Oh, hey!

May 8, 2025

The first topic I would like to discuss is Shutter Speed, and the way it can positively and negatively affect image quality. Pffff – just kidding. Can you imagine? Don’t worry, I am not here to teach anyone about photography. I don’t take myself that seriously and I know my limits.

I added this (mostly) non-photography blog page to the old biz site because I love writing, and because I think getting to know your photographer a bit can make you feel more at ease during your shoot. I also believe that knowing me a little better will help potential clients decide if I am the right choice to work with their family or brand. Ya know, #marketing stuff.

So this blog will be a space for casual convos, serious reflections, brain dumps, funny stuff — whatever. I also write for Scary Mommy (#humblebrag), but sadly the TikTok of it all seems to be phasing the blog world out, because people (me) would rather watch thirty second clips of people doing stuff than read about it. And before you say ‘yeah, no duh, that’s why no one is going to read this’ – I know. But I tried performing for my phone screen and I looked like a chaotic and demented circus clown with no friends – so here we are.

And the first #blogworthy thing I would like to talk about is … (drum roll please)

what a MOTHERF*CKER motherhood is.

Because it’s Mother’s Day week and because I am lucky to have so many mom clients, I think it makes sense to discuss the should-be-obvious but not-said-enough truth – that Momming is hard AF.

And I am not talking put together some IKEA furniture without the directions hard, or drive cross-country with your high school ex-boyfriend hard – I am talking completing the Tour De France while blindfolded with one leg and two flat tires while being stung by a hive of bees kind of hard. And if it doesn’t feel like that for you – well then hunny, you aren’t really in the game.

Because when people say to me ‘you have four kids?! how do you do it?’ I say very honestly, ‘not well at all’. I mean, I love them more than anything in the world and I want to eat their faces off, but most days my font yard looks like a flea market, my voice is hoarse from yelling, I don’t have enough food in the house, two of them are fighting, one of them is crying, and I am being called a “dummyass” by my four year old. I hit snooze through my morning workout, go through a bottle of dry-shampoo a month, lose my patience more than I should, and have an inch long chin hair that just won’t quit. Sometimes I put on cute clothes and blow dry my hair and do a one-one-one activity where my kid smiles and all is good, but most of the time it’s all very messy, and pretty unrelenting.

It’s also the best.

It has given me life and purpose and access to an unwordly kind of love. It is incredible, fun, and fulfilling. It is everything- but we have to be more honest about the hard. Especially when we have this little window into everyone else’s life that is always just a click away – showing us the highlight reels of everyone’s motherhood experience, often leaving us feeling confused and isolated. I scroll social media and wonder why my house isn’t bigger or why I don’t have the time or patience to do all of those little science experiments or kid crafts. I wonder why I can’t afford the ten day overseas family vacation or complete the half marathon where my kids proudly hold signs cheering me on. But the truth is – I think motherhood is hard for all of us. Despite the wonderful moments and the social media feeds, it’s mostly ugly and chaotic for everyone. It’s just really worth it.

So, on #bloglaunchday I’m giving it up for the moms. The ones who carry it all and feel it all, and keep the world going. Loosen your grip on yourself, and go easier. Try to find just one moment of presence and happiness today instead of setting that bar impossibly high and feeling like a failure in a game that isn’t always designed for success. You are doing enough, and you are enough. And I dunno – maybe book a family photoshoot to prove it.

xo