As a Frederick County photographer, I have had a number of sessions over the years that have really stuck with me. This session tops that list even years later. Sweet baby Emily was born with neuroblastoma that was diagnosed in utero. When a fellow photographer was looking for someone to capture her time in the hospital while undergoing treatment, I jumped on the opportunity.

I know first hand how important it is to document even the worst moments. When my husband was going through his cancer treatment, we made sure to document as much as possible. It was a very hard thing to do, but being that it was part of his story and our life together, we felt it was important to immortalize what we were going through. It was one of the great honors of my career to be a small part of that for this beautiful, strong baby girl. One gift of finally sharing some of my past sessions on the blog is that I can happily report that this baby is now a five year old that is thriving – and cancer free!

Gold Hope Project

Our own experiences with cancer have motivated me to become a volunteer for the Gold Hope Project, which is a non-profit that provides free photo sessions for families with children battling cancer. It breaks my heart to know that any family could be going through this kind of pain. If you or any family you know is going through this, please do not hesitate to reach out. As a Frederick County photographer, I would be honored to gift them a photo session.

Did you know that only 4% of the National Cancer Institutes budget goes towards pediatric cancer? With so little funding, treatment options are often far lagging behind that of adults. To learn more or to donate, check out Children’s Cancer Research Fund, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Alexia Ballantine Photography is an award-winning portrait photographer serving Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. She specializes in maternity, baby, and family photography. Reach out today to inquire about your session!