Santa Sessions are open for booking

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he is bringing Mrs. Claus!

Just in case you missed it, Santa sessions are open for booking.  Santa is bringing someone sweet with him! Join Krista Gantt Photography in the studio for modern Santa sessions with Santa AND Mrs. Claus!  

Who wants to wait in lines? Come join Santa and Mrs. Claus in a comfortable and calm environment, on a clean modern set. Avoid the chaos of mall Santa's and winter germs, and actually enjoy the experience. 

Kids can wear PJs or their Sunday best. Siblings can be photographed together or separately. Light snacks and drinks will be provided.  

The Deets:

10-15 minutes with Santa indoors on

October 14 and November 4

5 fully-edited, high-resolution digital images delivered via online gallery

Print release

Children under 12 only, please.

Sessions will take place in my home in Mint Hill, North Carolina.  Due to the high demand and limited dates, there will be no refunds for these sessions but your appointment may be transferred to another client in the event that you are unable to attend. Studio is located upstairs with no elevator access.

 

Email Krista@kristagantt.com today for booking and additional information

Bennett's Birth Story | Birth Photographer | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

The phrase "perfect timing" has never been so...perfect.  I was just coming back to Charlotte, North Carolina after traveling when I received a message from Liz.  You might remember her from my post about Rigdon. Rigdon is Liz and Alan's son who was born at just 24 weeks and 6 days.  

Rigdon's NICU stay was a roller coaster to say the least.  Liz initially reached out for me to photograph him in the neonatal intensive care when he was 12 weeks old.  Due to so many complications during his stay, the session never happened.  I was finally able to catch up with Liz to photograph Rigdon's discharge home from the NICU.  He was able to spend a few weeks at home, but was later admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit.  He remained there until he passed away in January of this year.  He would have been 1 year old in February.  

A few days before Rigdon passed away, his parents received the news that they were pregnant with a baby brother.

For some reason, Liz and I immediately clicked when we first met that day in the NICU for Rigdon's NICU portraits.  Not only is this couple just THE sweetest, but they are so warm and grateful for everyone around them.  Liz is also a medical professional, so she understood Rigdon's complications all too well.  They were so prepared to love on Rigdon the rest of his life, no matter what the cost.  

I think we were meant to finally connect after many months after our initial contact.  So when Liz reached out and inquired about a newborn session for Bennett, of course I was so thrilled!  I was excited that a past NICU family would allow me to photograph their family, but I was also so glad to continue to have Liz as a friend. (Once you're a client, you hold a special place in my heart!)

Liz invited me into her home for an in-home newborn session, and I was so thankful that she trusted me to capture these memories.  Their NICU portraits were completely free, as a part of the complimentary NICU portraits I offer.  The fact that they were willing to invest in my business meant so much.  I felt a little tug at my heart when I heard the news of Rigdon's passing and Liz's pregnancy.  

I have always been interested in birth photography.  I love the idea of capturing all of those emotions and everything else leading up until that magical moment.  I wanted Liz to be able to enjoy this time a little more than the last time she did it.  I told her from the start that this experience would be different. It was going to be magical. I just knew it.  I knew this would be a happy and healthy baby, and I wanted Liz and Alan to be able to focus on each other and be present.  In the world of social media, it's hard to not pick up our phones during monumental events, because we want to remember every moment.  Well I wanted to take that pressure away, and do this for them.

Working full time and working 12 hour shifts in a neonatal intensive care unit doesn't allow the flexibility I need for any kind of on-call photography.  I told Liz that I couldn't make any promises that I could make it on time, but I would certainly try.  I've only photographed one other birth, which resulted in a c-section that I was not able to attend.  This time around was going to be different I hoped!  I threw all of this at Liz and offered my services. Without any real experience (other than deliveries I'd been on as a nurse), she allowed me to be a fly on the wall in her delivery room during the birth of Bennett. 

Here is where the perfect comes in!  After being told that Liz wasn't likely to make it to term, Liz was admitted to deliver at 38 weeks. Liz contacted me just as I was getting back into town from a trip and just before I had to be at work again.  I had literally one day available in about a 2 week period, and that was the time that Bennett decided to join us (Timing - perfect!)  I arrived just before the epidural and all of the other "action" started, and was able to capture the moments leading up to the delivery. (Anticipation - perfect!) Liz was AMAZING during the actual delivery. Liz, Alan, and the labor and delivery nurse were the only ones in the room until the doctor was called. This allowed Liz to fully concentrate on pushing.  I stayed quiet in amazement as she delivered a beautiful and crying baby boy, Bennett.  (Baby - perfect!)  

