Oliver Lin Stephens Huie
“We give birth the way that we live.”
-Our midwife, Michele, East End Midwifery Services
For us—that means having a plan. That means a checklist, a Gcal invite, probably a meeting, and a few back-and-forths. That means gathering a support team, establishing contingencies, idea visualization and manifestation. Focus on intention. What do you want? Then it’s onto logistics and their eventual execution. When it all goes well it feels like the stars are aligning—but when they don’t—we never get swallowed in the darkness.
The Last Total Lunar Eclipse of 2022
For months, the full-moon total lunar eclipse on November 8th, 2022, has been on our calendar. It was a hopeful hypothesis that Oliver would be born in the early morning before the sun followed the blood moon. This is when the tides would be at their strongest and Heather’s due date was only four days later. Well, on November 7th, I woke up to the low hum of Heather moaning, eyes closed, with her head and neck arched back on a pillow. She didn’t even have to say it out loud—I knew she was already in labor.
Doula to the Rescue
A few days before Heather went into labor, our dear friend and local doula, Nancy, informed us that she took a spill down a flight of stairs and sustained a series of injuries including a concussion. A two-hour commute to our house was probably not advisable. Coincidentally, the very next day, our friend Lindsey who lives in Colorado reached out and said that she was interested in flying out and offering her birth photography and doula services if we needed it.
Lindsey’s flight arrived at La Guardia at noon on November 7th.
“A Certain Nocturnal Visitor”
Before Heather went into labor with Capa she said that she was not going to have him during the day. Maybe it’s because sunlight reminds her of work and she can’t work when she’s having a baby, or maybe she’s a vampire. Either way, he was born at night. So after I picked up Lindsey for Oliver’s birth and we told Michele that Heather was in labor, we knew that there wasn’t much urgency given the duration of her contractions and how far apart they were. No matter what we’d be waiting for nightfall.
Active Labor with a midwife
Around 5:30 pm, with Lindsey, Michele, and her assistant, Noelle, in place I could really sink into my support role. I patiently waited all day for Heather to invite me into her space. It started with a hand; to hold, clench, and steer towards pressure points. It evolved to a rebozo and gentle massaging. Then for the next few hours Heather and I would remain close, our bodies and arms wrapped around each other as we hummed and moaned. She eventually told me to stop moaning along. I listened.
Transition
Heather climbed into the tub around 10:30-11pm. I remember thinking that Oliver might arrive before the day is over. Heather requested that we put on Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar and I was amazed that she was still fully tuned in and communicative, swaying her body to the beats in the warm water. At this point during Capa’s birth she had already gone inward to manage the pain. After the first song or two, she invited me closer, pulling my head next to hers, and we closed our eyes and moved together. I remember smiling.
Capa
We put Capa down hours earlier around his normal bedtime. We all cuddled in our king-sized bed as he drifted away to the sounds of his favorite movie, Sing 2. He woke up periodically throughout the night and I would take leave to get him back down. The last time he woke up was around 2 am, when Michele came to the stairs to call me back down. “Heather wants you here, you can bring Capa.” And so for the next 20 minutes Capa and I looked at Heather as she beared down.
Nothing makes you feel smaller than watching a woman give birth. All sense of machismo, bravado, and hubris melts away into admiration—into witnessing what true strength looks like.
A Round of Applause and Fist Bumps
Immediately after Heather gave birth to Oliver, Capa began to clap. Like literally. He then went up to give Oliver a fist bump, followed by the whole support team, one at a time. What a guy.
The Plan
From the outside in, we got lucky with our 2nd successful home birth. We somehow avoided all of the many pitfalls of labor and delivery. But that’s not the way we see it. We see the plan: the meetings, the support team, the contingencies. We see how we put ourselves in a position to succeed by making decisions by following our collective minds and hearts.
We saw how all the stars began to align so we put our jackets on and took a good look at that giant, copper-colored full-moon.
