Last weekend, I had the pleasure of having Miss Sway in my studio for her 1st birthday Cake Smash! I consider these sessions “Milestone” because let’s be honest, hitting the first year is a HUGE milestone not only for the baby, but also for the parents. Hinalei and Colten have been KILLING it raising such a sweet baby, all while reigning in their active toddler, Eli. 

As I was wrapping up their photos for this session, I realized that I was able to capture all of Sway’s first year, all the way from when Hinalei was pregnant with her until now at 1 years old. Because of that, I thought it would be fun to do a special blog post sharing their photos from “Bump to One”. 

I met Hinalei and Colton actually at their wedding reception in 2018. Colton and my husband, Lance, were mission companions for our church back a few years prior in Samoa. Fate just had it that I ended up marrying Lance and moving him to my hometown of University Place, and Colton was raised just south of us in Olympia. We feel so blessed to have such amazing friends to the both of us, with kids around the same age, and who are just the kindest people you will ever meet!

I first started taking their photos January of 2021. I wanted to get into maternity, I knew Hinalei was pregnant, I asked her if I could take their maternity photos, and well, the rest was history 😉

Then in February of 2021, they welcomed me into their home to take photos of their sweet little newborn, Sway. It took a little bribing to get Eli to look my way, and I was so nervous we forgot to put a bow on Sway’s hair! But it was just so precious to be in their home so soon after becoming a family of 4.

When Sway was just 3 months old, I had the Blyle family back in my home to take their family photos in my newly opened studio.

In October, our 2 families got together to spend the day at the pumpkin patch at Schilter Farm in Olympia, Washington. It was so much fun getting all the kids and hubbies together! While there, I snagged a few video clips and put together this family film as a small personal project.

Lastly, I just had Sway in to celebrate her 1st birthday with a cake smash! Sway seriously has the sweetest heart, the funniest faces, and is just the most beautiful little girl.

Happy birthday, Sway!

xx,

Keli