Mother’s day. Is there ever a better excuse to honor the mothers in our lives? We would like to honor one beautiful mother in Milwaukee and one in San Jose with a custom photo session focusing on her relationship with her children. She will also receive a beautiful gift album and a 16×20 from her session.
Here’s where you all come in: Nominate one mother who you think deserves a mother-and-child (or children) session with me by writing a short essay or even just a paragraph in the comments on this post explaining why you think this woman is a beautiful mother who needs her love captured forever.
While I was working on this project I started thinking about all the mothers I know. In my line of work, that is a whole lot of women! They are as diverse and beautiful as the flowers that decorate America . . .
Some have one treasured child, some have five.
Some are crunchy granola, some have a van filled with Happy Meal toys.
Some work at home as mothers and wives, some work as CEO’s or doctors or teachers.
Some live in mansions, some, apartments.
Some have partners to help them along, some go it alone.
Some are thin and perfect, most worry they’re not.
Some yell at their kids now and then, some never have (yet).
Some are strict and some are lenient.
Some are sick with cancer or heart disease, some are healthy, for today.
Some have lost children, most are lucky and don’t know the heartache.
Some moms are no longer with their children, some are lucky to be.
All are beautiful, brilliant and unique.
All are important in the life of her child.
All matter, especially to her children.
All will one day wish she had taken just a few more photos with her children.
Even if she doesn’t feel thin or beautiful or perfect.
Even if she thinks her smile is too big or too small or too crooked.
Even if next year she plans to be thinner or prettier or ready.
Because every single mom I know is beautiful, wonderful and important.
Because every single mom you know should stop fretting about her self image.
Your kids don’t care what you look like, you’re just Mom.
Your kids will only remember how much you loved them when they look at the photos.
And you will better remember this precious time, this precious gift, of being a mom.
Happy Mother’s Day!
*There is only one stipulation. The winner must be willing to sign a full model release, allowing us to use the photos to complete our promotion and share with all of our readers!
Every mom really deserves this, especially with your beautiful photography. But I’d like to make the case for my wife, Jess. It’s been an incredibly quick two years since we had a photoshoot with our daughter, Clara, and those pictures are up all over our house and my desk. We try to capture as much as we can every day, but as you know, it still seems to go too fast. Jess stays at home and is an incredible full-time mom while balancing the bills, paperwork, and everything that needs to be done to make a household function. She works so hard and rarely has a moment of down time, so I’d love to surprise her with some “Jess Time” where she can hang out with Clara and have it photographed with your touch. I’d love to see more of your photos with my beautiful girls. Thanks, Anna!
aww, what a sweet husband.
Love this.
Even though I have not known her for a very long time, I nominate Anna Mayer. Of all the moms I have known since I moved here, I have never seen anyone work as hard as she does for her kids and family.
I know failry little about her and her story if you consider her family and the people she left back in CA, but what I see is genuine, and full of determination and heart.
She is an impressive mom and person and I feel lucky to have met her.
My only question would be…..who would do the shoot if she won, and it is a tough one as I see her more deserving than any other mom I know.
Jeanette, you are too sweet. Now . . . who IS going to do it! LOL
OK, first I have to tell you that your story/poem brought tears to my eyes! There is truth and wisdom in what you say, so thank you.
But my main reason for writing is to nominate Any Hahner for your mom contest. I am not nearly as eloquent of a writeer as you, so this will not do her justice. She is a teacher at my daughters’ elementary school, a music teacher. She brings such passion and enthusiasm to her work, it’s a joy to watch. She has just over 600 “kids” at the school that truly adore her.
And after suffering through heartbreaking fertility challenges, she finally became a “real” mother. The joy in her face is obvious to all that know her. But sadly, her daughter suffers from a rare disorder that is life threatening. She has taken a leave from the school and while we all miss her terribly, we understand her choices and the sorrow she must be feeling. And we, as parents, struggle with how we can help this wonderful woman that has made such an impact on our own children. And that is why I am hoping she could be selected for this contest… it could be our little way of saying “thank you” and that we understand the choices that she is making.
Thanks for your time, and for the wonderful work that you do!
Oh, Pam! You made me cry. So sweet.
To keep the nominations all in one place:
Molly Meyer: I’d like to nominate my neighbor Melora Gardner Scharf who is a mom extraordinaire. She goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve her community, neighbors, friends and last, but not least, her three sons. She always has a smile and encouraging word for people and a very generous heart. She is very deserving of this gift!
