“It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know. We all know people who are so much afraid of pain that they shut themselves up like clams in a shell and, giving out nothing, receive nothing and therefore shrink until life is a mere living death.” - Eleanor Roosevelt These four kids have so much energy and are some of the kindest, most thoughtful, and compassionate kids I‘ve ever met. Cheers to tiny humans, family, loving through pain, unconditional love, and finding your way to light through darkness. Our children are the most important thing we will ever do in our lives and remembering that on the days we want to run away and never return is everything. Motherhood is a heavy load in a society and culture where women are doing most of the work and carrying everyone else’s emotional well-being while usually exhausted and pouring from an empty cup. Love is everywhere and love always carries us when we want to give up. Ain’t nothin’ like the love of a Mother for her children. But can we nurture our Mothers much moreso than we currently do? #motherhood #family #yumafamilyphotographer #lifestylephotography #spotofserendipity #yumafamilyphotography #life #love #childhood #summertime #familyphotoshoot #nikonphotography #goldenhour #sunset #summernights #arizonaboutiquephotographer #boutiquephotography
One of the reasons I ever picked up a camera was to photograph travel and major life events that brought a lot of emotion....moments I wanted to remember for the rest of my life. I started with a film camera during my university study abroad polo excursion in England. I drove around on the weekends photographing cathedrals and village churches. It just took my breath away - still does - how old those beautiful buildings were/are, and how many years it took humans to build them without any electricity or machinery. I was/am very moved by physical representations of history and human achievement. Later, I purchased my first DSLR in 2008 and started photographing military homecomings. It brought me to tears every time - still does! I began photographing birth in 2013 and I've never photographed a birth without tears streaming down my face behind my camera. Every time. And that's what photography is to me: capturing emotion. It's freezing moments in our life so that we can try to re-live them again and again. Newborn sessions are a prefect example. If you are a parent, you know how fast those brand new babies change. Capturing those one week old tiny toes and fingers, teeny little noses and ears, and encompassing the emotion in the home when that baby arrives is next level amazing. Those moments arrive fast and furious and leave in the same way. One of my favorite quotes by J.M. Barrie - I have it framed on my desk - is "Nothing is really work unless you'd rather be doing something else." and that is how I feel about my photography. It never feels like "work" ❤️ My clients are the best humans too....check out the thank you gift in the last slide this Mama gave me after this shoot: a gift I will treasure in my home forever. It will always hang on our walls wherever we go. Congrats K family! You are some solid humans and I'm honored to have captured these moments with you ❤️ #yumaphotographer #yumanewbornphotographer #spotofserendipity #yumafamilyphotographer #boutiquephotography
🌵 THIS WEEKEND - Saturday March 30th - is the LAST DAY for Spring Petites! 🌵Spot of Serendipity is a boutique photography studio. We keep it fun and laugh a lot during our shoots, with a surprise gift at the end ❤️ Petites are great for quick and easy, stress-free shoots, especially if you have little ones. 🌵 There are just a few spots this weekend - snag one today and let’s get this party started 🥂 🌸 Message us SPRING for the booking link, or you can find it in our bio.site 👆🏼 #YumaPhotographer #YumaPhotography #YumaFamilyPhotographer #YumaNewbornPhotographer #YumaBirthPhotographer #BoutiquePhotography #ArizonaBoutiquePhotographer #YumaAZ #SpotOfSerendipity
“My favorite thing about New York is the people, because I think they’re misunderstood. I don’t think people realize how kind New York people are.” — Bill Murray I agree, Bill. New Yorkers are some of the most incredible people in the States, and the world. I’ve lived a lot of places around the US, and New Yorkers are my favorite by far. Oh, and the architecture. And history. And stories. And food. Oh, the food... And the music. And the theatre. Those are also my favorite things about New York 🥰 #iheartnewyork #spotofserendipity #streetphotography #newyorkers #newyorkstory #thisisnewyork #humansofnewyork #newyorkphotographer #hudsonvalleyphotographer #keepitreal #liveyourtruth #mahattan #upperwestside #ilovenewyork #newyorknewyork #newyorkcity
