Category Archives: personal

our little little

She was in my heart long, long before she was created. I loved her when she was just a dream, a remote possibility or impossibility if I believed what I was told to be true. She lay there, just a seed, a seed of a tiny tree. Waiting.

I love her completely, absolutely. All of her possibilities and imperfections, because they make her all the more beautiful.

She is so loved, so wished for. Made by a collection of full moon wishes, tucked wistfully underneath my pillow I asked for her. And here she is, our perfect little little x

 

the don’t give up project

In January I had this extraordinary experience. It was called ‘the don’t give up project’ and it was a photography workshop with ‘The Parsons‘. If you are a photographer and you ever have the opportunity to do this workshop, just take the leap and do it. Lets just say the experience has pivoted me on my axis. It has sent me searching for something again that I knew had been missing, I just couldn’t remember where to find it. And now I know, and it has changed everything.

It has reminded me why. Why I make photographs. Because I want to tell a story. Because I want my children to see that the world is a beautiful place. It is far from perfect but it is BEAUTIFUL. I want to show them what real life looks like. What real love looks like. Because I want to remember. Because I want to feel. Because there is treasure to be found, in every moment of every day.

I want to make photos that will outlive you. That look like you and that the ones you love, not fluffier, skinnier, powder puffed versions of yourself. I want to listen to your stories, because we all have the most wonderful stories inside of us. I want to hear why you love him and he loves you. And none of that is about the pretty things you have or the place you get married. They are about people, they are about you. I want to make a photo with you that will take you back every single time, to that moment. I want to tell stories that matter, they are your story and deserve to be told. Because you can’t have those moments again. I have my eyes wide open ready to find the miraculous in your world and mine x

 

 

the impossible question

Today marks two years since my beautiful niece entered the world. In her own time, on her own terms. A couple of months a go I signed up for a workshop, one that I hoped would change the way I looked at the things and people I photograph. In preparation for that workshop We are the Parsons asked the impossible question.They asked, ‘what is the most important photo you have ever made?’ So today Willow Faye turns 2, and yesterday I shared this photograph with a room full of strangers, who are now wonderful friends. This photo is the most important photo I have ever made. It is the moment my niece was born into this world. This photo takes me back to that second. Those agonising 72 hours of labour. Of supporting someone I love through the most difficult and painful experience and knowing that I couldn’t do it for her. Knowing she and her baby had to do it on their own terms. Remembering that feeling 14 months earlier when my son had been lifted onto my chest. For all of these reasons. It isn’t perfect, but it is incredibly real. It’s a moment that we can’t do over, its a memory that will outlive all of us.