Does it sound a little cliche?
I'm guessing it may sound a little cliche to say that motherhood is my biggest passion. Being a mom and wife are what bring me my greatest sense of accomplishment and joy. That being said, photography has easily been my second passion. I figure I would dive in to a little bit about me for my first blog post (another cliche...) and how photography has added to my life.
I come from a very artistic, capable, DIY kind of family. If it can be done, we are going to do it. Personally, I can sew, crochet, paint watercolor, and I'm a photographer (among other skills). Quick shoutout to my grandmother who got me a sewing machine which at the time I thought wasn't necessary but the skill absolutely comes in handy. But I also have four wonderful parents who can renovate, create, and design just about anything as well as two younger sisters who are equally talented. So maybe the creative side runs in all of our blood, definitely something I hope passes down to my three boys.
My interest in photography started in early high school. Social media was becoming a thing. Remember MySpace? It's probably a good thing I don't have the photos back from those years. But it wasn't uncommon to have a fun weekend with friends and upload an insanely large album of photos to your Facebook or MySpace page. Fast-forward to 2018, I got my first DSLR camera and quickly loved learning about my camera and how to take the best photos. I knew then I wanted to document other people's moments in their lives but wasn't quite sure how to pursue that. Jump to 2020, I had my first son 6 weeks after the world shut down from Covid and phew was that tough for many reasons. Then I had my second son in 2021, became a stay at home mom, and started to find the time to take photos of my boys. In 2022, I found a really great group of moms that I became quick friends with and one of them really encouraged me to follow my passion of photography and at this point I had some more "models" to help me build a portfolio. Their encouragement and feedback really pushed me to move to the next level which is where I am today. Thank you doesn't begin to scratch the surface with how grateful I am for them.
Being able to photograph families, couples, motherhood journeys, and newborns allows me (almost selfishly) to fill my creative cup. It's so often women say they lose themselves in motherhood and while I felt like motherhood gave me a new sense of being, I knew I needed something extra for me. That is what photography gives me but that is a byproduct of what I am able to give my clients. What I give my clients is lasting memories, time to slow down and have family time that is documented and enjoyed for years to come. I give my clients a moment to feel and look great (because y'all always do), time to explore a new place or take photos in a place that is meaningful to their family and you let me be a part of that. It's truly special for me and yes, that might be yet another cliche but it's true! Your photographer should love what they are creating for their clients!
I think saying photography added value to my life would be a slight understatement in the grand scheme. The feeling I get from a potential client reaching out all the way to delivering a gallery is so exciting and something I am proud of. The ability to continue to learn and push myself harder is so fulfilling. I encourage everyone to follow a passion in their life, no matter how big or small. And if you have made it this far in my first blog post, thank you! You're awesome!
-Sierra
