This is new territory. Last May, when I was photographing this wedding, Katie leaned over to me and quietly let me know she was pregnant. It was still early and they weren’t public with that knowledge yet.

Katie and Anthony were one of the first couples to take a chance on me, when I was just a young girl with a camera. Their wedding was the wedding that made me realize that this is what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, and every year since then they’ve sent amazing couples my way, all of whom remind me of how lucky I am. Fast forward a little over a month, and Katie and Anthony are back, at another friend’s wedding they sent my way. Katie’s baby bump is on display and the secret is out. I walk up to them at the reception and tell them I have an idea. I want to photograph their baby’s first day at home. It was a gift I was eager to give, since they’ve given me a lot. Well, last Friday they brought Summer home, and I drove over to Kalamazoo to document that first day, complete with four doting grandparents.

The whole time I was there, I couldn’t stop thinking how lucky I am. People invite me into their lives. Sometimes it’s just for their wedding day, but sometimes it’s more. I thought the joy I get to witness on a wedding day was unparalleled, until I got to photograph Katie and Anthony bringing Summer home.

Welcome to Earth Summer Jane. You don’t know how lucky you are.