When sharing I am a family photographer, it sounds cute and fun, and a great way to make a living. It is for sure all of those things, but that just scratches the surface of what this work means to me.

It’s not yet clear why, but I know it with my full heart, that I am here, doing this work, to show mother’s the real, raw, beautiful, hard work they are doing.

Not much about motherhood is easy. Our jobs are challenging physically and emotionally. There are many years that our bodies and minds are not even our own. Where we feel out of control, hijacked by our hormones. 

And I would be lying if I said I didn’t spend years sitting in a bit of a pity party with all of that information.

While I still know all of this to be true, it is a small part of the job.

As I step into a new parenting era with pre-teens and all school aged children, I have become better at creating space for myself so I could see the full magnitude of this work we are all trying to perfect.

And what I have realized is that I do not have to always know the answer, or do the right thing. I can do my best, just as I would encourage my children. My best is enough. My best is probably beyond enough.

My best is also being transparent and showing them that perfection is never the goal. Using your resources, and offering the best you have at that time is exactly what is expected.

I'm pairing these words with the images of a mother that is doing an incredible job raising these two little ones. Who values community and connection. A mother I admire and am grateful our paths have crossed.

We documented the three of them at Paradigm Coffee and Music, a place I run into them regularly. A place they are all comfortable in. A place that felt safe for them to exist just as they are, together. 

This time in her life is a special one. And it deserved to be documented well.