So at 2:33 am on November 8th, 2022, when Oliver Lin Stephens Huie came into this world, it was not because we were lucky.
It was because we aligned our own stars and created our own constellation.
We gave birth the way we live.
Photography & Doula | Lindsey | Lindsey Eden Photography | Arvada, CO
Midwifery | East End Midwifery | Southampton, NY
Doula | Nancy | Nancy Weidner Doula
White Trail Farm Wedding in Jupiter Florida
Apollo Fields | Florida Wedding Photographers | Best Wedding Photos | White Trail Farm Wedding | Jupiter Wedding Photography
Sami + Justin
I’m sorry Florida, I think I owe you an apology. I’ve been trashing you in my head for my entire life, thinking that all you had to offer was alligators, humidity, and the “Florida man” archetype. I’ve now seen parts of Fort Lauderdale, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, and Wellington and can safely say I’m officially a snowbird. Spending almost two weeks of winter in your warm sunshine has softened my ashy, dried skin back to a springtime shine.
White Trail Farm Wedding Photography
We first met Sami and Justin in Brooklyn for their engagement photos in November in Williamsburg. We kept it quick and casual because engagement sessions are more about getting to know each other than shooting really heavy. We knew that Sami and Justin’s wedding was going to be a blast when we stopped off at Talea Beer Co. and grabbed a pie at Best Pizza before heading back to Northport. So when we pulled up to White Trail Farm in Jupiter, Florida, this past week we knew the kind of celebration it was going to be!
White Trail Farm is a sprawling green pasture that features: a tranquil pond, animal sanctuary, a stunning variety of flowers, a Spanish-style villa, and customizable indoor and outdoor barn space. We navigated the property with a golf cart and could not get enough of every inch of this place. The wedding planner, Rachel, and her team turned this property into a dreamlike place to celebrate Sami and Justin’s wedding.
A Literal Golden Hour
When Heather and I typically talk about golden hour we expect the light to last 10-15 minutes max, depending on cloud conditions, time of year, and horizon lines. We expect to work fast and efficiently, changing our settings on the fly. So when we pulled Sami and Justin for a few golden hour photos we expected our typical 10-15 minute interval and were pleasantly surprised that it lasted almost a full hour! This is most likely because we are used to shooting in mountains or in locations more north of the equator than Florida. I guess we'll just Have to shoot more weddings in Florida in the winter!
Calling All Snowbirds
Do you live in the northeast but want to get married in Florida or another state in the south? Do you want to have the same photographer for your engagement photos as your wedding but are not sure where to look? Well Heather and I are officially snowbirds and would love to cover both of your events in both locations. We are open to waiving travel fees for couples who want consistency in their photography and service, and do not want to hassle with tracking down multiple photographers. So let us do your fall engagement photos in the Hudson Valley or atop a snowy mountain before we all head down south to celebrate your wedding in the warm sunshine!
vendors
Photography Apollo Fields
Planner: Rachel Leigh Events
Venue: White Trail Farm | Jupiter, Florida
HMUA: Majestic Hair & Gem Makeup Artistry and Hair
Rabbi: Marc Labowitz
Catering: Bill Hansen Catering
Florals: Anthology
Rentals: Atlas, MI VINTAGE, Events on the Loose
Band / Musicians: Tropics Entertainment
Lighting: W Event Design
Loving the FL winter wedding vibe!
We had a blast with Sami and Justin! Reach out for your own photography needs.
My Colorado Sunrise Maternity Photos
My Colorado Sunrise Maternity Photos with Lindsey and Lauren | Denver mountain photography
It was early Sunday morning when Lindsey, Lauren, and I pulled up to the location that we were going to take some photos. We had planned a sunrise session in the mountains and it would be the first time that I would have professional photos done of my pregnancy that didn’t involve a tripod and a timer. My second trimester “bump” had suddenly turned into the third trimester “belly” and with that, the feeling that time was moving faster than it had the last six months.