The crying brought me to tears.  Not only was I seeing the magic I knew would happen in these moments, but I knew that this little cry was oh-so-important to Liz and Alan. You see, they didn't have the chance to hear Rigdon cry when he was born.  At just 24 weeks, he was not able to cry. Rigdon was quickly shown to Liz and Alan and then whisked away to be intubated and stabilized. Most people take that first cry for granted. Most can't even imagine a baby coming out and NOT crying.  For Liz and Alan, this was probably the moment when they knew that things were going to go very differently this time around. 

These images are just a glimpse into Bennett's entrance into this world.  A little sample of the emotion, a little sample of the perfect baby boy that went home safe and sound with his mom and dad just a few days later. Bennett is eating, sleeping, and growing like he should and has brought so much joy to Liz and Alan.  I'm so grateful that they allowed me to photograph this experience, and I'm thrilled to share these with the world.  A beautiful new chapter.  Stay tuned for Bennett's newborn session images.

Be on the lookout for Bennett's newborn session, coming soon to a blog near you! 

Summer Family Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography →

These family portraits are some you don't want to miss!  If you've been following me for even a minute, you've probably seen sweet Brooklyn. She's the sweetest little red head who is now turning blonder by the moment, and growing up right before our eyes!  

The McKees are sweet friends of mine, and I'm so appreciative for their continued support of my business, and that they have chose to grow with me as their family grows.  I work with Amy at the hospital before she had Brooklyn and we were fast friends.  She's the sweetest, most genuine person.  I'm so glad to call her my friend!  Not only is she a great friend, she's so patient with Brooklyn, and she's a wonderful NICU nurse.  

These family portraits were taken at one of my new favorite locations for a family session.  It's located in Ballantyne, so it's not too far outside of Charlotte. The McKees are always willing to drive to great locations to create beautiful images like these.  We hit the park at the PERFECT time of day for lighting - that golden hour, though!

Make sure to scroll to the bottom for a sweet little [big] announcement!

Congratulations Amy, Elliot, and big sister Brooklyn!

Newborn Baby Girl, Charlee | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

I met Charlee on a beautiful spring day.  One of my favorite parts about meeting her was the drive down a long dirt road to her house.  Most homes I visit in the Charlotte area are in neighborhoods with homes side by side, but Charlee's home is at the end of a gravel road without a neighbor in sight.  I always grew up in a neighborhood, so being away from the city is always refreshing to me.

Charlee was born weighing a dainty 5 pounds 9 ounces.  She did wonderful at her in-home newborn session and is such a sweet baby. Her big brother is still getting used to not being the star of the show, but I think he secretly loves his baby sister.  

Charlie, An Angel | 26 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

You may remember Charlie from a few photos floating around on my Instagram page.  When we first met in the NICU last October, Charlie was just over 2 weeks old.  He came into this world weighing right at 1 pound.  You read that right.  Charlie weighed 1 pound 0.02 ounces to be exact.

Although Charlie's life was short, he fought hard to be with his mom and dad.  Here is Charlie's life in a nutshell, as told by his mom.

It all started on May 15, 2016.  I wasn’t feeling so great and I knew I was late, so I decided to take a pregnancy test.  Well it came back positive, and I decided to take 5 more tests just to make sure (I was very surprised).  On June 6th we ventured to the doctor to hear Charlie’s heartbeat for the first time.  My regular OB/GYN did some blood work and tested for Down’s syndrome but it came back fine.  My numbers came back somewhat high for Spina Bifida, so I was referred to a Maternal Fetal Physician.  

On August 2nd, Dr. Shaver confirmed we were having a little boy (quite the surprise for me). Charlie was quite active in the tummy and they found that he did not have Spina Bifida. However, the doctor did talk to us about the possibility of preeclampsia.  I didn’t think that kind of thing would happen to me.  

On September 16th (my birthday) I had a severe headache and could not function very well. By September 19th, I was being admitted to “Special Care” at Presbyterian Main to be monitored for preeclampsia.  I was followed closely and Charlie’s heart rate would drop from time to time, which was a cause for concern.  On October 3rd I had an ultrasound.  Charlie’s heart rate dropped significantly while they were conducting the ultrasound, and that lead to me being sent to L&D for 24 hour monitoring.  At 3:45am, I had to use the bathroom and when I returned, the nurse was unable to get Charlie’s heartbeat, even with the assistance of other nurses and a doctor.

