Happy Mother's Day 2019!!!

Moms and Grandmothers - we love you and honor you. Thank you for all you do!

Happy Mother's Day from Stories of Joy Photography! Moms and grandmas are a big reason why I (and we) do what I do. If you have had a session with me this past year, you might show up in this video, so enjoy, and have a wonderful day!

I have been blessed with wonderful examples, my own mom and my mother-in-law, my sisters, and my many friends who inspire me in so many ways and love on my kids too.

Mother’s Day always gives me many mixed feelings, and I just want to reach out to every person who is hurting today. I see you, I hear you, I remember the pain so well. For me it was because of our infertility years and loss, but I know there are many reasons for grieving today.

Know that it is okay to be sad. Give yourself grace and space. Look up to the One who can give you peace and comfort beyond understanding. (((Hugs))) to you.

And to the moms who might feel disappointed today - I give you permission to do something for you! (I may or may not have picked up a key lime pie yesterday and stuck it in the fridge 😜) This day can be a bit intimidating to dads and kids - it can be pretty tough to show appreciation for ALL we do!

Happy Mother’s Day!

PS. It’s not too late to gift Mom and Grandma with a photo session! Contact me. I am running a Mother’s Day Special for the month of May.

Sennu

Third Day in the Life Session

My third Day in the Life in 2016 was so special to me. This was mom and dad with toddler twins and a baby. I think this was the closest to me seeing what my life was like with toddler quadruplets. (If there was anything I wish for from past, it is that there had been Day in the Life Sessions when my quadruplets were little, and I had had the foresight to hire a photographer for a Day in the Life Session - this is one of the reasons why I am so passionate about documenting the precious every day life.)

Photographing a full Day in the Life Session is a lot of work. It’s usually longer than twelve hours, so of course I am tired after each session. This session, however, had me crawling home from my car! It really is true how we forget how intense parenting lots of littles is. There are no breaks with multiple little ones. No breaks for moms, no breaks for dads (really, going to work is not a break!), and no breaks for the Day in the Life photographer, who doesn’t want to miss moments.

Parenting is such hard work. It’s rewarding and wonderful, but it also is exhausting, mundane, and often feels unappreciated.

The beauty of a Day in the Life Session is it shows you - the parent - and it shows everyone looking at the images how demanding and selfless our parenting days are. It also shows the sweet moments of tenderness and joy, love and playfulness.

During this Day in the Life Session mom packed up her crew and headed over to dad’s work for a picnic lunch and walk. What a wonderful tradition! Do you have activities in your family life that would be special to have photographed?

Life changes so quickly. Seasons pass, and little ones grow up. (Ask me, I know! My babies just turned 20!)

I would love to serve your family and come over for a Day in the Life Session. It can be a weekday or a weekend day, or even a vacation day! If you’re not in the Vero Beach area, just ask me anyway - I love traveling, and I also know a lot of documentary photographers I can recommend.

I now also offer short Day in the Life Sessions, in case you wanted to get the feel for the session, and/or get an activity documented in pictures. Saturday morning? Bedtime routines? Grandparents or cousins visiting? Something else special to your family?

The best way to contact me is here or via email (sennu@storiesofjoyphotography.com), but you can also reach me via phone (772-217-6065) or Facebook messages. I have quite a bit of travel and travel sessions coming up in the next three months, so availability is limited.

This month I’ll be headed to New Mexico, and in February to New England states. Florida sessions are available as well. Message me!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Wishing all moms a wonderful Mother's Day this Sunday! Here's a video from some of my sessions this year and last. I love working with moms, and showcasing how beautiful they are and how hard they work, every day. Thank you, Moms, for all you do!!!!!!

PS. If you need any help, I have gift cards available. And moms, it's totally okay to drop those hints, or buy yourself a gift :-)

The M Family - Day in The Life (Florida)

Earlier this year, I spent a fun, busy day with the M family in Florida. Their 3-year old boy/girl twins and a 10-month old baby boy provided so many pictures for our day I had the hardest time choosing photos from the Full Gallery to the Story Gallery. The fact that these three children were so stinking adorable and beautiful didn't help me narrow down photos, either.

So, I chose the longest song (about 7 minutes) and ended up with close to 200 photos in this movie. Sometimes you just have to make exceptions (normally a Story Gallery is about 100 photos).

The daily life with three kids under three is so filled with moments - all day long - that a lot of photos were taken. If you watch all the way to the end, you'll see the pictures end pretty abruptly. That's because all the adults were so wiped out after the busy day.

Could we all just pause a moment and appreciate the hard work parenting is? Mommies and daddies have the hardest job, especially in those early years. And when it's coupled with babies who don't sleep, well, it really shows the love and sacrifice parents do, every day.

Mommy M and Daddy M are doing such a wonderful job with their family and their young children. It was a joy to spend a day with their family!

Enjoy the movie!