Baby Sutton, born in Texas with a cleft lip and palate, has captured the hearts of thousands of people after her parents commissioned a newborn photographer, Shannon Morton, to take her portrait.
When Morton shared a picture of Sutton peacefully dozing, adorned with a cream sash and a matching flower headband, on her Facebook page, the image unexpectedly went viral. In response, Sutton's parents created a Facebook page titled "My Cleft Cutie" to share updates about their daughter's life and provide support to others who may be facing similar circumstances.
Despite the challenges posed by her condition, Sutton has already undergone one surgery to repair her cleft lip and nose, with more procedures planned for the future. Her journey has inspired a large number of individuals to come together and offer comfort to those in need. The "My Cleft Cutie" Facebook page serves as a wonderful platform for those interested in learning more about Sutton's story and following her progress.
This photograph is the first one posted by photographer Shannon Morton of baby Sutton.
Bored Panda reached out to Shannon Morton, the photographer responsible for Sutton's viral photo, to learn more about this heartwarming story. Initially, they were curious about why Courtney and Gavin Gardner, Sutton's parents, chose Morton as their photographer. Shannon explained, "I first met Sutton's parents at church, and I was familiar with their story before Sutton was born. Prior to her birth, I had the opportunity to meet with her parents to prepare for her session and discuss how to best care for her during the photography process."
Baby Sutton was born with a cleft lip and palate in Texas.
Shannon posted the first image of her 9-week-old daughter with the caption, "So. Many. Recently, the studio was filled with happy infants. This is Sutton, the loveliest little redhead you've ever seen!"
They were intrigued by the day of the photoshoot, knowing that newborn photoshoots can be challenging and worrisome for everyone involved - the photographer, the parents, and most importantly, the newborn. Shannon informed them, "It was surprisingly tender. She was a gentle and drowsy infant. She slept for the majority of her session. When Sutton needed to feed, her mother would gently and affectionately raise her head and feed her from a bottle. My assistant and I worked diligently to produce the most beautiful photographs of Sutton to commemorate her and her parents!"
The post has currently received 726k views and 6.8k remarks on Facebook.
Neither Morton nor Sutton's parents, Courtney and Gavin Gardner, expected such a large online response.
They inquired about Shannon's initial reaction to her overnight viral post. Shannon said, "I intend to post one or two photographs of every infant who visits my studio for portraits. It was Sutton's turn, but I was unprepared for the response she received. Both her parents and I were pleasantly astonished by the influx of likes and comments. The cordial reception and words of love and encouragement continued to pour in for approximately one week. It was breathtaking to see how baby Sutton brought people together!"
The creation of the "My Cleft Cutie" Facebook page was inspired by the community's overwhelming interest.
The parents of "My Cleft Cutie" share updates about their daughter's life on this website.
Shannon further elaborated on that special photo session, saying, "After 12+ years of professionally photographing newborns, I can tell when a baby will grin. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to capture a smile because a baby may not smile, it may be too fast for me to capture, or I may not be prepared with my camera. Sutton is so adorable because she smiled three times, and we were able to capture them all for her parents!! What a divine gift! I believe that her sweet expression is one of the details that makes that first photo of her so remarkable."
Hundreds of individuals share their personal stories and experiences with a cleft lip and palate in the remark section of each post.
The page is a location where the entire community provides solace to those in comparable circumstances.
Little Sutton has already undergone the initial procedure to correct her cleft lip and nose.
The infant girl is still recuperating from her first operation, but her mother revealed that she will undergo additional procedures in the future.
Sutton remains a very cheerful infant despite her difficult start in life, and her adorable visage brings joy to everyone.
