The Legacy we leave. A personal reflection on Motherhood photography.
Losing my Mum at a young age, I learned early on how fragile life can be and how fleeting time truly is. I was just 15 when she died, and it was then that I realised the importance of her presence in every photo, how desperate I was for every snippet of proof that she existed, and just how much that moment of her holding me or standing next to me could mean.
As a photographer and a mother myself now, I look at my own kiddo with this deeper understanding of time and legacy. Motherhood is a journey- one that, no matter how beautifully chaotic or exhausting, demands to be captured because these moments won’t ever return. It’s such a bittersweet privilege to be a Mama, we give so much, and in the rush of the day to day, the thought of what we might leave behind doesn’t really occur to us. I carry this awareness with me as I photograph other mothers.
Motherhood photography has become more than a profession for me. It’s cathartic. It’s an act of love- a gift I have the privilege of giving to other mothers and their babies. I want to help create something real and lasting, a tangible gift for children to hold onto long after their parents are gone. As a Mum, I understand how easy it is to be behind the lens, always taking photos of the kids, your partner, the house, the pets. But how often are you in the picture? How often are you capturing the essence of the bond you share with your children, just as you are in this moment?
As mothers, we often think of ourselves last. But these photographs are for you too, as much as they are for the little ones. Your journey is just as important to document, because you will one day want to recall those tiny fingers and toes, the shared experience of breastfeeding, or the expression your little used to have that’s been lost over time. You’ll want to remind yourself of how strong you are, to have brought into the world and raised such a wonderful human being. You did this.
We don’t know how much time we have. I know that all too well. And because of that, it’s become a mission of sorts to ensure mothers have photographs that capture their love, in all of the ordinary moments- the love, joy, exhaustion, vulnerability. All of it. A legacy left for their children to cherish as they grow and look back. Photographs are memories that say, "I was here. I loved you so very much.”