My first trimester was a bit of a fog— falling right on top of the panic of COVID and intense quarantining, we were also navigating the anxiety of a high-risk pregnancy. I had just enough morning sickness and extreme fatigue to actually want to be in lock down at home, and luckily right around ten weeks, the world became a little less scary at the same time that the doctors became a little less scared about us.
Second trimester, on the other hand, was both sweet and savory. I was no longer considered high risk and I was able to start shooting again. Our little bean started wiggling around, every prenatal test was coming back great, business was picking up, and we slowly reintegrated into traveling and visiting family again. All seemed to be right in the world and none of it went unappreciated.
Here we are now, embarking on the third trimester and simultaneously pushing through a surprisingly busy “busy season”. Our work is giving me life while I am growing a life and somehow nothing feels more natural. But I know that this time is fleeting, and in just a few weeks, we will officially hunker down to get into full on baby mode. Despite the buzzy/swarmy feeling that I have, I am also realizing my own desire to document this chapter.
Luckily, my friends are just as crazy and artistic as I am because what started as just having lunch together and catching up with Lindsey quickly turned into “let’s do a sunrise maternity session by a river”. I knew that I’d be running on fumes by then considering that the day before we would be driving out to Aspen, shooting a wedding, and then driving all the way back from Aspen. I also know that running on fumes isn’t always a bad thing and can serve us mentally and physically at times. So I enthusiastically jumped on board with this plan, and began manifesting my own vision for what I wanted to come from the shoot.
I can’t quite explain why, but I wanted something that felt intense, I wanted something cold, and I wanted water. Suffice it to say, I got exactly what I wanted.
When I first opened the door at the location, I was greeted with a sharp windblown chill and the reminder that Colorado weather guarantees nothing. The morning sun had started hugging itself across the horizon line, falling into its own unpredictable alpenglow as it worked against the wildfire smoke that could have easily be mistaken for rain clouds if you didn’t know better. The campfire smell was easy to ignore against the freshness of the autumn-kissed Aspens, and we all made our way down to the river knowing that the morning was about to be magical but unforgiving.
Nothing makes you realize the cold quite like standing practically naked in it, which was exactly how I would spend the next hour or so. We cycled through some beautiful outfits that Lauren had brought, which were more akin to garnishes on a plate than actually articles of clothing in terms of warmth. The light would come and go, but when it came, it would blanket my skin in a warmth much more soul satisfying than any jacket or blanket could have served me. It was then that I started to lean into the extreme sensations rather than work against them.
What a metaphor for birth itself, I began to think to myself as I chattered standing shin-high in the icy river. The snow-melted water would drag across my skin with a glasslike quality while slowly I worked through it so not to get swept down over the slippery rocks. We were all cold and we were all wet, but I would be the one physically trembling in front of their cameras.
The affect of Lindsey’s voice changed from photographer-to-doula (both of her specialties) as she calmly told me to take a deep breath. Just like that, my body would indeed stop trembling and I could control the previously uncontrollable chatter. That was the “aha moment” for me, realizing that in just a few months, that very exercise and experience could serve me in labor.
I realized that what I was feeling was physically intense, and at times downright uncomfortable. I laid in a pricker-laden shrub, against hard rocks, and eventually submerged my lower half into the river itself. But I also realized that I was safe, that the discomfort I was feeling would be temporary, and I was surrounded by two people who supported me. Again, a metaphor for birth.
I say this as someone who has never actually given birth before, but squirreling up all of the knowledge and resources possible to prepare for the experience. We are planning an unmedicated home birth and feel very confident that this is the best route for us. I am also practical enough to know that this is merely a plan, and all plans can become derailed. My Type-A side wants to meticulously craft the experience so that we don’t end up on the other side of our intended vision, but my intuitive side knows that the best way to do this also involves tapping into our instincts and nurturing our emotional strength.
