Photographing mothers with their children is so important to me.

I notice how quickly mothers jump at the opportunity to get photographs of their children, but when it comes to getting IN the frame many mothers hesitate. I hear all kinds of excuses, most of which boil down to personal insecurities and perceived “flaws.” But mama, you need to be photographed too, with your children, doing what you do best, which is loving them. When you focus on them instead of my camera, magic happens. In the words of my sister, “I’m so much more photogenic when I’m with Everly!" The truth is, she’s always photogenic, she just doesn’t believe it because she’s so worried about that camera in her face. When she can focus on her baby instead of the camera, she can’t help but look beautiful.

“It doesn’t make sense to call ourselves ugly, because we don’t really see ourselves. We don’t watch ourselves sleeping in bed, curled up and silent with chests rising and falling with our own rhythm. We don’t see ourselves reading a book, eyes fluttering and glowing. You don’t see yourself looking at someone with love and care inside your heart. There’s no mirror in your way when you’re laughing and smiling and happiness is leaking out of you. You would know exactly how bright and beautiful you are if you saw yourself in the moments where you are truly yourself. ~ Word Porn

These photographs aren’t just important for you, they are important for your children.

Take photos with your children for them to cherish, to remember you by, and to help visually reinforce the love they already feel from you.

Last spring, I offered Portraits of Motherhood Mini Sessions.  It was an opportunity for mothers to get IN the frame with their children and document their relationships. I only had three mothers schedule a session, but I wasn’t disappointed. These three mothers filled me with more inspiration than I could have planned for. The three mothers who booked sessions, while similar in their love and devotion for their children, were three entirely different women. Having only three mothers to shoot, I had ample time to spend with each mother and create a more personal session than if I was booked solid every 20 minutes. This meant more to me than they probably realize. I don’t want to be a photo producing machine which is one of the main reasons I shy away from using props or themed sets.

I want your photos to be personal. I want them to be real. I want them to evoke emotion in you.

I always try to create the types of photos I would want to have with my own children.

I would love to share these motherhood sessions that meant so much to me, and since they are so different, I’m going to share them in separate blog posts.

This is part one of three of my Portraits of Motherhood series.

Mama and her boys.

I would love to have the opportunity to capture portraits of what motherhood looks like for you.

This year’s Portraits of Motherhood event will be Sunday, April 28, 2019. I have indoor and outdoor session times available.

Early bird booking opens for newsletter subscribers on Thursday, March 28.