Originally published May 30, 2023 • Updated June 2026 with reflections on motherhood, healing, and the beauty of documenting family life during seasons of growth and change.
TL;DR
Flourishing doesn’t always look like having everything together. Sometimes it looks like surviving sleepless nights, celebrating small victories, healing old wounds, and learning to appreciate the season your family is in right now. As a mother and photographer serving New Richmond and the St. Croix Valley, I’ve learned that the ordinary moments are often the ones worth remembering most.
There are certain kinds of tired that only a mother understands.
The kind fueled by coffee and thoughts of more coffee.
The kind that comes from teething babies, growing children, busy schedules, and the emotional work of trying to become the person you hope to be.
Years ago, my therapist asked me a simple question:
“What does flourishing look like?”
Oddly enough, that word felt uncomfortable.
For much of my life, flourishing felt like something that had to be earned. Something measured by impossible standards and constantly changing expectations. No matter how hard I tried, I never quite felt like I had arrived.
But motherhood has changed that.
Flourishing Doesn’t Always Look Perfect
Today, flourishing looks very different.
It looks like:
- A baby learning to crawl.
- A child reaching milestones you once worried they might never reach.
- A husband is excited to come home at the end of the day.
- Healing old wounds one step at a time.
- Building dreams slowly instead of perfectly.
- Finding joy again.
Sometimes flourishing simply means moving forward.
Slowly.
Even when progress feels small.
Why Parents Often Forget to See Their Own Growth
As parents, we become experts at noticing everyone else’s progress.
We celebrate:
First smiles.
First steps.
Missing teeth.
School accomplishments.
New words.
Big milestones.
But we rarely stop and notice our own growth.
We forget to recognize the hard things we’ve overcome and the ways we’ve changed over the years.
Motherhood has taught me that growth is not always loud. Sometimes it happens quietly in ordinary moments.
Why Family Photos Matter During Imperfect Seasons
One of the things I love most about being a family photographer in New Richmond, Wisconsin, is seeing parents realize they don’t need to wait for life to become easier before documenting it.
Many families tell me:
“We’ll schedule photos when life calms down.”
“When I lose weight.”
“When the kids behave better.”
“When things aren’t so busy.”
But the truth is that family life is rarely perfectly calm.
And that’s okay.
Because the season you’re living right now deserves to be remembered too.
The sleepy newborn days.
The toddler years.
The missing front teeth.
The chaos.
The laughter.
The ordinary Tuesday nights.
These moments become the memories we miss the most.
What I’ve Learned as a Mother and Photographer
Raising children has made me a better photographer.
It has taught me patience.
It has taught me flexibility.
It has taught me that perfection is overrated.
Children do not need to sit perfectly still.
Babies do not need to sleep the entire session.
Families do not need matching personalities or perfect smiles.
They simply need to show up as they are.
That’s where the magic lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do family photos have to be perfect?
Not at all. Some of my favorite images happen between poses when families are simply interacting naturally.
What if my child doesn’t cooperate?
Children are children. Movement, silliness, and breaks are all normal parts of a session.
When is the best time for family photos?
There is no perfect season. The best time is the season you’re currently living.
Why should I schedule photos now?
Because children grow quickly, and the moments that feel ordinary today often become priceless memories tomorrow.
Where do you photograph families?
Alabaster Photos serves families throughout New Richmond, Hudson, River Falls, Baldwin, Somerset, Stillwater, Woodbury, and the surrounding St. Croix Valley.
Final Thoughts
Today, flourishing looks a lot different from what I once imagined.
It looks like hope.
It looks like healing.
It looks like laughter.
It looks like dreams that are bigger than simply surviving.
And sometimes it looks like being incredibly tired while still being deeply grateful.
If you’re in the middle of a hard season, I hope you’ll give yourself grace.
And if you’re waiting for life to become perfect before documenting it, I hope you’ll reconsider.
Because this season matters too.
And someday, you’ll be grateful you remembered it.
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