– Parenting Is a Love Story –

Before becoming a mother, I had no idea how deeply I would be affected by the love I have for my children. Motherhood opened my eyes to how blessed I was by my own mother and how much she taught me, preparing me to become a parent. Growing up, I always knew she was special but becoming a mother myself; I began to see the sacrifices she made for my siblings and me as her love story. Because of her love and expectations for me, I have seen the impact of the relationships I share – both at home with my husband and children and with my beautiful clients. 

Here is a little bit about those people who have made me who I am. These are my love stories. 

-A mother’s love –

My mother is the heartbeat of our family, always pushing us toward greatness. If I had an interest in something (especially academics!), she ensured I had everything I need to excel in them. Her support didn’t stop after I was an adult out on my own either – if I had a dream, my mother would encourage me to pursue it. She is why I have this business. When I shared my love for photography with her, she was the first to tell me I could serve other mothers with my art. 

Digital cameras didn’t exist when I was a child, and taking photographs on film wasn’t something my family often did. They were more about living in the moment than capturing it. Now, as I live two states away, I long to have photos to share with my children so that they could see first hand the beauty of their family legacy. 

-Falling in love- 

My husband, Eric, and I met in my freshman year of college while studying math. I bet you didn’t know Calculus could be romantic! From the moment we met, our friendship and support of each other became the foundation of our relationship. Together we started work in the Oil and Gas industry, taking turns supporting each other as we pursued career advancements. After our son was born, I knew I wanted more time to be present with him as he grew. I arranged my schedule to work very early in the morning to have the afternoons and evenings together. This arrangement worked well (though I was exhausted!) until I was expecting our daughter. Eric encouraged me to take a leave of absence to spend more time being a mother. 

Leaving the security of my corporate job was a little scary! But Eric was there beside me, setting up props and backdrops for my sessions, taking off work to care for our children so that I could meet new clients. Side by side for almost 20 years, this is how we do life together. One of us supporting the other, his dreams became mine, and my dreams became his. This is the legacy we are building for children, a life of partnership and chasing goals together.  

-Giovani-

Giovani arrived in this world ten days late but hasn’t stopped going since! He’s the first one awake and the last one to sleep. 

Natural birth was always important to me. My great-grandmother was a midwife, and I grew up knowing a mothers’ strength from our family stories. I always assumed that I would experience birth naturally and without intervention. Giovani had other plans. After laboring naturally for some time, it became unsafe for him to continue, and I had an emergency C-section. I had so many fears and worries as they took me into the operating room, but my strong son proved that those fears were unnecessary. He has brought a sense of wonder and adventure into our lives. He is never content to sit and watch the world, he wants to experience every second of it, and we have learned to love exploring the world through his eyes. 

Having Gio and becoming a mother is the first time I truly understood how quickly time passed. I was desperate to save every moment. He changed so fast. For the first time since our wedding eight years prior, I invested in a professional photographer, so I would have beautiful photos to remember how little and perfect he was! Falling in love with those images of my son is why I love photographing newborns. I want every mother to have fine art for her children when they were small!

-Siena –

Siena was born at home. I had almost lost hope of having the natural birth I desired as my C-section had many health care professionals afraid of letting me deliver at home. My mother was a constant encouragement to me at this time, reminding me how my great-grandmother was able to safely deliver every child in her village and to trust my body. Siena was born “in the cull” – meaning in the amniotic sack. It is rare, and there is a belief that babies born this way are extraordinary, and our Siena is quite remarkable. 

My little girl has the most radiant smile and the gentlest soul. She isn’t fast like her brother but instead takes her time to observe and enjoy her surroundings. We have learned that in her quiet, observant nature, Siena is very focused on details, able to reenact a scenario she has previously experienced. She loves the little moments and has taught us to slow down and enjoy them with her. Siena believes that everyone matters and often seeks to ensure those around her are happy. 

Because of Siena, I have learned to take joy in seeing other’s happiness, to move slowly, and savor moments that I might otherwise miss. When Siena was born, I decided to try my hand at taking my daughter’s newborn photos. My first client! Spoiler alert…it did not go well! I still had a lot to learn, but even though they aren’t perfect, Siena loves to see those early photos I captured of her, marveling at her tiny features and celebrating how big she has grown. I still wish I had the same beautifully composed pictures of Siena as I have of Gio, but without that first session with my little girl, I never would have known how much I loved capturing newborns. Because of her, I became determined to grow as an artist to give all mothers and their children heirloom images to share for generations to come. 

-Your Love Stories-

I desire each of my clients to recognize the love story they share with their children. But more than that, I want you to have art to share that love story through. Motherhood is an intensely beautiful experience, but one with so many responsibilities, it is easy to lose track of time. Your baby is only little for a little while. Preserving these fleeting moments, your little legacies, is the heat of my business. Your love story matters, and I want to help you share it – not just for you but for your children as well. One day they too will look back on how you shaped them and prepared them for their own journeys. I want you to have art that helps them see how much they were loved from the very beginning.