When I’m editing images, I always find myself most drawn to the messiest and least planned-out moments.
Sure, I pride myself on being a great producer (arguably even better than I am a photographer!) — but it’s always the wild, imperfect outcomes that steal my heart.
What do I mean by “producer”?
Well, let’s just say — I’m bossy bossy bossy.
I orchestrate moments, poses, and emotional outcomes by asking deep questions and getting to know my clients — before and during our session.
I scout for the best light, position bodies to flatter and amplify their natural strength, and then… I push a little.
I ask. I tease. I connect.
And somewhere between the posing and the producing, the real magic begins.
There’s room.
There’s laughter.
There’s chaos.
There’s life.
It’s messy.
It’s breathtaking.
And it’s beautiful.
“There are no mistakes, only unexpected masterpieces.” — James Joyce
This messiness isn’t just something I see through my camera.
It’s a mirror of my own life, too — life as a single mom with my son, Henley.
One of the hardest parts of single parenting is pretending everything is okay.
My world could be falling apart — heartbreak, rough dating seasons, a low bank account, depleted energy — and yet, to Henley, life feels perfect.
(And it should.)
But there are days when the cracks in my marble exterior show.
Days when my patience wears thin, when I don’t have that calm, sing-songy voice reminding him — for the third time — to stay focused on his homework.
Days when I break.
I cry.
I fall to my knees and ask him — plead with him — to help get through the day.
I call this my “car time.”
When I need to fall apart, I sit alone in my garage, tucked into my car, and let it out.
Sometimes for a minute.
Sometimes for fifteen.
It’s my way of keeping my son’s world soft, even when mine feels anything but.
But here’s the thing:
I always come back.
I always apologize.
We always reconnect.
We name our feelings.
We hold each other through the mess.
We grow stronger, not in spite of the chaos, but because of it.
We are life.
We are love.
We are messy.
And it’s beautiful.
This is why I love photographing families the way I do.
When you book a session with me — whether you’re a big boisterous group or a brand-new family of two — know this:
I’m not there to chase perfection.
I’m there to capture what’s real.
The real smiles.
The real tears.
The real laughs.
The real hugs after the meltdown.
The real connection that makes your family yours.
As a Seattle family photographer, I’ve learned that the most magical images come when you let go of the idea of perfection.
When you simply show up, messy and beautiful and human, and allow yourself to be seen.
You don’t need:
- The perfect outfits
- The perfect weather
- The perfect children
- Or the perfect family story
You just need yourselves — exactly as you are right now.
Because this moment, messy and wild and beautiful — it’s already perfect.
If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” time to book your family photos, consider this your permission slip:
There’s no better time than now.
I would be honored to tell your story — chaos, laughter, tears, and all.
— let’s make some magic together.