Picking the Camera Back Up: Life as a Stay-at-Home Mom and Photographer

About nine years ago I picked up my camera for the very first time. I remember running around the desert landscape with my clients, having nowhere else to be other than back at my computer to edit whatever we captured. The desert sunsets and the creamy sand were a heart throbber to this photography heart of mine. I loved every minute of it.

Then I set down my camera… for the best reason ever.

I was seven months pregnant and moving across the country. A brand new chapter. One I felt incredibly lucky to step into. Motherhood came once… and then again. My hands were full at home while the world slowed down during a not-so-lovely pandemic that kept us all inside and away from things like photoshoots. Somewhere in the middle of it all, we moved again—this time to North Carolina.

While raising these two precious boys, my heart has been at its fullest. And somehow, after what felt like a blink, here we are. School-aged. What even happened? I know—you know—time flies.

I am still here, fully at home! Our kids attend a hybrid homeschool program, meaning they’re home with me a few days a week and off to school twice a week. And so… here we are.

I’m picking that beautiful dusty, on-the-shelf camera back up.

In my mind I’m twirling in a field full of freedom again, bathed in the sunset colors. Only this time in a lush field of green. This time around, I come with a few new editing “coworkers” and some curfews. I could claim “oh what a life of freedom back then”… but honestly, I don’t love those weighted trend phrases.

I absolutely love my family and kids. I wouldn’t trade a minute to go back to the freedom from making lunches and tying shoelaces. Now I will not deny that I absolutely need to pop those noise cancelling headphones in every once in awhile for a quick ear break but my heart belongs to the sweet people that I share my home with.

And what a beautiful thing. Getting to work two full time jobs. Oh what a busy life full of juggling schedules and to-do’s. But don’t you worry, we make time for some Ted Lasso and chocolate dipped strawberries. We definitely don’t skip those fun science projects showing us how water cycle works. And you can absolutely catch me filling those spare seconds kneading sourdough and filling my soul with my Jesus and His people in the House of the Lord!

Yet the calendar is still open for bookings my friends!

This is definitely not a “How to pick up your camera while being a stay at home mom” blog. Because I’ll be honest, we are flying by the seat of our pants over here. But if you’re looking for encouragement to dust off your passion, start again, and love your babies well while doing it…I say go flying, my friend.

Flying by the seat of your pants is far more fun than whatever the alternative is anyway.