At 5:30am my Maternal Fetal Physician made the decision for Charlie to be delivered by C-section because he would not have made it through the next 24 hours if they waited. It was at 6:33am when my story ends and Charlie’s begins...

Charlie was born weighing 1 pound 0.02 ounces and measured in at 10.25 inches long. The doctors prepared me telling me that since Charlie was born so early, he probably would not make any noises when he was born.  I prayed and asked for a sign that he was ok.  When Dr. White held him up for me to see, he screamed and cried.  I cried at that moment because it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.  I didn’t realize it would be the first and only time I would ever hear him cry.

Upon Charlie’s arrival, Chris met with Dr. Morales and Kayla (nurse) and they talked to him about Charlie.  Kayla told Chris that he had nothing to worry about because she would be taking care of him that day. They wheeled me into the NICU from recovery and I was able to touch Charlie for the first time.  I could not get over how little he was and that his eyes were still fused shut.  

In the following days, we had a lot of ups and downs.  The first big hurdle was on October 9th when Charlie was at 100% oxygen.  I remember the neonatologist telling us that we didn’t have a lot of options at that point because his lungs were in such bad shape and he needed so much support.  Chris and I just looked at each other and cried because we knew he was very premature.  Everyone tells you about the roller coaster ride called the NICU.  

It was on October 9th that we decided to have Charlie baptized.  We wanted to be prepared if anything should happen.  We celebrated each milestone as it came... whether it was weight gain, being able to tolerate feeds, skin to skin contact, or something as silly as my first experience with breastmilk poop.  

It was not a surprise that Charlie had stolen Kayla’s heart when she first met him, so it was important to Chris and I to ask Kayla about being Charlie’s first primary nurse. As time went on we had Anna, Carmine, Rachel and Hannah all sign up to be primary nurses for him.  We did have a few other nurses that had special relationships with us and Charlie but they already had primaries.  These women all left a lasting impression on us. We will always see them as “Charlie’s angels.” 

Charlie was a feisty little guy.  I couldn’t help but laugh when the nurses would tuck him in and swaddle him and he would somehow break free, whether it was his little legs kicking or it was his arms.  Out of nowhere, you would see his arm go up in the air like a defiant victory.  

It might sound silly but I enjoyed changing his diapers, taking his temperature, wiping his face and just having those few minutes touching him and talking to him, so that he knew I was there.  In the morning when I would arrive, I would sing songs to Charlie and talk to him about the great big world. At night time I would go back and read him a bedtime story.  His favorite story was “On the night you were born.”  I say this was his favorite because it seemed to be the one story that I read to him when he would open his eyes and look around.

My most treasured memories were either when Charlie would grab my finger and hold it, or when we had our skin to skin time and I could just sit there and snuggle with him. 

I received a call from the Pediatric Surgeon on 11/26/16 and he informed me that they needed to do exploratory surgery bc they thought Charlie might have Necrotizing Enterocolitis. I would not give verbal consent.  I wanted to see Charlie before they did the surgery and I made it to the hospital in time.  I got to hold him with the assistance of a Respiratory Therapist until they got his bed set up.  They told us he had a 50/50 shot of making it through the surgery, and I remember thinking and feeling like this was all of my fault becasuse of the preeclampsia. I felt like my body failed Charlie and put him through more pain than I went through.

Charlie made it through the surgery and did great. We stayed overnight at the hospital just to be on the safe side.  I woke up at 1:45am because I wanted to be at his bedside for his 2am assessment.  I received a text at 1:50am from Charlie’s nurse telling me that we needed to get to his bedside.  I woke Chris and we went running.  As we turned the corner we were not prepared for what we were about to see.  

A nurse was giving Charlie chest compressions.  His primary nurse had just given him a dose of epinephrine because his heart rate dropped and it was not coming back up. Once they were able to get him stabilized, Chris and I made phone calls and some of our family members came to the hospital.  Charlie’s nurses all showed up. Charlie really knew how to draw a crowd and get the emotions going.

