The calm before the storm... and after

Stephanie is a former lab technician, currently birthing mentor in search of a yet another career change. The birthing classes served her as a transition while her two children were young, and she recently moved back to town, where her husband works, to a sunny house on a quiet street. But you would not guess the changes her life goes through by looking into her calm blue eyes.

I did a photo session with this petite woman some time in May. The buds were opening in the yard bushes and the morning sun was warm and milky. She wanted to be photographed at home, doing what she does when she is in that safe zone, reading and drinking a cup of tea by the window. When I was ready to send her access to her gallery, her life went through yet another bump.

While she was at a retreat with her fellow birth mentors in the next state, her little daughter was hospitalized with neurological symptoms. Her whole community and close-by family got in motion to support her husband and son during those uncertain first days while she was away. It didn't seem like a great time to share photos of her then when, I imagine, she was having her mind otherwise fully occupied. Her girl has climbed a steady recovery since her mom returned 3 days after hospitalization, and when I sent her the link to her online gallery she was ready to sit down and enjoy them.

I would like to think that looking at her photos she was reminded of the steady valley on this roller coaster that is her life, in which I was privileged enough to witness her. I included a collage of some shots I took of her family, kids, dogs and environment; the details that make a lifestyle photo session come alive: I am sure that it is because she rides so elegantly every valley and every peak that she can give herself permission to treasure images where she is the star, and know the rest of the gang is invisibly coming along for the ride.