It all started here - photographing military homecomings. I bought a Nikon D40 in 2008 at the Exchange on base and that was it. I was instantly addicted and started photographing EVERYTHING and anything. I do believe the original fascination with cameras and photography took place in England in 2001. I spent a summer there for my university study abroad program learning to play polo 🐎 I took a Canon Elf (Elph?) with me and 9 zillion rolls of film. I bought more rolls before the summer was over too! I couldn’t get enough of it. The cathedrals, the horses, Sunday polo, the 400+ year old house I stayed in, the English gardens, all the sights and history in London….I took soooo many photos, THANKFULLY! That addiction and passion has only worsened after two decades. I can’t get enough. It brings me such joy to capture lives and moments and memories so that we can look back on it ❤️ Building a boutique photography business has been such a labor of love. What an incredible way to serve my clients, the amazing families that allow me into their lives long enough to freeze some of their fleeting Time. Looking to not miss a moment? Springtime minis open for booking tomorrow! Just had a baby? Our membership is perfect for growing families! Expecting a service member home soon? We have over 15 years of experience photographing military homecomings! DM us for details and booking link! #yumaphotographer #yumafamilyphotographer #yumaphotography #yumabirthphotographer #yumanewbornphotographer #homecomingphotographer #militaryhomecoming #spotofserendipity #boutiquephotographer #arizonaboutiquephotographer
📣 Hey YUMA! Bookings for SPRING PETITES are open! 🌸 Only 2 days with 4 spots each day. 👉🏼 March 23rd & 30th • 30 minute mini session • 10-20 images + • small accordion album • Spring gift basket 😎 Boutique photography petites is a beautiful way to celebrate your family this Spring with a higher level client experience ✨ 🌸 This is not your average mini session 🌸 #LifestylePhotography #BoutiquePhotography #YumaPhotographer #YumaFamilyPhotographer #YumaLifestylePhotographer #MiniSessions #HumanNewbornPhotographer #ArizonaBoutiquePhotography #SpotOfSerendipity
I think this may be one of my all-time favorite shots at a newborn session! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the organic, REAL family moments that show up during a shoot. It’s the magical moments of life you can’t create, or pose. My “zone of genius” as an artist is my ability to tell stories with my camera, to document those every day moments we don’t realize will become the ones we remember the most when we are old and our children are grown. Bookings for Spring minis go live next week! If you’re not already on our mailing list, subscribe via spotofserendipity.com to be the first to know when my calendar opens up. Newborn session availability: MARCH - 1 opening APRIL - 2 openings MAY - 2 openings #yumaphotographer #yumaboutiquephotographer #yumafamilyphotographer #yumanewbornphotographer #yumanewbornphotography #arizonaboutiquephotography #spotofserendipity #lifestylephotography #yumaaz #yumaboutiquephotographer #yumasmallbusiness
Had a great shoot in NYC this week with an incredible team! The city has always filled me up and inspired me, and working with New Yorkers is always a brilliant experience ✨ ✅ saw dear friends ✅ made new rad friends ✅ met the Macy’s Day parade Santa ✅ ate legit Italian food ✅ took a solo post-dinner walk through SoHo ✅ found a kickass bookstore ✅ sang Broadway tunes at Atlas Social Club ✅ made new professional connections ✅ saw the sunrise over Manhattan ✅ had a blast doing a job that never feels like work Breakfast date back home this morning with my littlest darling after a few days apart ❤️ ✨ If you are a woman entrepreneur and looking for a FUN, all-inclusive personal branding shoot where all you have to do is show up, check out @lindsayaskins.co and let us ELEVATE you and your brand! 🥂 #nyc #nycbranding #womeninbusiness #womenentrepreneurs #manattannights #newyorkcity #lindsayaskinscollective #spotofserendipity
Throwback to November 2019 when the great Rachel Watkinson and I zipped around the upper East side of Manhattan for my third and final maternity shoot. I absolutely treasure these photos ❤️❤️❤️ Gosh, we had so much fun that day. The weather was gorgeous, the autumn mums on Park Avenue were beautiful, we even got a enthusiastic double thumbs up from a mailman driving by 🙂 Six months later, we reconvened in the city to re-create the same shoot… only that time I was holding a little baby girl ❤️ Rachel and I met up a third time in May 2021 when we shot family photos in Central Park. I kept hiring her because she was so fun and gave me such a great client experience + beautiful imagery! This Monday, Rachel and I meet again in Manhattan for a personal brand shoot she’s agreed to assist with, and I’m thrilled to have her working alongside me this time🥂 Cheers to NYC, and cheers to collaborations and community! 🎉 ✨ If you are a woman entrepreneur looking to elevate your brand and your business, you can find us at @lindsayaskins.co where we make personal brand shoots a casually luxurious all-inclusive experience. All you have to do is show up! ✨ #NYCPhotographer #BrandPhotography #BoutiquePhotography #ArizonaPhotographer #ArizonaBrandPhotographer #LindsayAskinsCollective #SpotOfSerendipity #phoenixbrandphotographer
What is it about newborns?? 💕 I will never tire of photographing these sweet souls, so new to the world, so pure, so vulnerable, so fresh, so innocent. This precious baby girl was the star of our shoot that morning, already so loved by her parents, big sister, and big brother 💜 . . . . #newbornphotography #newbornlifestylephotography #familyphotography #spotofserendipity #thislife #thirdbaby #babygirl #yumanewbornphotographer
