Okay, this is going to be brief, as I have written the story out on our new website..

Rich and Heather had a beautiful baby girl in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. I was blessed to be able to spend that precious time with them!

Here are just a couple of the images... check out the weblog for more and for a slideshow... and leave me, and the happy new family some love!

Lots of waiting:







Emotional moments:







Pushing:





Baby!





The new family...



loves!

Congratulations Heather and Rich!!! Alana is gorgeous!! So awesome having Amber to be there with you guys. She's such a great friend and now world famous photographer!!! Totally cried so hard during the slideshow, so many incredible moments. Love the grandfather holding Alana's hand!!!

Congratulations! These are beautiful images and a beautiful baby!

Amber these are so amazing, what an awesmoe experience for everyone. Congratulations to Rich and Heather, I'm sure they will love the pictures and slideshow. Thanks for sharing this with us.

congratulations you two! the images..wow

Congratulations!!

Beautiful work at always Amber.

oh my gosh!! babies are supposed to be that pretty when they are first born, and mom's aren't supposed to be that pretty when they are giving birth!!

congratulations! and gorgeous photos!

Congratulations Rich & Heather! She is beautiful!

Amber another great job with the pictures!

Cat

Congrats, Rich & Heather!!!

As always, BEAUTIFUL birth story, Amber

Amazing photos- CONGRATS!!

Amazing!! Congrats!!!

Sweet. Sweet. Sweet.

I love the picture of Heather in the bed with her hand up on her head. It's a perfect moment of birth when it's all the mom and that little baby and everyone just has to sit and watch helplessly, silently supportive. It's an amazing moment for a mom. I really love that image and so many others.

Congratulations on the beginning of some really crazy, wonderful, beautiful, frustrating, intimidating, best ever moments of your life, Heather and Rich. Happiness all around!

Wow... I'm speechless. Completely speechless. I'm all choked up... That was beautiful.

Wow, Amber, these images are fantastic. I can feel myself getting all teary watching moments from a life of someone I've never met! Job well done and great site.

Can I ask what lens you used? I am on the lookout for a new lens and from the looks of it, you have some quality glass.

Hi

I'd say 90% of these images were taken with the 17-55 2.8. I wish it were slightly faster, but I find that it is fast enough for most of my needs in a birth situation!

Precious images...
Brings back memories of me being there with my wife while she gave birth...
- you really captured some great emotions.

WOW!! Congrats!!!

Congrats Rich and Heather! She is just beautiful!

Wow, Amber, wow. Those images brought tears to my eyes. Birth is so amazing, you captured all of the emotions and moments. Rich and Heather are very lucky for you!

Wow....I really have no words besides...WOW. What an absolutely gorgeous baby, and amazing story you've told with the pictures Amber. Welcome to the world Alana!

Thanks guys!

I am blessed!

Wow. These are absolutely beautiful. The way you captured all those emotions is simply amazing!

Congrats to the parents!

great job! Brought back some happy (and scary) memories :-)

Great job Amber...she says wiping the tears away from here eyes. You did a great job indeed of capturing all the emotion and excitement of birth. I have been throug it 5 times and have another one to look forward to this coming April...Lord willing. You are blessed indeed to have been able to be present for the birth and witness the miracle of life again. And also blessed with your gift of talent with the camera. I know the parents will forever look back on the images and celebrate the life that God has blessed them with.

Thanks for sharing!

Laurie

Best. Slideshow. Ever.

I cried, I smiled, I loved

Congrats to Rich, Heather, and Baby Alana! I looove you guys and I am so very happy for you

Amber, you're amazing

GREAT photos and CONGRATS!!!!!

Wow... what a crazy couple of days. But mom and baby are going fine. Alana is so beautiful and cute at the same time!

Thank you everyone for your kinds words of support! You guys mean the world to us and are like a second family! I read every one of your comments and am just blown away at how blessed we are!

And finally a huge, huge, huge thanks to Amber. She not only was an amazing photographer but also our biggest support during our time there. She simply was incredible. We can not thank her enough. You mean the world to us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Oh Rich and Heather--it seems like only a year ago I was shooting you two all lovey-dovey--still slideshow-ing your photos and then bam! A birth story by Amber--I couldn't have been more thrilled!! Alana is indeed a precious miracle! I wish the grandest of joy for all of you--what a beautiful family. Amber did an amazing job too.

I like the graininess of them. Is that added or fast ISO?

Wow!! Congrats again and again! What an amazing gift!

And Amber, as always, your photos are wonderful! What a gift in you!

Hi Shane

I'm a natural light shooter when it comes to these type of events, so I'm shooting at a high ISO.

Baby Alana joined us at about 2:40 in the morning, so I didn't have a lot to work with part of the time. Thankfully, the actual birth is a medical procedure, so I get plenty of light during that part!

Let me know if you guys have any other questions!

I have a question...

Why didn't they name the baby Amber??? It's the least they could have done after such great images.

Oh! Congratulations! Alana is just beautiful!

And Amber the photos are of course brilliant and emotional and stunning!

Such real emotion... great job!

Amber Smith!? And join the other 60 million other Amber Smiths? With a last name like Smith, you have to be a little more creative.

Oh beautiful baby! Congrats guys!

Amber beautiful pictures. I just started marketing birth sessions, and I got to shoot on a few weeks ago. Definatley so much more fun that weddings! What a blessing to be able to be there for the start of a new family! Congratulations to you!

Hehe... I think Amber Smith would've been perfect

You guys are all amazing.

Wow. Just wow.

I'm all misty-eyed and goosebumpy. April (1/2 of my 5-year old twins) watched the slideshow with me - and it's the first time she's seen a BRAND NEW BABY - and of course, she cooed and said "Awww... she's SO cute!" *sigh* That's my girl!!!

Rich - HUGE congratulations!!!! She's a looker right from the get-go!!! May your life be blessed with incredible moments with this little angel.

Amber - my sweet friend - I loved the shot of YOU sleeping! How fortunate for them to have you there.

Ok. I have to go snuggle and hug and KISS THE HECK out of my kids now!!!! *grin*

Thanks for a wonderful slideshow, and letting us in to share this joy with you!



Happy Holidays!
Roxanne

All I can say is WOW. Just moving and beautiful.

Congrats to your new miracle guys.