Around 9pm Monday night, we started to realize that things were not going as well as they were earlier in the day. Charlie was on 3 different blood pressure medications to bring it up, but nothing seemed to be helping. He just looked so tired.  It was at that time that I looked at Chris and I told him that Charlie is getting tired and that we needed to make a decision. He looked at me and shook his head yes.  Dr. Morales was getting ready to approach us and tell us about the terrible blood gas that he just had, but I stopped her and said that we knew he was tired. We wanted them to go ahead and unhook Charlie from everything and place him in my arms, and that is how he would leave this world.

Our families and nurses were there and said their goodbyes. We then asked our families to leave and we only wanted Charlie’s nurses, our Deacon and Dr. Morales there. The nurses dressed Charlie and laid him in my arms and Chris sat next to me. I sang to him and told him that we would never be angry for him not wanting to fight anymore.  After about 5 minutes, Dr. Morales came over and listened to his heart and looked at us and said that he was no longer with us as of 1:24am.  

Dr. Morales and Kayla were there when Charlie came into this world and they were there when he left and that meant so much to us because we had such a wonderful relationship with them.  When they removed the ventilator tube, I felt so heartbroken but when I looked at my sweet boy, he had this beautiful smile on his face.  It was like he was happy and at peace and I felt like maybe my dad was there to greet him in Heaven.

“Dearest Charlie,

You came into this world on October 4th and changed our lives forever. It seems like only yesterday that we had heard the most beautiful sound upon our ears when you cried. It gave us the greatest comfort knowing that you would be our little fighter, our superhero. We had no idea at that moment that we would gain not only a beautiful little boy in our lives but also a family we didn’t know we would be blessed with. Eight weeks may not seem like a long enough period of time to change people’s lives but you certainly did sweet boy.

Your personality was enormous for such a little peanut. It was not unusual for you to go from swatting your little hands at your nurses and sometimes even mommy to grabbing the finger of those giving you the loving care you received. It was comical to watch your nurses work so hard to bundle you up, only for you to sneak your little arm or leg out and shake them in defiant victory. As if your personality wasn’t enough you were blessed with golden blonde hair and big blue eyes and it is plain to see how you captivated the hearts of all who met you. Speaking of those captivated hearts, as you know they are here with us celebrating you. You may not recognize them without their scrubs on, but we know you recognize them by their love and devotion to taking care of you. Whether it was comforting us when you were having a rough day or celebrating milestones with us, their resolve never wavered.

We could fill volumes of books with the hopes and dreams we had for you. In spite of all of those things we wanted our perfect little boy to be a good person. You exceeded our hopes and dreams in these 8 weeks we were blessed with. You taught us more about unconditional love and compassion than we could have imagined. You made a difference in a way that most people can only dream.

We love you very much, sweet boy, and miss you terribly. There is not a minute we don’t miss you. We can only take comfort in your being set free from the pain and struggle you fought so hard through. You overcame many obstacles in your time on this earth, with great perseverance. There isn’t anything we wouldn’t give to see your beautiful blue eyes looking at us, or feel you squeezing our fingers and not letting us pull away from you.

Watch over all of those gathered here and those who were blessed with your presence. We all have an extra guardian angel now to watch over us. You are loved and missed so much Charlie, and you always will be.

Love always,
Mom and dad”

You Are Not Alone

I want other moms to know that they are not alone and that this is a unique club that no one ever wants to be in. I never in a million years thought that I would be cremating my 7 week old son. I still to this day struggle with the feeling of my body failing Charlie and causing him more harm  and pain on the outside. There are triggers everywhere and somedays I can walk around the mall or a store and be ok and other days I can walk in and walk right back out because of my anxieties and triggers. I have a few friends who have suffered miscarriages which is still the loss of a child but they cannot fully relate to what I struggle with because we had Charlie for 7 weeks and had a different experience.

Chris and I started attending Kindermourn for grief counseling which has been great.  I started going to a support group last week called “Empty Arms,” which specializes in miscarriages, stillborns and infant loss. The first meeting was definitely eye opening for me. I didn’t expect to be in a group with 4 other couples and myself (Chris does not want to participate in the group) discussing the loss of our children and talking about the trauma that we suffered.

One thing that I have learned is that men and women definitely grieve differently.  That is something to be prepared for.  Do not let people tell you that whatever you need to do to help you grieve is wrong. There is no handbook on grieving or how to cope with the loss of a child and everyone grieves in different ways. One other thing I wanted to mention is that it is ok to need medicine to help with depression or anxiety. It does not have to be a permanent thing but it can help especially when you are going through so many emotions and it can be very hard to handle.

