I met the Schell Family last year on a snowy winter afternoon. They welcomed me inside their home to photograph the newest addition to their family, brand new baby Emersyn. Emersyn was just a few weeks old and the Schell family was so thankful and excited for the opportunity to adopt her! Big sister Corbyn wasn’t sure what to think just yet, but I’m happy to report 8 months later she has grown into a wonderful big sister!

When Mari messaged me a little over a month ago about the possibility of photographing Emersyn’s adoption hearing and doing some more family photos I was ecstatic! It took some time to finally get a date set in stone but it was totally worth the wait!

I arrived at the newly remodeled Williams County Courthouse and told the security guards I was here to photograph an adoption as they ran my camera gear through the x-ray. They were surprised to hear that and said that photographers don’t come to photograph those very often in Williston, none the less they seemed to get caught up in the excitement of the day to as they pointed me in the right direction. Mari and Nathan’s family met us in the lobby and we all headed up the elevator to await the hearing.

Adoptions might be one of my favorite things to photograph now even though this was my first.  It is such a happy day. Even though this adoption was uncontested there still seemed to be a bit of tension in the air until the judge finally announced that Emersyn was officially part of the Schell family.

Mari was called to the stand first as a witness. She held it together pretty good until the end when she was asked if she promised to love and care for Emersyn as her own. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the crowd of the family at that moment. I know I was tearing up! As Mari stepped down from the stand two and a half year old Corbyn cheered her mom on saying “Good job mommy!” Everyone had a good chuckle and the room seemed to relax.

Judge Johnson approved the adoption, was all clapped and Emersyn smiled!  We then headed off to Williston State College to take some family photographs.

Mari and Nathan, thank you so much for inviting me into such a wonderful and sacred part of your life!  I can’t believe just how big Emersyn has gotten since I saw her last at her newborn session, and that smile of her’s is the cutest thing ever! Congratulations on officially becoming a family of four!

Scroll all the way to the bottom to see images from Emersyn’s Newborn Session!