I love being a mom and I vividly recall the days each of my three children were born. I remember how my heart was filled with promise and hope for the future. Since I became a mom at a young age, there was a time when it was difficult for me to recall who I was before I became a mom. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. But somewhere along the way, I forgot who I was. I felt as if my creative voice was stuffed away in a dark closet behind all the beautiful and not so beautiful memories of motherhood. Because motherhood has been such a big part of my life, it was difficult when my children became teenagers and needed me less and less. I hardly knew what to do with myself! I began to feel an emptiness and sadness in that place that used to be filled with caring for my children.
So that’s when it started. Like an old friend, photography came back into my life just when I needed it most.
My husband encouraged me to pick up the camera as a way to rekindle my creative spirit. Before the children, I used to create all the time and it was one of the things that drew him to me. He loved my creative spirit. In the spring of 2010, I attended Me Ra’s Confidence Workshop and that was the turning point for me. I made the transition from photography being a hobby to photography being a business.
Fast forward to today. While I love the art of photography, what I love more is watching life unfold and capturing those little moments that might be forgotten if not preserved in an image. Just think, as mom photographers we get to preserve our children’s childhood in photos! Because I met my friend, photography, later in life, I missed out on capturing the little moments that can be so special. I wish I knew back then how to capture those moments like I do now when I photograph my girls.
Because of my experience, I’m on a mission to make sure other moms don’t miss out on the same. I want other moms to be able to capture those special moments and to feel the empowerment, validation and transformation that photography has brought to my life!
I have had my photography business, Studio 57 Images, for three years now. I live near Seattle Washington with my husband and our sweet dog Yoshi. Our beautiful children are spread near and far. Our oldest lives in Germany,
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our youngest is attending college out of state and our middle child is living at home while attending college locally. The moments I capture today with them are fewer and farther between but still just as special. Every stage of our children's lives is beautiful, and I would love to help you grow in confidence and skill to capture your family's story!
-Cheryl
