One day you’re going to miss the mess

Hey, I’m Steph!

Since I was little, right up until I had kids of my own, my grandma kept photos of me and my siblings in her purse. She’d pull them out at any opportunity and show anyone who’d look, God bless her poor neighbours. I still remember her taking those photos on an old disposable Kodak. She’d wind it up, click while we were busy playing and then give us a wink while we fussed about whether we looked okay. It’s funny now, thinking how she loved every single one of those blurred, finger-in-the-way, unpolished photos with her whole heart. And, it’s always stuck with me, how the ‘in the moment’ photos are often the ones filled with the most love.

My goal is to take ‘honest’ photos, the kind where your family’s beautiful, chaotic, true selves shine through. Where the kids are wiggly, your laugh is genuine, and a shoot becomes an experience. I used to be that person who never liked my photo being taken, and would pick myself apart. But after having my three kids, and thinking back to my beautiful grandma who loved us just as we were, I’ve realised it’s not always about looking like your version of beautiful (because that’s all it is- your version), but more about looking happy. Because when you look happy, you are the most beautiful version of yourself to everyone else. Now when I choose photos for my wall, I’m choosing the ones that make me smile. A perfect shoot happens when you’re real, relaxed and in the moment. And that’s exactly what I hope to capture in every mum I photograph, wrinkled noses and all!

Can’t wait to chat!

xx