Mother's Day Event 2017 Announced!

If you didn't hear, today I announced a wonderful event. A personal goal of mine this year was to photograph women.  When Mother's Day started approaching, I decided it is the perfect time to photograph multiple women in one setting.  Why not celebrate your mother by spending time with her making memories.  Bring your daughter too, and we'll make it a family affair!  You will all cherish these images for years to come.

I had so much fun with my guinea pigs, and I can't wait to take your photos too.  Click the image below for more information about this wonderful opportunity to spend time with your mother. It's the greatest gift you could give her.  Dads... take this opportunity to gift your wife or daughter with a special mother's day session. If you have a daughter, you should gift yourself with a session!  

Newborn Baby Girl, Charlee | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Charlee came to join her big sister Madison in February of this year.  She rocked her newborn session and I couldn't be happier with the results!  What do you think?  She has a head full of hair and looks so much like her big sister, Madison.  I just can't even handle how sweet Madison is holding her little sister. 

Charlee's neutral grey nursery with pink accents was the perfect backdrop for her family photos. If you know me, you know I'm all about white, ivory, and blush, especially when it comes to newborn photography.  A little grey never hurts either!  

Update on Jack | 23 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Jack's mom sent me an update on his progress!  If you missed him on the blog, click below to see what he looked like shortly after he was born at 23 weeks.  Then read below to see what his mom had to say about his progress.

“Jack is doing well! He has been up and down on his feedings. He gets very close to full feedings and then his gut needs a break so we start back very low. He does show cues of hunger and rooting and LOVES taking a bottle. He is 2200 grams now! We are working towards him being in a crib, but don’t want to overload him with a ton of work to do on his own. He is down to low flow cannula on .0125 Os. He is not quiet ready to be off oxygen, although he pulls the cannula out constantly so we resort to taping it to his nose.”

Jack | 23 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

“Jack was expected to be born in April 2017, he had other ideas. We were working and living on job assignment in Indiana and drove to Charlotte for a few days to spend time with family for the holidays. The night after we got here, Jack arrived as well. From the point of water breaking, it took 12 minutes until Mini Man graced us with his presence. It has been such a huge roller coaster since we got here. A lot of one step forwards and two steps back.”

These photos were taken a while back, but Jack is definitely making progress.  Click here to see how Jack is doing!

Newborn Baby Girl, Leah | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Meet Leah!  She's quite adorable, and so are her sisters.  This newborn session was so much fun and included a surprise visit from Leah's dad!  Mom didn't know he was coming home and she was brought to tears when he walked in the door, just in time for a few photos.  Newborn photos are such a special time, and I hate when Dads have to miss out and go back to work.  I'm so glad he made it to this session because this family wouldn't be complete without him!

Eliza | In-Home Newborn Session | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

I was so delighted to meet Cara at work one day!  It was way back when I was on night shift.  I got pulled to work in her unit and we chatted all night long.  Although it was years ago, I didn't forget her.  I was so thrilled when she contacted me to photograph the newest member of her family, Eliza.  Not only was I excited that she asked, but her other two children are just gorgeous!  Her third baby was sure to be a beauty!

Although Eliza's story is a happy one, she came to this world after some heartache.

“Eliza was our 8th very wanted pregnancy and is our 3rd living child. I have a clotting disorder that has caused us a lot of issues in childbearing. It took us a while to really believe that we were going to get to hold Eliza in our arms because after losing our son at 20 weeks in 2015, we hadn’t really decided whether or not we would try one last time. Apparently, Eliza made that decision for us...and we were surprised! After 39 weeks of impatiently waiting, our third rainbow baby and final addition to our family arrived! Luke and Hannah, her two older siblings couldn’t be more excited and it has been such a joy to see our family grow to completion! We are thankful!”

Sure enough, Eliza is just as beautiful as expected!  Take a look at this beautiful family of five below.

Olivia | In-Home Newborn Session | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Have you seen Olivia around?  She's definitely making an impression on my Instagram page.  The reason is because she is a beauty, just like her mom!  

Calli is a friend of mine who I work with at the hospital, and I was ecstatic when she asked me to be her photographer.  Not only do I absolutely love her, but I knew her baby would be precious and I just had to get in on the action.  

