When I got the email from Briana inquiring about a gender reveal session, I was thrilled. I had never done a gender reveal session and, quite honestly, hadn't even heard of such a thing until a few months before, when I had thrown a gender reveal party for my sister. The idea of doing a reveal through photos to announce to friends and family (most of whom are very far away, being in a military community) was absolutely brilliant.
Briana knew exactly how she wanted to do her reveal. The night before, she brought a giant box over to my place and her ultrasound photo, sealed in an envelope. "I'm so bad… I held it up to the light to try to see through!" she admitted. "I'm so anxious to find out!" I was just a month behind her in my first pregnancy, so I was completely sympathetic to how she was feeling. Well, not only was I sympathetic, but despite barely knowing her, I was just as excited as she was to find out the gender of her baby! I asked the couple their guesses (Briana was hoping for a girl, but had a feeling it was a boy, and if I remember correctly, Tyler thought it was a girl) and then they headed out.
The second they walked out the door, Nick and I excitedly opened the envelope. There was the ultrasound picture with an arrow pointing at the baby and the gender written out… "GIRL."
We had chosen which park we wanted to do the reveal at, but not the exact spot. Nick and I had the box of pink balloons ready, which Briana had decorated with pink and blue polka dots and a heart that read "Boy or Girl?" As we drove through the park waiting for Briana to arrive, I saw the most perfect spot in front of the water with a beautiful pink cherry blossom tree--how perfect would that be?!
By luck or coincidence, Briana saw the same spot and wanted to meet there. I got to the spot to meet her and she commented about the tree. "Wouldn't that be so cute if the baby is a girl?" she said. I smiled… Actually, it was probably more of a grimace, I was trying so hard not to give it away.
Finally, it was time for the reveal. I set my camera on the tripod and counted down… "On 3, open the box… 1… 2… 3…" The box opened to a burst of pink! Their reactions were so perfect, I felt just as giddy as they did!
This session was everything I love about surprise photography… anticipation, excitement, and pure joy. This is what makes life so beautiful and so worth it. I know that I, for one, will never forget the moment I found out that my baby was my daughter (which, by the way, Briana shot, and it was beautiful!). And I know Briana & Tyler will never forget it either. I love that someday they can show these images to Emmalyn, and know she'll know just how excited her mommy and daddy were about her.
You can view Briana & Tyler's full gender reveal gallery here.