How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
2 girls! Henley is 5 and Brighton is 3. They are a few days short of being exactly two years apart.
How long have you lived in Stamford? What made you decide to live here?
I’ve lived on Stamford for 7 years. My husband and I moved to Stamford from NYC because we wanted a bit more space and were ready for the burbs life! We first rented in downtown Stamford before buying our home in North Stamford. We originally chose Stamford because it was an easy commute to NYC for work and because we had friends who lived here. We decided to buy in Stamford mainly because we fell in love with the home we currently live in!
What’s your favorite family activity in Stamford?
Riding bikes at Cove Island Park then stopping at the playground. Visiting Eden Farms in the fall & winter. Beach days at West Beach.
Where’s your favorite place to eat and shop in Stamford?
Coalhouse Pizza & Target
What’s been your favorite “mommy moment” so far?
Witnessing any of the girls “firsts” and seeing the proud look on their face is pretty much the best ever.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you need some “me time”?
I’m not a huge spa person (although I do force myself to regularly get a manicure & pedicure) so if I have some free time, I will typically spend it shopping or grabbing dinner & drinks with friends.
Tell us about your career.
I’m a family and child photographer in Fairfield County.
How has your career changed since becoming a mom?
I worked in finance for ten years before having Henley. It was a great job but I knew it wasn’t my dream job and also not the easiest job to have as a mom. Photography was a hobby of mine and my creative outlet. Starting my photography business was not something I planned on doing, it happened pretty organically through taking photos of my friends babies and families for fun. Then photo session requests would come in from their friends who had seen the photos I had taken. That’s pretty much how my business started and has been growing every year through word of mouth and Instagram!
What do you love about being a photographer?
I love capturing families and kids in the exact stage of life they are in! I photograph mostly young families and my style is lifestyle and candid. While I always try to get that picture perfect shot with everyone looking and smiling at the camera, that’s just not reality with little kids! I love telling the kids to play ring around the Rosie or chatting with them about their favorite princess or asking some type of completely ridiculous question…that’s how you get the best smiles. When you look back at your photos years from now, I want you to remember your kids exactly how they were at that age, silly, messy, but so much fun!
How do you balance career & mommyhood?
Both of my girls go to school five days a week, even if it’s just for a few hours. I try to get all my emails and editing work done while they are at school because once they are home, I’m in full on mommy mode. Both girls are in ballet and gymnastics classes after school, so after school pick up we are typically running to an activity or meeting friends at the playground, then it’s homework, dinner, bath, bed! Most of my sessions take place on the weekend. My husband is amazing and takes the girls to some kind of activity to keep them busy while I’m working. Fortunately, most sessions only last about an hour or two so it doesn’t keep me away from them all day. I’m also getting better at limiting the amount of sessions I take on during the busy seasons, so that I’m not running around like a complete lunatic!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Don’t be afraid to hire a babysitter! We have always had a night time sitter for date nights after the girls go to bed. But before Brighton was in school I felt like my job was to stay home with her and be a mom, as well as get my editing done and all the other million things you need to do! It was a challenge. Finally, one of my friends convinced me that I wasn’t being less of a mom by hiring a sitter for a few hours a week, it would make me a better mom and gain a little sanity back!
(Photos by Sara Wilson & Stephanie Kursar)