I never assume my pregnant friends will use me as their photographer just because we're friends, and I never ask to take their photos.  I always wait for them to come to me first.  Choosing a photographer is a personal decision based on many different factors, and I wouldn't dare compromise friendships just to get new clients.  [Plus, if you're my friend before you become a client, you get a really sweet deal. So I'm not making that much off of you anyways!] 

I always encourage friends to have their photos taken, even if they don't hire me as their photographer.  Families and children change, and you can never get these moments back.  So of course Calli and I casually talked about photos earlier in the year when she first found out she was pregnant, but I didn't know if she was definitely going to have photos taken.  You can imagine my excitement when she "officially" asked me to be her photographer!  

Flash forward a few months when sweet Olivia made her appearance.  She's more beautiful than I imagined she'd be, and her parents are absolutely smitten.  Calli signed Olivia up for a Baby Plan membership, so you'll be seeing her in a few months for her sitter session!

Asher | 25 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

“We chose the name Asher because of it’s beautiful meaning: happy, blessed, and fortunate...which is exactly how we feel today!”

Asher was born at 25 weeks and 6 days at just 2 pound 6.9 ounces.  When we met, he was over 2 months old, and looking oh so healthy!  He was working on learning how to take bottles and was able to go home to be with his parents and big brother, Jackson, in February right after his due date.

Kerri and Nate's story wasn't easy though.  Jackson was conceived by IVF (in vitro fertilization) after a few years of infertility treatments and several rounds of IVF.  Asher was conceived using a frozen embryo - Isn't that amazing!?  Our medical advances are absolutely astonishing sometimes! 

All went well during Asher's time inside the womb, until Kerri was diagnosed with preeclampsia.  It eventually progressed and became so severe that Asher had to be delivered via emergency c-section.  He was born on November 4th and experienced a few hiccups along the way that complicated his stay in the NICU.  Today is he is looking stronger and stronger!

Peyton | In-Home Newborn Session | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

This family!  I cannot express how excited I am to have them as clients.  I so enjoyed their newborn session for many reasons.  They just recently moved here from New Jersey and had just enough time to get settled in before their second baby came along.  

Speaking of their second baby... Have you SEEN her?!  Let me introduce you to Peyton.  She's the newest member of the Krista Gantt Photography family, and she is PRECIOUS.  Her big sister, Kennedy, is equally as adorable - and so sweet with her little sister.  This family is a member of my Baby Plan, so you'll be able to watch Peyton and Kennedy grow with me over the next 2 years.  Read more about Baby Plan membership here.

Emersyn | In-Home Newborn Session | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Emersyn is one loved little lady!  Her sisters are in LOVE with her and so are all of her aunts!  I had a little bit of an audience during her session, but I didn't mind because all of these sweet ladies are family!  Emersyn's mom is my husband's cousin, and we are so excited that they recently moved to the Charlotte area. 

I had such fun working with Emersyn and her big sisters, Hadleigh and Campbell.  These girls are so well behaved and are going to be great helpers!  Hadleigh can hold Emersyn and Cambell loves kissing her.  Take a look at these sweet images of Emersyn at 1 week old.

Avayah | 29 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

“She is a rainbow baby, as we had our first pregnancy end in miscarriage in May of 2016. ”

It was a pleasure meeting Avayah and her sweet family in the NICU.  She is currently in the neonatal intensive care unit and is working towards going home soon.  When I met Avayah, she was having a great day.  She handled her outfit changes very well, and was even able to come out of her bed to enjoy skin-to-skin time with her mom and dad.  I can tell she is going to do big things one day! 

Here is Avayah's birth story, as told by her mom:

"We found out we were expecting the end of July 2016! At 29 weeks gestation, I suddenly developed HELLP syndrome. My platelets became dangerously low at 16,000 and they had to perform an emergency c-section. She was therefore born on Saturday, 1/21/17 at 9:40 am. She was 2 pounds and 11 ounces of strength!  She is has increased her weight daily, and she is up to full feedings via her OG tube. She's such a great baby and is very chill. She loves skin to skin time and reading her stories. We are so blessed she continues to do so well and cannot wait to take her home."

Update on Sully | 28 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Sully is growing up!  I can't believe this previous 28 weeker that I photographed last June is now 16 pounds!  He was just 2 pounds 6 ounces at birth, and here he is now!  He might just be my most handsome NICU baby!  If you missed his NICU portrait session, check it out here or click the button below.

