Celebrating You on International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, I’m celebrating you: the women in my photographs. I want you to see what I see through my lens. I see a woman engaged at work and growing a thriving family at home. Aching to be more, do more, to duplicate yourself and be in two places simultaneously. Trying not to lose yourself while you care for others.

I see how hard you work to keep track of everything. The schedules, appointments, clothing sizes, gift lists. Trying not to get swept up in perfection while wishing you could do it all well.

I see you, family documentarian. The unofficial/official Woman in Charge of Everything is also in charge of making sure everyone has good memories to look back on. You snap photos on your phone, write mental notes to scribble down later of that hilarious thing they said. You also want to be remembered as more than just a blurry selfie with multiple chins, so you hire me to record a blip of time for you. That’s how I know all this. I see it in the way you play together during sessions, and the way you look at each member of your family while I photograph you. I see it in how they look back at you, too. You are their safe place, the calm in the storm, the home where they can always return.

Happy International Women’s Day, Lady. You’re doing a great job.