Last October, Claire contacted me to see if I would be available to accompany her family to the airport and photograph the homecoming of their daughter, Hope. I remember reading the e-mail and getting goosebumps on the top of my head and tearing up. She didn’t have a date, but was hopeful that it would happen in January. She warned that there would only be a few days notice and was concerned that I might not be able to do it with a new baby of my own. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I knew the minute she asked that I had to be a part of it.
January came and went. Claire updated me regularly and was hopeful that they would get the call to say Hope would be coming home any day. Last week, the long awaited call came and twenty-seven months after they started their adoption journey, Claire, Rusty and their son welcomed Hope home.
I know there’s a ridiculous number of pictures here, but I had such a hard time narrowing it down. I was hoping to post a slide show, but after spending hours trying to figure out how to post it, I officially gave up. If you scroll quickly and listen to this you can pretend you’re watching one.
🙂
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Claire, Rusty and S I couldn’t be happier for you. Thank you so much for inviting me to share in your joy on this most special night. xoxo
Sarah P.What an amazing moment to capture. Beautiful shots and gorgeous new family. Congratulations to all!
KimWhat an amazing story you’ve captured! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!
Michelle Dixonthese are the most touching photos. i have a friend that is about to meet their daughter after 2.5 years of waiting so this touches home. what a beautiful memory you have helped them capture!!!
MeganOk, I’m totally bawling. This is the BEST EVER. Sarah, you did an amazing job capturing this night for Hope’s new family, they are going to LOVE these. I can’t stop scrolling back up to look again!
EstherYay!!! So glad these are up! I kept checking all day, they are great. So fabulous and really show every single minute of the night. What a great thing – it’s just wonderful and the faces are so amazing. You’ve outdone yourself on this photo shoot! It is really incredible. And . . . Hope is so pretty!!
Dawn AldermanAmour!
lauraOMG…those are fabulous and so touching. That last one makes me melt. Great job!!
ChesneyWhat a wonderful way to document such a special moment to be treasured forever! Beautiful images!
HilaryWonderful job! I’m having a hard time typing thanks to the tears streaming down my face. What a wonderful job you did capturing the moment and the emotion!
ErinSuch a beautiful moment that you have captured for this family that they will cherish for a lifetime. AMAZING!!!
NancyBeautiful. What an amazing job you did capturing this for the family…I’m sure they’ll treasure these images forever.
CaseyWhat a beautiful job. I am sitting here crying. I cannot imagine the emotions the family went through, but bless you a thousand times over for capturing these irreplaceable moments for this family. How absolutely wonderful!
Nancy PetinoThank you for sharing this special event with all of us. Truly beautiful.
MelissaFAMAZING!!! The images are just a treasure for this family!
tamsen donkerbawling! wow, these images are so beautiful, every time I see something like this I want to adopt more and more babies! congrats to the family!!
ConniWhat a sweet, sweet girl!! How lucky for them!! Wonderful pictures filled with emotion!
DanaThese photos are really incredible! I could feel the anticipation and really got goose bumps as I scrolled through all of the images. What a fabulous collection of images to have for Hope and her new family. Cherished for sure.
Sarah WilkersonOh, Sarah! You’re making me cry! These are AMAZING. I can’t stop looking at them … I have the chills, I’m in tears …. You’ve captured such a perfect story. Perfect, Sarah. Really lovely. They’ll be able to live this amazing experience again and again thanks to your incredible work and attention to detail. Good luck to Hope and her new family – thanks for letting Sarah share a little bit of your life with us.
TerriYour images are absolutley beautiful!!! Love the b&w. Talk about evoking emotion- this is what it’s all about and you captured it wonderfully. Such a lovely family!
CareyI’m crying. I wish I had adequate words. I’m overwhelmed with emotion.
NancyTears running down my face. Thank you for sharing such an amazing expirience with us.
Lisa S.…and then there were 4. Amazing amazing amazing. These pictures will be treasured for years to come!
Shannon JoyThere are no words… I think my tears would explain it all. What an amazing time for this family and for you, Sarah. What a blessing. Congratulations to Claire, Rusty, S, and Hope. I wish your family a lifetime of joy…
CoriI’m sitting here with tears in my eyes. What a beautiful little girl and such an amazing gift. Thank you for sharing!
AmySarah you did a great job with these photos. The parents must be thrilled with these. Seems like yesterday that we went through this same experience with my niece and nephew at that same airport. You did an amazing job for this family!
KathrynSarah – incredible work. Truly. So moving. You captured such emotion in this beautiful family.
LauraAwwwwwwww…simply amazing! I’m flooded with all of the emotions that come with meeting your child for the first time. You did a FABULOUS job…knew you would, Sarah!!!! I’m so happy!!!
