AJ & Robyn's

Wholehearted "Yes!"

"We've never had an experience like this."

In the summer of 2022 we invited AJ and Robyn to our home for fresh maternity portraits. We were loosely acquainted at Buffalo Covenant Church and were in search of couples to join us in our preparation for an upcoming maternity portraits partnership. God willing, we’ll soon begin offering free maternity portraits to women at St. Michael’s pregnancy resource center, Options for Women | Cornerstone.

The first time Robyn became pregnant, she wasn't expecting the news. "I had other things I thought I'd be doing in this season of life. It was a whole paradigm shift."

The second time ... "God used the arrival of our second child to show us that the structure of our marriage was off. I was practically functioning as the head of the house and was dying under the weight of it."

Four years later, and now pregnant with their third, Robyn says, “AJ and I were very excited and grateful that you approached us to help you prepare for your work with Options for Women | Cornerstone. This has been one of the hardest seasons for us financially … in obeying God, in getting the vasectomy reversal that had been really costly—and there are still implications of that. Maternity portraits aren’t something we would have pursued. I’ve felt seen by God … and really loved."

A Wholehearted "Yes!"

On the day we delivered their portraits, we asked AJ and Robyn a few questions.

How did maternity portraits end up on your radar?
R: Camry and I met as volunteers at Buffalo Covenant's Vacation Bible School and formed a connection there. It was a wholehearted yes from us when you asked us to come out for pictures.

How did you feel as you were waiting to have your portraits taken?
R: Excitement was our primary feeling. It’s just such a fun thing to get to do with our family and we were looking forward to that. Our daughter, Jubie, loves to dress up. Everything about it was a very special anticipation.

"It didn't feel like work."

How do you feel now that you have pictures in your hands?
R: Great! It was just such a fun day in general, so it's fun to remember that through the pictures, in addition to capturing characteristics of our family—goofy moods or attitudes, personalities—and this season of pregnancy.

Was all of the work going into it worth it now that you can see those pictures?
AJ: Absolutely. It was fun work and it didn't feel like that much work. It took preparation, but doing anything with children requires preparation.

Advice for Families on the Fence

What advice do you have for someone who is on the fence about committing to portraits and wall art?

R: Take time to consider what your priorities are. If capturing the heart of your family is something that’s important to you, I think it’s a no-brainer. It’s a really fun experience. We’ve done a few photoshoots with friends over the years, and this—by far—was a blast. We’ve never had an experience like this.