A Mother’s Camera Roll

I read a thread that stated, “A mother’s camera roll is a love letter to everyone but herself.” And maybe thats true for you. That you’ve captured your little ones doing the most mundane things, because it is cute and 20 years from now you want to remember their exact smile when they did something for the first time. Images have the power to help us relieve those special moments. To celebrate them; to feel the joy again. But what if you’re never in the pictures. Never captured doing a new thing, or being brave, or conquering a fear.

In defiance of that thread, I’ve been in front of the camera this month 3 times, sans makeup. Twice by myself and once with my daughter. It can be daunting, even for an empowerment photographer who celebrates the beauty of all women in front of her camera. It is important though. To capture who you are, right now. To give my baby girl the gift of our smiles in portraits together. To be an example to her by loving myself first and fully.

A boudoir or portrait session isn’t about vanity. It’s a moment to celebrate you that will help you feel more connected with yourself. To be proud of the body that brought you through childbirth, divorce, loss. The body that helped you move across the county, level up in your job/relationships, start a new chapter. To help you remind yourself of the beauty that is yours. To feel everything a little more strongly. To talk to yourself with a little more love. Portraits are that powerful.

Be on the camera roll. Be daring. Have the audacity to put yourself out there. It will free you.