Jes GwozdzCongrats to the family! What an awesome story-telling documentary you have created here, Sarah. Love it!
Verathanks for sharing such a beautiful moment!
MelissaBeautiful documentation! Congrats to this family!
MarilynThese are so beautiful. Simply breathtaking!
DanaOh those are amazing and so filled with emotion! The last one was a PERFECT ending!
Charlene HArdyBEAUTIFUL! What an amazing event to witness, the photos are stunning and capture a truly special day!
NadineThose are beautiful photos! and what a gorgeous little girl!
JeriWhat an amazing documentation of a night this family will never forget. I especially love the shot with the son passed out in the stroller! So cute! Great job.
LyanneWhat a fabulous set of images – totally full of the expectation and emotion of the day
AmieWow these are amazing! You did such a good job capturing the emotion that the family was feeling. Congratulations to the family on the addition to their family!
Kay ~ KaceyOh, these are so wonderful! Such a great job of capturing the emotions! Congrats to the family on their new little girl!
marcia from mopsThanks for the good cry! 😉 awesome moment, excellent job capturing the emotions of it. congratulations Claire!
CourtneySo awesome!!!!
LindeWOW! Such powerful images!!
ElizabethWow! Absolutely beautiful. What an amazing moment to capture.
MelanieMy heart is moved by your beautiful pictures and the sharing a such a sweet moment of this family welcoming a new member!!!
Ariana FalerniI have the biggest lump in my throat.. the emotions you captured are truly amazing and I’m feeling them right along with the family.. photojournalism at it’s best!!
KellyThis is why photography is special. I am truly touched by the story told by these photos and this amazing and beautiful family.
TrishaThese are the most beautiful images. I have tears in my eyes. Welcome home sweet baby Hope!
LeslieBeautiful captures!!! Tears in my eyes and my heart is overwhelmed.
jodisarah, what a great job capturing these incredible moments!!! and what a blessed family to now have this beautiful little one to share their lives with!
jasmineSarah, these are just so, so lovely. And I took your advice and listened to the song while viewing this post – there are not ENOUGH images here 😉 What a beautiful moment in this family’s life for you to memorialize. Just beautiful work!
Beth RossSimply stunning Sarah!!! I love the one of her mom holding her in the empty corridor (5th from the bottom). They all look so happy. What a beautiful little baby girl.
Jodi FaleyClaire,
Thank you for sharing this incredible photos. My heart is filled with joy for you and your families. Congratulations! xoxox Jodi
Tracy GildayWow Claire & Rusty,
I have never cried just looking at photos before… What a wonderful experience to be involved in your adoption and experience your little gift as if we were there. Wow!! Feeling lots of Emotions, & Joy for your family.
Lol – My kids are asking me why I am crying…
She is beautiful and so lucky to have wonderful parents!!
Hope you have a Facebook account where you can keep posting pictures of your children….
Warmly,
Tracy Gilday
Fr. Tim MurphyCongratulations to the parents and prayers for your gift of life.
Alisa SinnottThe beauty of God’s love is clearly seen in the eye’s of your family. Congratulations and prayers!
Alisa
KirstenI have tears streaming down my cheeks…I feel like I was there while this amazing homecoming unfolded….so sweet. Truly, may God bless you all. 🙂
Much love, Kirsten and family
Mary Ann ArchibaldI am overjoyed with happiness for Claire and her family. I could sit here and look at these pictures all day. My eyes are filled with tears and my heart filled with gladness for the end of a long journey and the beginning of a new life for all. It brought back many fond memories of my own adoption as an eight year old coming to America from S. Korea to meet my new family in person.
CONGRATS TO THE WHOLE FAMILY !!! Hope is soooo Beautiful !!! She will grow to know just how lucky she is to have all of you loving her and wanting her !!!!
CrystalHow special and beautiful. You did a wonderful job!
Christa aka BabbyMamaOh, awesome. I found you when looking for a last-minute wedding photographer for my mom and her gf. I know weddings aren’t your thing, but I hope I have the $ to do a session with you and my family some day. I’m glad I found you and this post – I’m sitting here all teary, but in a good way 🙂
NoaOMG I’m totally crying my eyes out looking at these photographs. Wow. Amazing, stunning, emotional, emotive, fascinating. I just want to learn more about their story and how their family is doing now. Thank you SO much for sharing this with us!!! xoxo
Noa
JenniferThank you so much for these beautiful photos!! I friend of mine volunteered me to take pictures of her friend’s family as they arrive home from Russia with their newly adopted son. I was clueless as to what to do for them as I specialize in newborns/children and family portraiture! Thanks for the inspiration!
Jennifer