When you’re doing something as miraculous as bringing life into the world, you want to document the journey. You’ll want to find the perfect outfit to accentuate your baby bump. You want the type of makeup that flatters your expanding features. A photographer who understands the assignment is vital. And then you have to leave it up to luck.
One mom-to-be had all of these elements in place and then some when she got an incredible assist from another mom: Mother Nature.
Rachel picked a great spot for her maternity shoot.
Rachel Riley had a maternity shoot scheduled on April 5, 2025, with Andrea Jones of Mama Bear Photography in Hendersonville, Tennessee, News Channel 5 reported. Right around that same time, a tornado was rearing up to pass through the area. Although some people might have rescheduled or switched locations, Rachel stuck to her original plan. “Well, we wanted to get some outside shots before the storm rolled in,” she said. So Rachel posed near the banks of Old Hickory and Andrea clicked away.
At first, Rachel and Andrea were experiencing the calm before the storm. It hadn’t started raining yet and it was warm out. But eventually, the sky darkened and the clouds rolled in, News Channel 5 noted.
Andrea kept snapping shots and the results were stunning. Meanwhile, back at home, Rachel’s husband Kevin was studying the weather report making sure his wife wasn’t in danger.
“She had texted me and said, ‘If a tornado is coming, call me.’ So, there’s a tornado and I’m calling and she’s not answering,” Kevin said. Apparently, Rachel was in the moment and didn’t hear her phone ringing.
Andrea captured the shots quickly.
Thankfully, the two were only out there for about 10 minutes before they moved inside to a studio where they looked at the photos. “I had no clue the clouds looked anything like that behind me,” Rachel shared, per the news outlet.
Andrea knew as she was shooting that they had something special. “I was stunned by it – the contrast of her and the background. It was so beautiful.”
What is the girl’s name going to be?
The Riley family is expecting the birth of their daughter later this spring. With a backdrop so breathtaking, people have wondered if the girl’s name will be a nod to the elements.
“Well, it’s not Stormy,” Rachel shared. “We considered that, but no, her name is going to be Olivia.”
On her Facebook page, Andrea shared that Rachel plans to return to that spot once Olivia arrives to do a second photo shoot. We can’t wait to see those images.
