Before
the surprise.
Carrie and Alberto Zaragoza, their two kids, and another afternoon of photographs. We made these family portraits at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota. An old barn and the autumn color gave us a beautiful place to start.
A story I’ve
watched grow.
Our first session was January 30, 2020: engagement photographs on a beach in Malibu. I photographed their wedding in July 2021, then a family portrait in November 2022.
Now here we were in October 2026, adding another chapter. I always want a portrait of the parents together, too.
Each child,
as they are.
The whole family is one part of the story. I also like to make room for each child’s personality—a quiet portrait, a little movement, a different expression.
A few smaller chapters.
We made family portraits and photographed different combinations. The weathered wood and the greenery around the barn gave us a few different places to work.
Once I felt I had all the portraits I wanted, it was time for the part we had arranged ahead of time.
“One last
family picture.”
Carrie had told me beforehand that she was going to announce her pregnancy to Vicky. Nobody else in the family knew yet. Vicky was going to be the first.
My one line.
I posed everyone again, just as though we were making another family portrait. Carrie had already told me exactly what to say.
Vicky calls Carrie Tia—her auntie. Carrie knew she would understand right away. I did my little acting part, then kept photographing the reactions.
Keep the camera up.
This was the part I wanted to catch: the looks between them, the laughter, and the moment an ordinary portrait became something they would remember.
A little tic-tac-toe.
Then Carrie brought out a gender reveal cake. On top was a tic-tac-toe board, with the answer hidden beneath the squares.
As they uncovered the squares, the pink row gave them the answer. I just kept watching and photographing their reactions.
After the reveal, they started putting cake in each other’s faces. It became this funny, impromptu little cake fight.
We went with it.
Other than knowing my line, I hadn’t really known what was going to happen after the announcement. I’d never photographed anything quite like this before.
It was fun, it was easy, and they were easy to be with. We just went with it. That gave us some amazing images.
Their next chapter.
From engagement photographs on a Malibu beach to a wedding, family portraits, and now this news. I love getting to return and photograph what comes next.
We came for family pictures. We left with a story none of us could have posed.