Motherhood Photos: Kate & Henry | RAICES Donation Photo Sessions

It's hard to write uplifting blog posts about family right now. Terrible things are happening within our country to children. The sweet, funny, curious, inquisitive little hell raisers I photograph every session. I think of them. I think of every tiny micro movement of love shown by parents that I've used my camera to capture. I think of how each family I photograph is its own world, insulated and safe and unique. I think about how only mom knows what particular things her toddler likes or doesn't like this month and the language that they speak. How some families break, and that's ok, because with strength hopefully one parent is now both. Facing fear and daily tantrums down with as much humanity and strength as they can offer. Then I think about the families we're breaking that still long to be together.

I think about what we're doing at the border. I think of how we're letting children go to bed in fear, most unable to communicate their needs, if they would be heard at all. I think about a mother's hand, terrified herself, reaching for a child we won't let her hold. 

I think of the past and how we've been this monstrous before, and how monstrous we became next. 

I hope for a better tomorrow.

Please consider donating to RAICES. If you can't afford to donate (and even if you can) please be a voice in our country for people who aren't permitted to have one. For children and families we won't let speak.

Below are some photos taken near Nashville, TN of a beautiful family. Of Kate & Henry. 

Park Location: Montgomery Bell State Park

Mandy & Nora + The Traveling Dress | Downtown Fort Myers Motherhood Session

I recently gathered together with some other female photographers to participate in a traveling dress project. The dress finds its way from one photographer to another and each photographer puts their own spin on what sort of session they shoot with the dress. I took this task on even knowing that I am terrible about getting to the post office to send mail. Brave, aren't I? Some might say... a HERO. (No one. No one would say that.).

For my turn with the dress I wanted to shoot as I normally do: documentary and candid, emotional and affectionate, with a heart for laughter. Knowing that I wanted to start doing other types of Motherhood sessions outside of my intimate bathtub shoots I decided this would be a perfect opportunity. I recruited another awesome local photographer and her daughter to model for me. We met in Downtown Fort Myers at the local library and worked our way down the streets to a local beloved roof. It was a ton of fun and I would love to participate in another one of these in the future. Plus I got a great new friend out of it. Two new friends. Nora started the session growling at me but then she begged for me to come with them to get ice cream. We're cool now.

Once we finally made it to The Roof just in time for the sunset we ended up having a dance party. Because, ya know, what else does one do on a roof? 

Want to see what the photographer before me did during her turn with the dress? Check it out here.

Dress: Fahrenheit Tanning

Sarah, Emma & Kate: South Florida Motherhood Session

Back in 2016 when I started this wild journey down the path of Documentary photography I put out a model call for families. One of those families was the Thornburgs. Abe and Sarah have two daughters: Emma and Kate. Here is a favorite photo of Emma and Abe during that first session.

I was ecstatic when they then asked for a session with me the following year. That first session baby Kate was only a week old. By the second she was doing assisted gymnastics in the pool. See for yourself. 

They grow up so fast don't they? I was seriously excited when Sarah decided to do a Motherhood session with me of just her and the girls. I love hanging out with them and this session was particularly special. Full of laughs and also some bubble related tears. 

After bath time we moved on to lunch and nap time. Emma let me know that putting chips inside your sandwich is the way to go and that if Kate didn't finish her chips she was happy to help her out. I was also eyeballing the abandoned chips so as always I admired Emma for the honesty. Another new favorite saying of Emma's was "That's ridiculous." and personally I agree with that too.

Baby Kate was understandably tired after all of the fun we were having but Emma had different ideas about nap time that included less napping and more jumping on and off the bed to get various toys. Does anyone else think about how much they could get done as an adult if they only had a child's energy... or just me? 

Interested in a Motherhood session? They are the absolute sweetest. And they don't all have to take place in the bathtub!

Annabelle & Penelope: A South Florida Motherhood Session

When I decided to start offering Motherhood sessions it was perhaps the weirdest ask I’d ever put out into the social media world. I wanted Mom's who were brave enough to hop in the tub with their kids! It feels like an awkward and very large request to ask mothers to participate in such an intimate session with their children. But this is where I wanted to start. I had an idea in my head of what it could be. And it was.

After working through my first session… I found that, much like with my first families I found willing to give Documentary Family photography a try, it really wasn’t as awkward as it sounds. The only awkward moment came when Grandma showed up and was very confused (understandably) by the fact that we were having a photo session in the bathroom. 

I truly couldn't explain the magic of these sessions without showing someone the images. After Annabelle hopped in the tub with Penny it was very much just about their bond and the fun of playing with Mermaids and pouring water on top of Mom’s head. Because how often is that allowed? How often do you get Mom in the tub WITH you for your daily bath? 

It was a really great opportunity to capture some very sweet moments that won’t be possible as Penelope grows older. Freeze frame on the memory of mom braiding her hair with capable and loving hands. The laughter as the water runs down her face. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. 

"i struggle so deeply
to understand
how someone can pour
their entire soul
blood and energy
into someone
without wanting
anything in
return"

i will have to wait till i'm a mother - rupi kaur

Interested in a Motherhood session? Please message me. (Psst. the session doesn't HAVE to be in the bathtub. Although... it's certainly beautiful if it is.)