Much like this photoshoot, I anticipate birth to be intense with moments of downright discomfort. I imagine that Terrence and I will be taken to extremes, but I also imagine moments of warmth and light. I am comforted by the fact that I will be safe and I will be surrounded by people who support me. I know that my breath work can make my body cease trembling, even if it is temporary and I have to be reminded to do it over and over.
I write this now on a plane back to New York a day after our chilly sunrise shoot: I am now warm and comfortable, sitting across from my husband who will occasionally smile through his mask at me and reach out a hand for a quick touch. What I am left with are these stunning photos from Lindsey and Lauren to remind me not only of my maternity experience, but as a way to empower us through the next few months. I am also left with a strong sense that not all discomfort is pain, and not all pain is without purpose. We should not fear intense experiences, rather welcome them into our lives as a way to learn more about ourselves and others. Here’s to the next few months of busyness and stillness, discomfort and euphoria, anticipation and patience, and all the other dichotomies that I believe can – and should – coexist in our lives.
– Heather
Photography: Lindsey Eden & Lauren Wright
Bedford New Hampshire Winter Wedding
Apollo Fields | Candid Wedding Photography | New Hampshire Wedding Photographer | Bedford Wedding Photos | Best Wedding Photos | Bedford Village Inn Wedding | Bedford, NH
Liz & Nick
Every wedding trip begins with Heather and I going through a checklist as we pack the car: light stands, extra batteries, memory cards, and camera bodies, toothpaste and toothbrush, contact lenses, a cooler for snacks and beverages, Capa. Holy shit. Our son has officially become part of the workflow. During Heather’s pregnancy we were constantly told how much our lives would change when he arrived and we always pushed back with the phrase, “oh, we’re not slowing down for him, he’s just going to have to learn to keep up.” Seasoned parents typically responded with a smirk and playful eye roll so as to say, “you have no idea what you’re getting into.” Well I’m happy to report that Capa’s first wedding, Liz and Nick’s beautiful winter wedding at the Bedford Village Inn in New Hampshire was a huge success.
We did Liz and Nick’s engagement photos in Providence this summer, but they picked the Bedford Village Inn for their wedding because of its colonial architectural charm. The hall where they held their reception was anchored with large, rustic wooden beams connected with mortise and tenon joints. Brass chandeliers lit the large room, evoking a cozy warmth on a bitterly cold New England winter day. Both Liz and Nick got to enjoy a spacious suite to comfortably get ready in, and the venue’s classy restaurant rounded out the wonderful service and amenities that every bride and groom deserve.
Heather and I were happy to see Liz and Nick take the proper health safety precautions, asking each of their guests to wear masks and provide a negative Covid test in order to attend their celebration. We’ve seen many different approaches to weddings during the pandemic but it was really comforting to see the lengths that her family and friends took to assure every one’s safety. It not only made us feel more comfortable, but it also made the coziness and overall atmosphere of the wedding feel the closest thing to pre-Covid times that I can remember.
Heather wore Capa on her chest for most of the day, handing him off to me for important events like the ceremony, family formals, and speeches. Liz and Nick’s family and friends were so sweet to Capa, welcoming him to the celebration like he received a tiny little invitation in the mail. We heard tables buzzing as we walked past and it means so much to us that our couples and their guests are as willing as we are to welcome Capa into our professional lives. We don’t intend on slowing down any time soon.
I have a feeling that I will cherish the memory of Liz and Nick’s wedding for many years to come. Whether it was because of the way they welcomed Capa, or the many friendly faces behind the masks that made the event feel like a semblance of pre-Covid life; I will always be grateful for that warm wooden room on that cold winter day.
