This was a unique and emotional newborn session. I’m calling it a rainbow twin session and I will explain why. I first met this couple when I photographed their wedding in the Dominican Republic several years ago as well as Bailey’s sister’s wedding. I was so excited when I found out they were pregnant, with twins! They booked one of my packages, with maternity and newborn photos. However, tragically at around eighteen weeks they lost one of the twins, Rhett. While they were still grieving, the other twin, Riggins, started coming early at about 24 weeks.
Since Riggins was born so early, he had to stay in the NICU for almost five months. He was finally able to come home two days before Christmas. His homecoming was the best Christmas gift for this special family. We did this newborn session on New Year’s Day when Riggins was five months old. Children’s Hospital, where he was born, shared this story all over social media, so little Riggins is already internet famous.
Rainbow Twin Session – Riggins and Rhett
At his newborn session, I made sure to find lots of ways to honor Riggins’s brother Rhett. They shared a womb together but were not able to be together on earth. The family had little wood signs made with each of their names and a little set of angel wings that we incorporated into photos. We also wanted to celebrate his Christmastime arrival home with an adorable Santa outfit, a reindeer stuffie, and a gingerbread man.
A rainbow baby is a baby born after a miscarriage or loss. Since Riggins lost his twin before he was born, I thought it was fitting to call him a rainbow twin, the miracle after a tragedy. I am so lucky that families trust me to both celebrate and honor their loved ones through photography.