions I do for them when I got the text that Kate's water had broken.  I was almost done with shooting at Lucky Ladd so we headed back to Spring Hill to await more information.  Shortly after I got home, I got the text that Kate was being admitted and was progressing fairly quickly for a first time mom, so I headed to the hospital and arrived just before 1 p.m.  

Kate's birth room was like a party room, with many family members in attendance.  What a beautiful and supportive family...I enjoyed getting to know them.  While hanging out and waiting on Charlotte to make her appearance, I learned that Charlotte's family are big UT fans.  In fact, the Tennessee vs Florida game was on in the delivery room.  The game started at 2:30, and if you were watching, you know that it started off very, very badly.  It became an ongoing joke that baby Charlotte needed to hurry up and be born so that she could be a good luck charm for the Vols.  But it really wasn't looking good.  At end of half time, Kate was progressing nicely but Tennessee was down 21 to 3.  

Not too long after half-time, Kate was ready to start pushing and everyone left the room except Kate, Adam, the amazing nurse Erin, and myself.  Kate began the amazing and beautiful work of birthing a baby.  She was an absolute rock star, as Adam faithfully stood by her side encouraging her on.  And the game was still playing in the back ground.  I believe the game provided Kate something to focus on for brief moments while she worked hard for her baby.  

I kid you not, every single time Nurse Erin told Kate that she was doing great or that was an amazing push, Tennessee scored.  Every. Single. Time.  It was insane.  We cheered them on each time and began to wonder if Charlotte was their good luck charm.  

When the doctor finally arrived (She had been busy delivery a baby in the room next door so it was a close call), she mentioned "Are we supposed to be watching a football game?"  "Yes!" was the answer.  This is baby Charlotte's game.  

Beautiful Charlotte was born at 6:14 p.m with about 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.  She weighed a perfect 7 lbs 1 ounce and was 19 3/4 inches long.  Her parents fell in love instantly and completely.  Her father says she has no choice as to which college to attend.  UT won with a final score of 38 to 28.