Wedding “I-Dos” and Don’ts: The Inside Scoop
Wedding Planning Tips from Photographers Who Have Shot Over 100 Weddings— The Inside Scoop on How To Prioritize Your Timeline and Budget
Wedding “I-Dos” and Don’ts:
Things You Should Know For Your Wedding Day
Some people have been thinking about saying “I Do” since they were marrying their stuffed animals in a fort underneath their coffee table; while others, well not so much. Whether or not you have a Monica-sized binder of wedding ideas, rest assured that your wedding day is going to be a wonderful experience. It’s a day where you’re doted upon like royalty as friends and family deliver their support, love, mimosas and/or whiskey and everything in between. There will inevitably be stresses, but if you safeguard the experience of your wedding day by heeding a few of our industry tips, you and your significant other will live happily ever after.
I Do…
Host Cocktail Hour Before the Ceremony
This one may be controversial as it goes against the tradition of not seeing the bride before the ceremony, but everyone knows the feeling of sitting through a wedding ceremony when cocktail hour starts to creep into your mind. By welcoming guests with hors d'oeuvres and beverages upon arrival, you’re able to ease your guests into the day, creating happy bellies and heads to fully enjoy your wedding ceremony. Yes, you may run the risk of your irresponsible relative or friend loading up on a few drinks, but as long as you keep it short they won’t have much of a chance; or better yet, save the hard liquor for after the ceremony.
You will find that you create a much more relaxed, welcoming atmosphere where people can be themselves, especially for those guests who arrive late. We initially thought of this for our wedding because we wanted to create the vibe of a dinner party, knowing how critical it is from a hospitality standpoint to make someone feel welcome as soon as they enter an event. We felt more like gracious-hosts than guests-of-honor, and encourage couples to create their own timelines to reflect their personalities as well.
Take The Edge Off With A Little Bubbly Before The Ceremony
I Don’t…
Schedule Your Itinerary Down to the Minute
With all of the moving parts of a wedding day, it makes sense to want to be hyper-organized when it comes to your itinerary. The thing that most couples don’t realize is that while you may be organized, that doesn’t mean the rest of your guests and event staff will be up to the task. It is all too often that we get a four-page timeline that goes something like, “6:47PM Welcome Toast, 6:51PM Blessing By Bride’s Father,” and we know how impossible it is to adhere to that tight of a schedule. So when you’re charting out your day, keep in mind that you have to account for things like: wrangling your uncle’s four cranky kids when taking family formals, finding a chair for grandma to sit on, the changes in location when the weatherman was wrong yet again, and how the staff forgot to set up for your special seating arrangement sign.
I’m not trying to say all of these things will go wrong -- but I am saying that something inevitably will -- and when it does, your perfectly laid plans will start to stress you out because you’re quickly 4 minutes, then 7 minutes, and then 10 minutes behind schedule. Our advice is to treat your itinerary like a guideline, not a schedule, that way you have a structure to follow, but you can still be flexible to accommodate for the many variables of your wedding day. Figure out what actually needs a concrete time and let everything else bend with the breeze. For us, those were our guests arrival time and when the DJ would begin playing music—everything else—had some room to breathe. One of our favorite 2017 brides put it best when she said:
“Our wedding (and life) was rough around the edges, but straight from the heart.”
Roll With The Punches And You’re Guaranteed To Have A Good Time
I Do…
Have a Backup Location for the Ceremony
Most venues accommodate for this, but you would be surprised how many weddings we’ve been to that when the weather got cranky, everyone stood around staring at each other wondering what to do. It is super important that when you book your venue, you know where the backup ceremony location is and that you’re happy with it.
We could tell you some war stories about shooting in torrential rains, subzero temps, nor’easter floods, sideways hail, and hotter-than-hell sun because there either: (A) was no backup plan, or (B) the bride simply would not get married anywhere else. I have literally watched a group of 200+ guests get pelted by hail while the couple is standing at the altar pretending like shit isn’t hitting the fan.
Maybe we’re superstitious, but we tend to believe that the more content you are with your backup location, the less likely it is that you will actually need to use it! Similar to the itinerary advice, you have to gauge your expectations to the many variables of the day, and this is especially true for the weather. Be realistic and aware about the seasonal weather patterns of your locations, friends! (i.e. it is probably going to be crazy-humid in NYC in August / you can expect a wet day in Seattle in May / and it’s not unheard of to have a September blizzard in CO.)
