As a Tampa maternity photographer, I’m lucky to witness all kinds of beautiful stories — but this one caught me off guard in the best way. This maternity session celebrates a natural pregnancy after an IVF pregnancy, a surprise that brought joy, awe, and a whole lot of gratitude to this growing family.

And did I mention we shot it during a Tampa heat advisory?

A Natural Pregnancy After IVF: The Story Behind This Sims Park Maternity Session

Sims Park, northwest of Tampa in New Port Richey, FL, was the vision for this session. Mama had dreamed of soft greens, river views, and that iconic historic pink building — a perfect nod to her soon-to-be girl mom x2 life. I was 100% on board… minus the part where Tampa decided to act like the surface of the sun that day.

Golden hour may be queen, but we were also working around bedtime for their 15-month-old. That’s the definition of brave. They were such troopers — heat, toddler chaos, and all — and somehow, the result was pure magic.

“The entire pregnancy itself was the most surprising part! We went through lots of infertility struggles and had to do IVF for our first daughter. This pregnancy with baby sister was a total shock to our family — in the best way.”

The Reality of a Natural Pregnancy After IVF

Not every moment has been dreamy, and I love how this mom kept it real:

“It is NOT EASY. In fact, pregnancy is so hard and challenging at times! I’ve had every negative pregnancy symptom under the sun, and those surely will not be missed. But I will miss feeling baby girl move around :)!”

Even though this natural pregnancy came as a surprise, this mama still knew the value of documenting it fully. Her first daughter’s journey was photographed through our full baby membership — from pregnancy announcement through the newborn phase — and she’s doing the same for baby #2.

Why Maternity Photos Matter (Even When You’re Exhausted)

When I asked her why maternity photos were important to her, she said:

“It’s the most special and sacred time in a woman’s life, and every pregnancy deserves to be documented and celebrated.”

And when I asked what she hopes her daughters will see in these images one day?

“I would forever regret not having these beautiful memories to share and remember for a lifetime. Also, I highly recommend having a photo book made of your photos — and get the prints! Digital images can be lost and erased, but hard copies can’t.”

Yes. THIS.

A Sisterly Bond in the Making

“I cannot wait to watch my 15-month-old daughter and her new baby sister meet for the first time,” she shared. “And become best friends!”

Their announcement, maternity, fresh 48, and newborn images “are our biggest prized possessions,” she said. “We’ve looked back on them numerous times and cannot imagine going through this journey without those special memories captured.”

Final Thoughts from This Tampa Maternity Photographer

This session was sweaty. (My cheeks were literally Santa red two hours after.) It was sticky. It was past bedtime. And it was so full of love.

To capture a natural pregnancy after IVF — the magic, the mess, the miracle — is one of the greatest honors of this job. I’m endlessly grateful to this mama for sharing her vision and trusting me to bring it to life.

🎞️ Watch the Full Story

I couldn’t possibly choose just a handful of favorites — so I’ve pulled together a video slideshow to bring this session to life. From golden light to toddler giggles to the quiet anticipation of a second baby girl, it’s all here.
Grab a tissue (or two) and enjoy the beauty of this natural pregnancy after IVF, exactly as it unfolded.

Ready to Tell Your Story?

Whether your journey includes IVF, a natural pregnancy after infertility, or anything in between — your story is worth documenting beautifully. I specialize in maternity and newborn portraits for growing Tampa families who want more than just photos — they want to remember what this season felt like.

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