documentary family photographer – Milli Stephania Photo

Recently, I had the chance to attend The Stratford Main Street Festival, one of my favorite kinds of days: full of energy, music, local love, and lots of smiling families. After the event, I shared a gallery of photos in a local Facebook group so folks could download their favorites. I figured if someone saw a sweet moment of their own family, they’d want to keep it. What I didn’t expect was what came next.

A woman named Samantha slid into my messages, not for herself, but for her dear friend Quaijzah. Cue the heart melt.
Samantha wanted to gift a photo session to her friend, who was about to give birth at Bridgeport Hospital. She told me that the hospital no longer offered Bella Baby photography, which is usually a Fresh 48-style session (if you’re new to the term, it just means capturing those first soft, sleepy hours after baby arrives—when everything is still new, squishy, and totally magical).

This is where I come in. 🥹
I had the honor of being invited into this sacred window of time, just days after Quaijzah welcomed her baby. A new chapter of her life, a whole new identity, and I got to help her freeze it in time.

Out of respect for her wishes, and because I completely get it (I didn’t share photos of my own kiddos online until they were both over one!), I won’t be showing baby’s face. But those tiny fingers? Yeah, I can’t keep those to myself.

To anyone else joining the parenting club soon, I’d love to help you hold onto those raw, honest, beautiful beginnings. And if you’re not expecting, but know someone who is?

I happen to make a pretty dang good gift.

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Doljabi, korean first birthday for baby Gemma, where she chooses her future, she chooses a stethoscope for physican. Mom holds her in her traditional korean dress.

Ever wondered what tradition, adorable baby giggles, and a dash of destiny look like? Let me take you behind the scenes of Gemma’s first birthday doljabi. It was a vibrant celebration rooted in Korean culture and bursting with love.
Spoiler alert: It involves tiny hands choosing their future career path, squishy baby cheeks, and some of the best food I’ve ever tasted.

In Korean culture, a doljabi is more than just a birthday—it’s a cherished tradition that celebrates a baby’s milestone first year while offering a peek into their future. During this event, various symbolic items are placed before the birthday child. The baby then picks one, and each item hints at their potential path in life: a gavel for a future judge, a paintbrush for an artist, a microphone for a musician, a stethoscope for a doctor, and even thread for longevity. Watching little Gemma reach out with her tiny fingers was the cutest—and possibly most suspenseful—moment of the day, especially since there was a raffle to make it extra fun. And guess what? Little Miss Gemma—with her squishable cheeks and gummy smile—reached straight for the stethoscope. Future doctor in the making? We’ll have to wait and see, but the room erupted in cheers and laughter when she made her pick.

Stephanie and Robert hosted Gemma’s doljabi at The East Norwalk Association Library. The venue was intimate yet lively, filled with family, friends, and the warmth of celebration. Gemma, dressed in a stunning traditional Hanbok, looked like a little princess. Her parents, also dressed in Hanboks, radiated grace and pride as they shared this special day with their loved ones.

Gemma’s at the perfect age where everything is fascinating, and is full of personality. She lit up every time I sang “Wheels on the Bus” to catch her attention.