We’ll Be There, Come Hail Or High Water
I Don’t…
Spend Big on the Cake
Yes, we all want to mush cake on our significant other’s face to get back at them for beating us at Scrabble (is it just me?). And yes, we all want to seize the opportunity of having a tiered custom cake made to our specific wishes and desires—but think for a minute—can you specifically remember any cake you had at a wedding? According to WeddingWire, the average couple spends about $500 on their wedding cakes. I’m not saying that the bakeries are over-charging because they really aren’t, but maybe your wedding isn’t the time to live out your Cake Boss fantasies. This is a great place to trim the fat (literally) and reallocate some of those funds to some real memory-makers.
Chances are you’re going to be too busy tearing up the dance floor to actually tear into the cake with grandma over a cup of decaf coffee anyway. So instead of shelling out for something that will most likely wind up in the trash (we see it ALL the time), go for a dessert that your guests can enjoy on the fly, like an assortment of cookies, brownies, cupcakes, or try thinking of a fun and healthier option! (We had a caramel apple bar with slices of apple on sticks and melted chocolate and caramel for dipping.)
Cupcakes Are A Great Money-Saving Alternative To A Traditional Cake
I Do…
Take a Few Minutes for Yourselves
The other side of being treated like royalty on your wedding day is that everyone wants a piece of your time. As wedding photographers, we’re almost part-paparazzi part-security in how we snap pictures of a couple as we shuffle them along through gauntlets of friends and family. The flow of the day can quickly feel like you’re being shuttled from one place to another without stopping to enjoy the day that you spent so much time and money planning.
As hospitality professionals, Heather and I recognize when this is happening and always encourage a couple to take a moment to duck out in a room to take a few breaths and steal a few kisses. Everyone who has gotten married will tell you how “the day goes too fast,” so slow it down by finding some quiet time to take it all in. Go to the bathroom, drink some water— it sounds obvious, but you might be surprised at how even the most basic of needs can fall by the wayside on your big day. According to The Knot, the average wedding celebration clocks in only around 5 hours (although it feels like five minutes). What good is having a wedding if you don’t thoroughly enjoy it!?
Sneak Away For Sunset
I Don’t…
Stress About Wedding Favors
Have you ever taken a wedding favor and thought, “this is amazing, I can’t wait to use it?” Us neither. Yet we’ve heard so many couples talk about how difficult it was to choose something to give as favors to their guests. Some ideas can get expensive very quickly, so what are some ideas that are inexpensive but not “cheap,” and won’t go directly into the trash?
We like to suggest things that are edible (especially if it’s good for soaking up booze), like specialized cookies or popcorn you can make at home, or something that is eco-friendly like wildflower seeds. The average wedding produces about 400lbs of trash and 63 tons of CO2 according to the Green Bride Guide, so we love the idea of doing something to give back to Mother Nature in lieu of a crappy present.
Another great option is to donate some money to a charity of your choice and tastefully let your guests know which organization you went with. The reality is, like wedding cake, odds are people aren’t going to remember it, so direct your stress and your funds to something that actually adds to yours and your guests’ experience! Take it from a Pro Event Coordinator with The Pines at Genesee:
“Less can definitely be more, people don’t miss what they don’t know isn’t there!!”
Eco-Friendly Flower Favors
Hi and Welcome!!
We are Heather & Terrence Huie— the husband-and-wife team behind Apollo Fields. We are a photojournalist duo who have worked weddings big and small all over the United States as well as International Destination Weddings. As vendors who have also been through the process of planning and executing a wedding ourselves, we have a unique perspective on the good, the bad, and the ugly that can happen on your “big day”. What works for us certainly won’t work for everyone, our hope is that our inside scoop can help you and your fiancé prioritize your wedding timeline and budget in a way that actually serves you (and your guests).