Id like to nominate my wife, Rebecca Jennings. She is an amazing mom and works tirelessly to make sure Ava and Logan are fed, bathed, brushed, entertained, educated, played, danced, and most importantly loved. As the wife of a busy realtor she often has to manage it all on her own and she does it with love , grace and class. (Not that she hasnt wanted to has pull her hair out from time to time) Shes the best mom I know
Awesome, Brett. You score big points for that one.
I am privileged to nominate my wife Beth. She truly is an amazing mom who takes care of our four kids, Oliver, Natalie, Jenna & Lauren full time. There is almost nothing this woman won’t do to create amazing experiences and memories for our kids helping them grow, learn, love & explore life as the grow (too fast). She loves sharing the journey of childhood with our kids so much she often doesn’t have time to capture the moments in pictures. She is too busy making the memories to stop and get ‘shot’. That’s why she would be an excellent choice for this contest, to give her the photo’s she can cherish forever to go with the memories that she is busy building. Beth, I love you.
[...] fits and spurts, but I certainly photograph other families more than my own. While I was writing my blog post about mothers I started to think about that; about how important photos are to us as time passes and the moments [...]
I am nomoanating my mom Heather. She is my hero. She is my hero because she always knows what to do when I have a problem. My mom also gave me my sence of style. She always (even when working out) looks good!
When I am scared of something I usually ask her to lay with me because she makes me feel protected. (I don’t sleep with my dad because he snores).My mom is (most of the time) VERY nice. She also works full time but some how always makes time for me and my brother. Even with all of the sports my brother and i do she makes it happen. I wish I could be like her always.
I am nominating my best friend and wife Kelley. This has been a trying year for my wife as she lost her mother in January. I was trying to figure out what to write… then tonight my daughter showed me the card she made for her mom in school. They had mother written down the left side and they kids were to fill in with a sentence starting with each letter. Here is Abby’s card to her mom.
M- y mom is the best!
O- ther moms aren’t as great, awesome, and fantastic as you are!
T- he greatest mom EVER!
H- ugs and kisses
E- very day you love me so
R- eady and prepared for anything.
“My Mom’s the greatest because…” You love me so much and drive me around everywhere for my sports and care for me, I love you mom!
Now all Mothers are the greatest by definition. However, my wife gives more than she has everyday to my kids! They are lucky to have such a great mother!
Thank you for allowing us to brag about our Wives, Mothers and/or the Mothers of our children.
Often I get the question, “How do I do what I do ?” My response, “I get it from my Momma !” My mother is my inspiration. She is the drive to my hard work, dedication to my career and family.
I am a 37 year old school teacher, and married with two kids of my own. I do my best everyday to take care of my family, both at school and at home. At times, it seems overwhelming, but my mom did it for years, and still does.
During my 6th grade year, my parents divorced. My mom became a single mom who worked two full time jobs, raising 3 kids at the same time. Now at 60, she STILL works two jobs, IN ADDITION to raising grandkids when she’s not sleeping.
Having this photo session would give YOU the opportunity to meet this amazing woman, and capture a moment with her kids….her life.
I know this woman, her name is Erin Paisley, she has two kids. Like my last niminee I have only known this mom for a short time but she too has blown me away with what an amazing mom she is. Her story about how she had her daughter was heartbreaking and at the same time beautiful perhaps because it made her into the mom that she is. Se was so ill after delivering her daughter that she can not risk getting pregnant again.
She is an artis, maybe that is what makes the kind of mom I always wanted to be, and works really hard to give her kids a great life. With a husband in school, I think, and an artists salary she drives through town every day to let her kids have the best daycare experioence she can think of.
Whenever I see what her kids are up to it is something entirely imaginative and most of the time free. To chose to give your kids a differnt kind of upbrining in todays world can sometimes be a challenge, I know because I try so hard myself. It can sometimes make your kids feel different, or if you are lucky, make them feel like childhood is still what it used to be, a place where anything is possible and kids get to be kids.
A photo shoot with Erin and her kids would be magical to say the least, and of course I know no one better at capturing just that, a families true spirit, than Anna.
I know this woman, her name is Erin Paisley, she has two kids. Like my last niminee I have only known this mom for a short time but she too has blown me away with what an amazing mom she is. Her story about how she had her daughter was heartbreaking and at the same time beautiful perhaps because it made her into the mom that she is. Se was so ill after delivering her daughter that she can not risk getting pregnant again.
