orking directly alongside her husband, Will, each day, you’d almost think that photographer Lucy Cuneo couldn’t possibly get any closer to her other half. But the pair of lovebirds recently embarked on their most bonding journey yet: parenthood! Since the birth of baby Rory earlier this year, Lucy and Will have made lots of brand new memories as a team of three. Below, the Cuneos are welcoming us into their son’s magical nursery!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SWEET BABY BOY! WHEN WAS HE BORN, AND WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT SO FAR SINCE BECOMING A FIRST-TIME MOM?
Rory was born Aug. 5 at 6:09 a.m. after a 30-hour labor and a 2-hour delivery! There are too many wonderful moments to narrow down—first smile, holding my hand and gripping it. Any time I get to see my husband, Will, and Rory sharing a special connection makes me happier that I could have ever imagined. It’s so overwhelming, I don’t even know what to do with myself most of the time!
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO SETTLE DOWN IN CHARLESTON?
We moved here to give our photography business the best possible chance of success. I love being by the sea and I thrive in a warm climate. We really feel fortunate to be here and thankful that we have met so many wonderful people.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO DECIDE ON THE NURSERY’S COLOR SCHEME? WHERE DID YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?
I have always known that I wanted stars. We tried a few wallpapers and I couldn’t find the product that matched my vision, so we decided to paint them. It was a big job but we loved doing it. At the time, we talked about the importance of infusing his childhood with magic—the nursery was the first step down that road.
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SUCH A SPECIAL TIME AND HAVE PROMISED OURSELVES WE ARE NOT GOING TO STRESS IT AWAY. BEING NEW PARENTS HAS INTRODUCED A LOT OF NEW HOURS INTO THE DAY, AND WE MAKE THE MOST OF ALL OF THEM.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS IN THE NURSERY WITH BABY RORY SO FAR?
Finding him playing happily and giggling by himself after a long nap never gets old. We have spent a lot of time together feeding at night, so the Serena & Lily glider has been incredible. It’s his favorite place to feed, and I can sit (sleep) comfortably for hours.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO COOK AT HOME?
I have to confess that I am not much of a cook! I am always caught up in something visual and am pretty bad at taking the time to feed myself. I guess my trademark is my “healthy cookie,” which is pretty ghastly. Luckily, my husband is a champion in the kitchen, so he keeps us full. We try to eat simply but healthily, and subscribe to the view that you are what you eat, so we do lots of grilling and salads—quite boring, I’m afraid! We love to have dinner parties though, and the wine is always flowing over here!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR HONEYMOON!
We honeymooned in Mexico, at Las Alamandas resort. It was so romantic and lovely—we had the best and most attentive service, and so much privacy all without being too expensive. We were treated beautifully. It was also Will’s birthday and they gave us the presidential suite for the evening. They grow all their own fruits and vegetables on the property, and have four private beaches. We were able to release baby sea turtles while we were there (I cried!). There is no Internet there and it was wonderful to totally disconnect. We spent most of our time reliving our big day and playing Monopoly with margaritas in hand!
HOW DO YOU BALANCE RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WITH BEING A MOM?
Honestly, I am still figuring that one out! I have a lot of help from my husband—who is my business partner—as well as our families when they visit. We know that this is such a special time and have promised ourselves we are not going to stress it away. Being new parents has introduced a lot of new hours into the day, and we make the most of all of them.
CAN YOU OFFER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO NEW MOMS DECORATING A NURSERY?
Do it with your partner, and share ideas. It’s actually a really important bonding process—one of the first times that having a baby starts to become a reality. Also, be certain you can live with it because you will be in there all hours!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE THAT YOU’VE TRAVELED TO FOR WORK? WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PLACE?
I met my husband and got married on Martha’s Vineyard. We are so lucky to photograph weddings there every season. I’ll also never forget photographing at Verona’s cathedral in Italy. It was my first time to Italy and it was the best! Traveling is wonderful, but for us, there is a real joy in photographing weddings close to home. I can’t say that there has been a least favorite place yet. I suppose that big hotel weddings aren’t where I feel like film photography really shines—I really prefer natural light and the outdoors!
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO PHOTOGRAPH THEIR ACTIVE CHILDREN?
Honestly, I have taken almost all of our recent photos on my iPhone. I love that it’s always on-hand to capture a fun or special moment. I’ve noticed that Rory prefers interacting with people over having a camera in his face (he always shies away from it), so I find the best shots are when he is sharing a moment with someone else he loves.
ANY TIME I GET TO SEE MY HUSBAND, WILL, AND RORY SHARING A SPECIAL CONNECTION MAKES ME HAPPIER THAT I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED. IT’S SO OVERWHELMING, I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF MOST OF THE TIME!
WHAT TV SHOWS ARE YOU OBSESSING OVER RIGHT NOW?
We just finished “The Night Of,” which we thought was fantastic, but right now it’s more baby time than time for TV. We are so lame and too tired to finish an episode—a first!
FAVORITE RESTAURANTS TO TAKE FIRST-TIME VISITORS AND GUESTS IN CHARLESTON: GO!
There are too many to name! My favorite is the Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan’s Island, and I love FIG or Cannon Green for a special treat. Butcher & Bee and The Daily are our go-tos, and we are at either one of them nearly every day (sometimes we go to both!). I also love Edmund’s Oast for a cozy atmosphere and the world’s best french fries.
WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE PIECES IN THE NURSERY?
The glider has exceeded all expectation—the whole family absolutely loves it. The rug transformed the room the moment that we unrolled it. It’s the only blue element, and sets the gender tone, plus it really softens the room because the hardwood is quite dark. I love, love, love the lamp that sits above the chair, and all of our cozy Serena & Lily textiles: the sheepskin throw, the playful patterned sheets and pillows!
WHAT HOLIDAY TRADITIONS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO ESTABLISHING WITH YOUR NEWLY EXPANDED FAMILY?
This is the first time we are having the family travel to us for Thanksgiving. I would love that to become the tradition! I am also excited for us to have our first Christmas tree this year. Having a baby has made me take the holidays in our own home far more seriously, which is truly exciting!
