Messy, Colourful, Perfectly Imperfect:
The other night, I caught myself pausing over a moment that was far from “picture perfect.” Hair unbrushed, toys scattered across the floor, and my little girl grinning with her wobble tooth. Normally, I might have hesitated, thinking, “I’ll come back later.” But then I reminded myself: these are the moments that matter—the colorful, playful, joyful, imperfect ones.
Just last week, she had a milestone birthday—candles, cake, laughter, and confetti everywhere. And now, a tiny wobbly tooth! Tonight was a quiet reminder that life moves fast, and sometimes slow, all at once.
So I grabbed my phone. I didn’t fuss over lighting or straighten the room. I just captured her—the colours, the laughter, the tooth.
Don’t wait for perfection. Play with colour. Take the photo. These moments are fleeting, precious, and full of joy.
The Return: Finding Rhythm Between Motherhood and the Lens
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 toddlers climbing on me or sneaking in shoots between kinder drop-offs and Nanas and family stepping in to help. 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