"When my heart is heavy, the sun helps make it light."  -Astrid Alauda

This week has been so tiring.  Even though Charlotte is truly an angel baby, so easy and adaptable, just go-with-the-flow... I have to admit that being a mama to three little ones is much more exhausting than I'd imagined!  With a busy shooting season, a last-minute school presentation on the night that Daddy is working late, a bit of forgotten homework, a temper tantrum (or three), a broken A/C and far too little sleep...  you have the makings of a tired and weary mama and photographer.

But.  (And thank goodness for the "but", right?)  But, this weekend I got to see some of my favorite families during our mini-sessions.  And being drenched in such sweet morning light in the park was like therapy for my soul.  A tiny escape, thanks to my camera, my friend, lending me a fresh new perspective for a few hours.  My mind switching gears and letting me concentrate on something other than myself for a bit.  The fresh morning sun reminding me that today is "a new day, with no mistakes in it yet."

My intention this particular morning was to also shoot something different for my Elevate project; however, the more I tried to force myself to shoot something out of the ordinary for me, to stretch myself creatively and fulfill this vision I had brought with me..... the more I realized that on this particular day, simply being out in the sunshine and photographing these sweet clients and friends was what my heart needed more than anything.  I needn't look further.  I needed to take smaller steps, in fact, after being out on somewhat of a maternity leave for these past several weeks.  I didn't need to move outside the box, I needed desperately to be inside that box.  Where it's comfortable.  Calm.  Reassuring.

And yet, it's still new to me.  Sweet faces in sweet light.  Sunshine on my skin.  After being on maternity leave for several weeks, it feels good to feel like I'm back IN my element again!

I'm so grateful for the peace that photography brings to my heart, just when I need it.  I'm so very blessed.

///

As you know, I'm joining several other photographers who are exploring Fine Art Photography, and pushing our creative spirits each month.  I hope you'll visit Gina Oh next, and see what loveliness she has to share with us.