“Sully is doing great. He is weighing in around 16lbs now. He is eating three meals a day, rolling over, sitting up, and trying his best to walk.”

I got to see Sully this fall at an event Novant Health Hemby Children's Hospital where I was able to photograph him once again.  Pierce's Project hosted a Germ Free Santa Session for past NICU babies, and sweet little Sully showed up!  Can you even handle how cute he is in his little elf outfit?  His parents are going to have their work cut out for them when the girls start chasing him!  

Update on Lincoln | 28 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Lincoln was the first NICU portrait session that I did almost a year ago!  I was so excited to share my gift of photography with a NICU family, and even more thrilled with the experience when I met his parents.  They are the sweetest couple and they were so appreciative of my complimentary services.  I love being able to incorporate my artistic craft with my love for the preemies and nursing career.

Here's an update from Lincoln's mom:

"Lincoln is 10 months (7 months adjusted) already. He's over 15 pounds. He's crawling around everywhere, sitting up on his own, and just recently pulling himself up to stand! It's so amazing to see him grow & develop. (He still receives PT once a week and speech once every other week.)  He is just full of personality and I'm so grateful to be his mommy. ❤"

Update on Rhett | 28 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Rhett was born in July of 2016 at 28 weeks.  He weighed 1 pound 9 ounces.  I was lucky enough to photograph him during his stay in the NICU by offering his parents complimentary NICU portraits.  Pierce's Project arranged for Rhett's mom to have her hair and makeup done for the session, and she looked stunning!  (See Rhett's NICU session here.) . While I do follow many NICU patients on social media and could see that he is doing great, I caught up with Rhett's mom to request a personal update on Rhett's progress since going home.

“Rhett is doing so well! He is up to 12 pounds, rolls over, and is a total mama’s boy. He is a great eater and sleeper, and he loves being home with his parents and two dogs. He is thriving! He is so much fun and so happy! ”

Remembering Rigdon | 24 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina NICU Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

It was in May of 2016 that I received an email from Liz.  She requested NICU portraits of her micro-preemie, Rigdon.  He was already 12 weeks old, and Liz was feeling mom guilt for not contacting me sooner.  She received my information in a Pierce's Project welcome bag she received when Rigdon was first admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at just 24 weeks and 6 days.  She never felt like it was the right time to have me come take his photos, but now she was upset that she missed so many opportunities to catch him at his tiniest.  Would I still come and photograph her baby?  Of course I would.  We set up an appointment and I sent some additional information to Liz.  And then, crickets.

I didn't hear from Liz.  I was concerned, but knowing the roller coaster that is the NICU, I didn't want to pry.  I gave her space and reached out to her the night before our scheduled appointment.  Liz responded and told me that Rigdon had a rough week.  He had to have eye surgery and was having a rough recovery.  He was also scheduled to have a tracheostomy and feeding tube placed the next week, so it was just not a good time.  

Four months later, I met Liz in the NICU while I was photographing the Queen City Quints.  I immediately recognized her name and was surprised to see her still in the NICU.  I got an email the next day asking if I could come and photograph sweet Rigdon.  

I chose to photograph Rigdon on his discharge day, which I thought was the perfect day for NICU portraits. I knew there would be a lot of people in and out, but I underestimated just how many.  Rigdon was one loved boy!  I've posted his discharge day photos below.  

Today, Rigdon would have been 1 year old.  I wish I could tell you that his journey after being discharged was an easy one, but he spent much of his time in the pediatric intensive care unit.  Liz and Alan are spending today celebrating Rigdon's life and remembering the special times they had with him while he was here.  They're even spending today visiting the hospitals where Rigdon spent most of his life, bringing gifts to those who cared for him.  Their generosity during this devastating time is certainly inspiring!  

Just a few days before Rigdon passed away, Liz and Alan received the news that they are expecting another baby boy.  I was elated when I heard the news, but also knew that they must be feeling such mixed emotions, celebrating new life while grieving the loss of another.  Just in the short time I've known Liz, I've seen her strength and I know that she is more than capable to face the challenge.  I think this new baby is God's way of helping Liz and Alan prepare for their next stage in life.  Liz's motto throughout Rigdon's journey was "We can do hard things."  While I don't know where that comes from, I certainly hope this is the hardest thing they have to endure.

Enjoy Rigdon's sweet cheeks as you look at his discharge day photos!  He's one precious little nicu graduate! Click here to donate to Rigdon's family.