Lifestyle Photography | Behind the Scenes of Motherhood | Mandy | Baton Rouge, LA
I am so excited to share this series I was honored to be a part of with Red Stick Moms Blog.
To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. -Elliott Erwitt
Angela from Red Stick Moms Blog connected me with 4 of her contributors to document an everyday moment in their lives completely photojournalistic. Months of planning and weeks of shooting and writing I am so excited to introduce the first behind the scenes of motherhood mom Mandy.
My first e-mail with Mandy I asked her to describe her average day schedule. When reading her schedule it was filled with bringing her son to various therapy sessions, working two jobs, and her mentioning that she still cooked dinner every night. Reading that I knew that was the aspect of her life I wanted to capture. That in all the uncertainty she'll experience that day, the family would get together, wind down, and that she was going to make dinner.
While Mandy started prepping for dinner her son, Jojo, was in the living room watching Cars. He had his lines memorized and toys laid out ready to reenact every scene.
It was amazing watching Mandy and her husband tag team tending to Jojo and making dinner.
When dinner was ready, they did not break the transition of taking turns tending to Jojo while the other parent ate dinner.
I loved documenting Jojo's imagination. He takes his pretend and play very seriously. He set the table just like his favorite cartoon. He would dance in the middle of the room every time a character in his show would break into song. (I mean I even benefited from a big hug simply because a character on TV gave hugs!) I also got to see his frustration when he couldn't get a scene done just right.
After his show was finished it was time for dad and son quality time. Jojo was getting ready to take his bath, which you could tell wouldn't happen unless his dad carried him into the bathroom upside down.
Mama then cleaned the dishes and got a few moments to herself to end the night.
It was such an honor to be a part of their everyday. Read Mandy's side of the story on the Red Stick Moms Blog. She made me tear up with her sweet words. It also gave me such a different perspective on things Moms notice in comparison to the story I notice.
If you could have an everyday moment in your life documented what would it be?