The Return: Finding Rhythm Between Motherhood and the Lens

There’s a stretch of time in my life that’s both blurry and vivid—years measured not in milestones or work projects, but in feedings, first steps, and the quiet, unseen hours of mothering three little girls. Somewhere in there, the camera that once felt like an extension of my hand was tucked away more often than not. Not forgotten—but paused.

I’ve been a photographer for most of my life. I started young, fascinated with how a photograph can freeze a moment in time and hold such emotion. It wasn’t just about taking pictures—it was about preserving feeling, connection, and truth. That love never left, it just waited patiently while I poured myself into a different kind of creating: motherhood.

But becoming a mother changed everything. It stripped me back and grew me up all at once. The transition from maiden to mother is not a clean line—it’s a slow dissolve, a complete reordering of self.

For a while, it felt like there wasn’t space for both: the artist and the mother. But lately, something new has started to take shape. Not a return to how things were—but a soft, brave step into what’s now. I’ve picked up my camera again, this time with tired hands and a fuller heart. I see differently now. The chaos, the tenderness, the blink-and-you-miss-it moments—I’m not just capturing them for others, I’m living them too.

I’m not chasing balance (because honestly, I don’t know if that exists), but I am finding a rhythm. Some days are for the kids. Some days are for the work. Most days, they overlap. I’ll be editing with a toddler on my lap or sneaking in shoots between school pick-ups. It’s messy, but it’s mine.

This space—this blog—is where I’ll be sharing parts of that journey. The beauty in the juggle. The work, the wonder, the weird in-between.

I’m starting again, but not from scratch. I’m starting from experience, from softness, from strength I didn’t know I had before becoming a mum. If you’re here, thank you. Let’s see where this new chapter goes

Image taken by Cailee Maeve photography