Photographing NICU sessions will always hold a special place in my heart. Each one is deeply personal, emotional, and tender in ways that words can barely capture but I try to tell that story through the lens. This particular session took place at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, where I met a tiny warrior who had already overcome so much in just a few short weeks of life.

Born at just 29 weeks and 1 day, this sweet baby was still working through high flow oxygen, an IV line, and a feeding tube but absolutely thriving. When I walked into the hospital room, natural light poured through the window (a rare gift in a NICU setting), and I was greeted by the calm presence of two loving parents, quietly doting on their little one. The space was full of peace, hope, and soft baby yawns — so many adorable yawns! He was truly a little peanut, curled up in his bed, and even in such a clinical environment, the love surrounding him was undeniable.