Sarah, Emma & Kate: South Florida Motherhood Session

Back in 2016 when I started this wild journey down the path of Documentary photography I put out a model call for families. One of those families was the Thornburgs. Abe and Sarah have two daughters: Emma and Kate. Here is a favorite photo of Emma and Abe during that first session.

I was ecstatic when they then asked for a session with me the following year. That first session baby Kate was only a week old. By the second she was doing assisted gymnastics in the pool. See for yourself. 

They grow up so fast don't they? I was seriously excited when Sarah decided to do a Motherhood session with me of just her and the girls. I love hanging out with them and this session was particularly special. Full of laughs and also some bubble related tears. 

After bath time we moved on to lunch and nap time. Emma let me know that putting chips inside your sandwich is the way to go and that if Kate didn't finish her chips she was happy to help her out. I was also eyeballing the abandoned chips so as always I admired Emma for the honesty. Another new favorite saying of Emma's was "That's ridiculous." and personally I agree with that too.

Baby Kate was understandably tired after all of the fun we were having but Emma had different ideas about nap time that included less napping and more jumping on and off the bed to get various toys. Does anyone else think about how much they could get done as an adult if they only had a child's energy... or just me? 

Interested in a Motherhood session? They are the absolute sweetest. And they don't all have to take place in the bathtub!

Annabelle & Penelope: A South Florida Motherhood Session

When I decided to start offering Motherhood sessions it was perhaps the weirdest ask I’d ever put out into the social media world. I wanted Mom's who were brave enough to hop in the tub with their kids! It feels like an awkward and very large request to ask mothers to participate in such an intimate session with their children. But this is where I wanted to start. I had an idea in my head of what it could be. And it was.

After working through my first session… I found that, much like with my first families I found willing to give Documentary Family photography a try, it really wasn’t as awkward as it sounds. The only awkward moment came when Grandma showed up and was very confused (understandably) by the fact that we were having a photo session in the bathroom. 

I truly couldn't explain the magic of these sessions without showing someone the images. After Annabelle hopped in the tub with Penny it was very much just about their bond and the fun of playing with Mermaids and pouring water on top of Mom’s head. Because how often is that allowed? How often do you get Mom in the tub WITH you for your daily bath? 

It was a really great opportunity to capture some very sweet moments that won’t be possible as Penelope grows older. Freeze frame on the memory of mom braiding her hair with capable and loving hands. The laughter as the water runs down her face. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. 

"i struggle so deeply
to understand
how someone can pour
their entire soul
blood and energy
into someone
without wanting
anything in
return"

i will have to wait till i'm a mother - rupi kaur

Interested in a Motherhood session? Please message me. (Psst. the session doesn't HAVE to be in the bathtub. Although... it's certainly beautiful if it is.)