Honoring Mothers...

Over the past several years, I have been inspired by an amazing group of women. It is a group we all know--one way or the other. Many of us are in this group ourselves. If we aren't, we certainly know many who are...Mothers. 

Last year I was inspired by an article I ready about mothers getting “into the picture” with their kids. Too many among us are self-conscious and miss the opportunity to get precious photographs with our children while they are still young. I spent the year encouraging mothers to get right in there in front of my lens with their little ones. It’s been a wonderful experience. Moms, Give Your Child a Treasure. You.

During the Winter Olympics, Proctor & Gamble created and Ad that is an amazing tribute to mothers of athletes. I’m sure many of you have seen it. It was about picking your child up, literally and figuratively and sometimes being the only one to keep them going.

Watching this ad, reminded me of a childhood friend of mine whose son has special needs. She literally picks him up so that he can experience the world around him. Her son is just 4 months older than my own. It all seems unreal to me. All of a sudden, it hit me that as mothers, we do everything we can for our children—whether they are Olympians or children with special needs. At that moment, with some added inspiration from an amazing Connecticut photographer, Lynn Damon, I realized that I wanted to pay tribute to mothers of all types through my photography.

As mothers, we all love our children, encourage our children, and fight for our children. How we go about that day-to-day, might look very different. Some are encouraging their little ones to be brave enough to make a new friend, try out the goalie position in soccer or to read out load in class. Others are navigating the world of special services and health care. We all strive to provide our children the best and most meaningful life possible. And to show them the love that is in our hearts.

I often create photography projects and goals for myself to keep improving my craft...and building on what I love....Capturing Moments in Life. My goal is to photograph 5 to 10 mothers who have a child (or children) with special needs in the spring and summer of 2014. I’d like to feature them with all of their children, if possible. I hope to capture their unconditional love for each other. Some of these children may have visible special needs while others may not to be obvious in a photograph. Part of this project is to provide these images to the families and also to encourage all mothers to “get in the picture” with their children. Another part is to create a fundraiser for children with special needs. Mother's Day 2014 will be the kick-off of the project.

Please contact me if you know of a mother who would like to be involved. JustSoDesigns@gmail.com

Also, please visit Our Promise to Nicholas to learn more about one family's story and struggle with a rare neurodegenerative disease called Batten Disease. Nicholas and his family are a true inspiration and will be featured in the Honoring Real Mothers Project.

More to come...

Fall Location Session: Charlestown

      I had a great time shooting this location session in my old stomping ground, Charlestown.
      What a beautiful neighborhood. The session was with 3 generations of Charlestown natives.      
      Enjoy...

Be Well Prepared for Your Photo Session

Positano is a dream...

"Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone." -John Steinbeck

Steinbeck really does say it best. Positano is a surreal gem on the coast of Italy. I worry that I will forever search for a more perfect place. In the meantime, I will dream of my time in the sun....

"Its houses climb a hill so steep it would be a cliff except that stairs are cut in it. I believe that whereas most house foundations are vertical, in Positano they are horizontal. The small curving bay of unbelievably blue and green water laps gently on a beach of small pebbles. There is only one narrow street and it does not come down to the water. Everything else is stairs, some of them as steep as ladders. You do not walk to visit a friend, you either climb or slide" -Steinbeck

Long Hill Reservation...Getting in Touch with My Inner Gardner

             I spent the day at Long Hill Reservation in Beverly 
         getting in touch with my inner gardner. I came home with 
         so many great ideas for the garden studio. Now if it would
         just stop raining...I could get to work.

Sneak Peek...Spring Mini Sessions...

These twins are adorable. We had a fun spring mini session. More "sneak peeks" to come.

Moms Have Infinite Love for Their Children

A few months back I sent a "thank you" email to my best childhood girlfriends. I am blessed to still be close to a group of amazing women with whom I grew up. (I have even known one of them since I was in preschool.)

Through these moms and the other moms around me, I have learned that our children are all different--with different issues and challenges...different styles and talents. Children are so very different and parenting styles and traditions are also different. But, as moms, we have more in common than we don't. We are all moms trying to do our best...sometimes to just get through the day. Some of us work outside of the home and some of us do not, but we all work really hard. Our children are all beautiful and we all want what is best for all of them. We learn more from each other and from our children than we know.

And, most importantly, we all have 
infinite love for our children.

As a Mom, I treasure our similarities and differences. 
As a photographer, I want to capture that infinite love...

Below is a little bit of that thank you email I sent to the Moms who help me every day...Happy Mother's Day to you!

Email sent about 1 year ago....

"On my way home tonight after our fun and yummy dinner together, I was reflecting on our many dinners, play dates and get togethers over the past 9 years since we started to have kids. I know we were laughing tonight about the ups and downs of being Moms--and it's all so true. Frankly, I wouldn't be making it through (in one piece) without you guys. So, thank you! Thank you for laughing with me--even when sometime things don't seem so funny (or strangely seem really funny). Thank you for listening when I go on...(and on) about different issues with my little guys. Thank you for supporting me both professionally and personally. I know we all gladly do these things for each other, but they really do matter. Whenever I would feel lonely and isolated in my own little world with whatever the issue of the day or month was, I knew I could touch base with one of you and feel reconnected. None of us are alone in this, but some days it can feel that way. Those are the days that in my head I can hear you and feel you routing me on.

I am the only one who doesn't have a sister, but I feel like I have a bunch of sisters. We will all be in different place as travel along the journey. And when days get hard sometime, I remember I am not alone. Or, sometimes, I actually call you guys to get together for wine and laughs....