Have you guys ever met someone that you just instantly connect with? Even before meeting them in person – maybe they’ve been a hypewoman for you online, or maybe they’re your current significant other that you met on an app, or maybe they were your college roommate that you emailed back and forth with the summer before moving out of your parents’ house. 

I had this kind of instant friendship with Becca – a local mom who runs Chew Me Baby (@chewmebaby): a Kingston shop making gorgeous teethers, soother clips, and accessories out of food-grade silicone. We had found each other through a local moms facebook group and she was one of the first people to book my holiday truck photos for charity that I do every year. From there, she added me on my personal instagram page (before I had a photography page) and ever since, she has been one of my biggest supporters. It was actually Becca who encouraged me to start this business, my instagram page, to take some courses, to pick up my real camera and learn it rather than using my phone and pushed me along with her relentless positivity. All after only meeting me one time… for 10 minutes. 

She is always sending uplifting notes, commenting on posts, sharing contests, creating inspiring mom-based content, purchasing gift cards, and doing all this while she does a fantastic job at raising her two free-spirited and deeply curious boys with her husband Ryan. Becca is one of those people who is just genuinely so warm that you feel like you’ve known her forever. A natural cheerleader and a self-proclaimed “mom’s mom” so when she asked me to drive up north to her cottage and take some extended family photos of course I said yes. 

It did not surprise me at all that everyone in Becca’s family (even Rocky the dog) is just as friendly as she is. What DID surprise me however, was Becca telling me when I got there that her little sister just got engaged! I was not at all expecting to do a mini engagement shoot while I was up there but how could I not?! I’m obsessed with taking engagement photos and recently took a course on how to pose couples so I was PUMPED when I found out I get to test out my new skills. What’s amazing is that this idea of surprising the photographer the morning-of with a big milestone is apparently a tradition for this bunch. Becca told me that last time they were at the cottage, they did a photoshoot like this one and she and Ryan chose to surprise her family by telling them she was pregnant during the photos. The photographer was told that morning and was able to capture the reaction of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins of the future babe! So fun! At the end of the shoot, I got to pick up the wristlet for my keys and teacher lanyard that I ordered from her. You guys, I am obsessed. I gave her free reign and told her what colours I like and she totally nailed the exact design and vibe I was hoping for.

It was so lovely getting to spend the morning at the cottage with this family. I hope the photos allow the love this group shares to shine through. And because everyone needs someone like Becca in their life, you should absolutely go follow @chewmebaby on fb and instagram.