She is an artis, maybe that is what makes the kind of mom I always wanted to be, and works really hard to give her kids a great life. With a husband in school, I think, and an artists salary she drives through town every day to let her kids have the best daycare experioence she can think of.
Whenever I see what her kids are up to it is something entirely imaginative and most of the time free. To chose to give your kids a differnt kind of upbrining in todays world can sometimes be a challenge, I know because I try so hard myself. It can sometimes make your kids feel different, or if you are lucky, make them feel like childhood is still what it used to be, a place where anything is possible and kids get to be kids.
A photo shoot with Erin and her kids would be magical to say the least, and of course I know no one better at capturing just that, a families true spirit, than Anna.
[...] my husband to take a few photos of me with the kids. It’s so rare, me in front of the camera. All mom’s should be there more [...]
I proudly nominate my daughter, Linda Funasaki Wu,of Mountain View, CA for a photo session of my grandsons and their mother. I cannot think of a better time than now to let you know about a once self-centered individual who has since matured into a special mom. I’d like to tell you why:
1. Happiness (yes, I realize the subject warrants a book in itself) and self-worth–tried to find activities that are appropriate for the children at the sacrifice of a “messy” but amazingly clean rooms! Books are scattered throughout almost all the rooms, including the bathrooms; black, red, kidney, beans spilt over the box with Dean and Kai cramped in it having a time of their life “measuring” out of the area–you should have seen my reaction and my need to pick them up! Mud pie production area, which includes running water,for friends, too…yuck! 2. Working with other parents, teachers and schools of children with food allergies by preparing comprehensive information and manuals to as many people as she can 3. Best birthday party planner–great at delegating, especially to grandparents traveling all the way from Hawaii, sticks to her “beer budget” with champagne taste. Yes, you guessed it…much is hand done, including invitations. Well, it’s not my idea of “happiness” but self-worth, yes, because she’s proven we can do it! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to let you know about a special mom, who happens to be my daughter. I feel the same about my other daughter but she lives in Hawaii. Marge Funasaki, Dean and Kai’s grandmother.
Hi. Your photography is gorgeous and I love this idea to gift a special mom. I’m sure the selection will be challenging..
I’d like to nominate Miggie Coxson. Miggie is an amazing woman with an amazing heart. I met her when I was a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for a little girl in the foster care system who Miggie eventually adopted. (the little girl is the biological niece of Miggie’s ex-husband) She has suffered some hardships including the dissolution of her marriage and is now raising 4 children as (more or less) a single mother. She has sometimes had to work two jobs to make ends meet but she loves her children more than life itself and always tries to make life better for them. She could never afford a professional photo shoot but I would love for her to have some beautiful pictures of her with her children. In fact, I am getting tears in my eyes as I type this … Thank you for your consideration.
Anna, I would like to nominate my wife Jeannette. She is unarguably a beautiful woman. The only problem is that your cameras don’t have the ability to capture her source of greatest beauty – the heart that lies within her. I’ve known here for over 18 years, and in that time she has never failed to feel the hurt, joy or need of any one who cared to share it with her. I can only imaging the effort that being this emotionally available extracts. I am sure that from almost the moment I met her, I’ve known she is beautiful inside.
My mother shines! Her warmth and nourishing personality have helped us grow in so many blessed ways. For almost all our lives, my sister and I (my mom’s only kids
lived in the same city as my mother. But within the last few years have moved from the Midwest to California. With both her children in California my mother shines just as bright… But could use some updated photos of us all together. Life has changed, our locations have changed but her love and importance in our lives will never change!
We have “summer camp” in Milwaukee together and to capture those moments would mean the world to us. For when the cold Midwest winter hits I would love for my sunshine to have beautiful photos of us together to remind her of our times together in the sunshine. I always wish I could share her some sun shine from San Jose during those lonely winters… May be this way I can by helping her remember the sunshine we shared together.
Your talent can capture that for us.
I’d like to nominate my Grandmother Ruth. She is the matriarch of the family and one of the rocks in my life. She has taught me so much that I hope to pass along to my children. I get such great joy out of seeing her with my two boys, her first great grandchildren, and I would love to see how Anna captures them in photos – forever. I am a lucky person to be able to have a close relationship with my grandmother into her 90s! Thank you for the opportunity to nominate her. Best of luck to all the moms.