You guys! I 100% know how hard portraits sessions are on moms! My last portrait session left me in tears because everyone was crazy and uninterested in the etherial vision I had in my head! But, I hired a pro and she made magic. I’m not even showing you those photos because it was 3 years ago and I’m ASHAMED of myself for not booking a session since. Seriously. I’m clearly not getting my own memos. But, I mean what I say and regretting not documenting every season of life feels terrible so don’t be me, book the session Mama!
Here’s some ideas to make the planning and session smooth. I’ve collected these ideas from my 10 + years shooting families and from hundreds of mamas I’ve had the privilege of photographing, they absolutely know what they’re talking about at this point…
I hope that helps! Here’s a link to current availability.
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As I was saying in my instagram post…
This shit is too much! Or is it?
I’m pretty strong and I can carry a heavy load. I was made this way. I’ve always been this way since I was a little girl and unfortunately, I needed to be this way, especially as a little girl. Which is why I know that on the darkest days when the load is weighing me down, I’m actually ok. I’m fine. Truly. Shit might be messy and wrong and not how it’s supposed to be. I may feel sad and angry and exhausted but perspective is everything and if I get a little higher above my circumstances, I can see what’s real. I have a home, my family is healthy, there are so many who love me. There’s work on my calendar and money in the bank. I’m good!
I can look back to times when there wasn’t money in the bank and not everyone was healthy. I’ve been through those scary seasons with no hope or idea how to manage. But here I am. I managed. I cried my tears, I said all the 4 letter words, I hit a few things and did what I had to do. And then… I put my boots on and figured it out.
All of this to say, through the fair and the unjust. Through the hard and happy. In the big fucking messes and the beautiful wins… I’m ok. Sometimes more than ok. And if you’re relating to my experience more than you’d like, you are ok too. I’m sure more than ok sometimes. You know what you’re made of. You know how to fight. Get some perspective and then get to work. It’s time to create your own win!
Wishing all the single mamas all the wins and success,
-Kelli
This scene just played out in my house⦠One boy is peeing. Door is open, another boy comes in and spanks peeing boy super hard on his bare bottom. Peeing boy almost falls, Pee is spraying everywhere. Other boy laughs and runs away. Peeing boy goes after him with pants half on, no flushing, no washing of hands, no turning out the light, no cleaning up the pee. End scene.
My house is riddled with Nerf bullets, legos and hot wheels. My laundry is full of inside out jeans with underwear still in them. I buy them at least a dozen pairs of shoes each year. A fraction of everything they eat stays on their face and shirt. And, they donāt care if Iām going number 1 or 2, theyāll tell me all about some amazing Minecraft/Star Wars/Hot wheels⦠something or other because Iām sitting there with no where to go, I have to listen to them.
My boys are 8, 5 and almost 2. I absolutely love raising boys. I love my girl for sure, but I think thereās a reason I only have one. You feel meā¦. My boys think Iām beautiful on my worst day. They have a grace for me and I have a grace for them that is just different than with a girl.
Sometimes Ari (5) will grab my face and tell me how bootiful I am and how much he wuvs my whip stick. He asks me to marry him daily and does this charming little thing where he snaps his fingers and points at me while saying, āHey babe.ā Itās stupid cute.
Ren (20 months) has always been obsessed with my hair. He puts his arms around my neck and with both hands, plays with it incessantly. If itās up, he pulls it down. He also loves to be face on face with me. Itās like he canāt get close enough to me so he just smashes himself against me while wearing this cute little grin showing how happy it makes him to literally suffocate me with his love.
Sam (8) is the man of the house. He opens my doors, takes out the trash, checks the mail, always asks to help me. If Iām upset, heās upset. He drinks coffee with me in the early mornings because he likes to sit and have quiet moments with me. (really itās cream with a side of coffee but whatever, itās sweet) He feels big and I love his tender heart.
Itās such an important job raising boys. I know the movement of the hour is for women but weād have no need for a womenās movement if we raised our boys to be gentlemen. We need to teach our boys to be strong and still tender. Brave and still wise. Respectful and responsible. Thatās a more challenging job for some over others. How do you do that when thereās isnāt an example present? I donāt have all the answers but I think Iām doing a few things right…
I tell them how I see them even if they arenāt functioning well in it yet. I tell Ren that heās a strong boy with big love in his heart. Heās actually not that strong because heās 2 and when he sticks his finger all the way up my nose just because, thereās not much love in his heart but, I say it anyway. I always call them to their best. When Sam makes his bed and it looks like thereās still a body in it, I ask him if thatās the best heās got. I wait to enter through a door until they open it for me. I rarely have to wait long because itās become natural to get the door for other people first. Ari is still learning this but Sammy is setting a great example. I remind my boys often that girls are precious and need to be treated as such regardless of how they act. I also remind them that most girls have a daddy and theyāll have to ask that daddyās permission before they go near her. That convo was introduced after receiving a text message from Ariās teacher about him chasing, proposing and kissing girls the first week of school. Dear Godā¦
A very wise friend told me this once: Boys get their worth from their momma while they learn how to be a man from their daddy. Girls get their worth from their daddy while they learn how to be a woman from their momma. Iām so thankful to know this bit of wisdomā¦.
One of the most important things Iām learning about parenting is to let them see us as people. People with interests and hobbyās, people who over come hard things, people who are kind to other people. They need to see us being good humans so they can become a good human. We have to live out loud in front of our kids. With our kids.
Thatās all I got. Fingers crossed and a lot of prayer I get this right.
Get the scoop on planning outfits for your photo session. With tips, recommended color palettes and wardrobe inspiration, youāll learn how to style your family with flair. This is how youāll take the look of your session to another level.
Iāve been at this business for 10 years. Itās the very thing that lets me provide for my 4 children as a single mom. I know what itās like to feel inadequate and overwhelmed. Your business should be a boost to your income and your confidence level and yet, at the beginning, that idea can feel like a far-fetched dream. Let me show you the ropes with real talk, perspective and discerning advice. Youāll leave inspired and informed.