Where are my fellow homeschooling business owners?? I participate weekly in several professional groups online and a large component of the disconnect I feel there at times stem from the comments from the other women who complain about their kids being home for the weekend, the holiday break, or the days off from school. Comments about lack of productivity or ability to finish a task to completion are rampant...."can't wait for the kids to go back to school!" on repeat. Ummmmm WELCOME TO THE LIFE OF A HOMESCHOOLING BUSINESS OWNER! Ha. Honestly, the lack of awareness is insulting as homeschooling and small business are on the rise...! More women are running businesses AND homeschooling their children than ever before, at least in modern society. I suppose women were always working and homeschooling kids before the 20th century. So here is a shoutout to those of you trying to juggle both like I am on a daily basis. I see you! It aint easy, it certainly is not efficient or very productive from a time-cost perspective, and we will never get as much accomplished in our home office in a day as a man will. BUT the long term rewards are priceless, I feel. And maybe this is also a pep talk to myself on this Monday morning when I'd rather be sitting in a snowy forest drinking hot tea in a cabin while reading a book in a cozy chair 🤣 BUT FOR REAL, Motherhood is a full time job *regardless* if you run a business alongside it or not. None of it is easy in this society where we are all doing it by ourselves for the most part. And being a "Mompreneur" is the most insane "balancing" act I've ever experienced. Here's to the Mothers.....and the ones running businesses while raising babies in the same space 🥂 Leave a comment with your business website or social media account so we can all support one another! We certainly cannot do any of this alone. Happy Monday! #business #smallbusiness #mompreneur #womenentrepreneur #momsinbusiness #spotofserendipity #keepitreal #motherhood #authenticmotherhood
I had a meeting this morning with another Mother who is also juggling business and babies. We chatted about how much our brains store on a regular basis and how much we have to keep up with. Everything we said to one another resonated with the other because all the Mothers are doing the same juggle every day. For me personally, my work is my creative outlet. It feeds my soul so that I can be a better Mother even though often it makes Mothering more difficult. I always say, there is no balance - it's one or the other. We cannot do both at 100% all the time - we are doing only one or the other 100%. Chunking time and planning working hours helps, but it's still just always a juggle. In lieu of the New Year, I like to look back on what worked for me both personally and professionally this past year, and what did not. What gave me energy and peace and what gave me fatigue and stress? Time and again, I come back to three things that bring me energy and peace: • getting enough sleep • moving my body with either yoga or weight lifting • reading And the three things that always bring me fatigue and stress are • lack of sleep • saying 'yes' to too many events or tasks • not eating enough protein/nourishing foods So those are things to focus on in 2024: sleep, healthy nourishing foods, and only saying 'yes' to things that bring me joy and move my health and business forwards. What are you focusing on this year? What moves you forward in a healthy way in both business and life? Happy New Year! 🥂 📷: @taylorjadephotography #lifestylephotographer #keepitreal #spotofserendipity #yumaphotographer #arizonaboutiquephotographer #socallifestylephotographer #yumafamilyphotographer
I'll be at Hop into a Home a week from today hangin' out with Santa! Cocktails start at 5:30 and showtime is a 6:00. This is a great event for anyone with questions about home ownership or mortgages or what the housing market is up to. Topics covered include: • home buying process • credit • lending programs • how to take title Plus, you can snag a voucher for up to $1000 off closing costs on a new home! Boom. Join us at Red Moon in downtown Yuma on Wednesday, December 13th from 5:30-7:00. Lots of fun is promised and included with your photo with Santa is a 10% off coupon code for a 2024 boutique session ✨ This event is hosted by NOVA Home Loans, Long Realty - and my girl Jaime McGalliard-Owner of Live Your Dream, and Stewart Title. RSVP: [email protected] #yuma #yumaaz #yumahomes #yumaphotographer #yumafamilyphotography #yumaevents #downtownyuma #hopintoahome #coachmacsellsyuma #spotofserendipity #yumaboutiquephotographer
Happy Halloween! 🎃 It’s November 🍂 Stay tuned for Black Friday deals coming soon… #YumaPhotographer #YumaFamilyPhotographer #YumaNewbornPhotographer #LifestylePhotography #BoutiquePhotography #SpotOfSerendipity
✨ EVENTS ✨ When you hire a boutique photographer for your celebrations in life, it's like having your own paparazzi! Boutique photography is more than simply a photo shoot - it's an entire client experience. Custom collections for your event to ensure your needs and vision are fully captured. All collections include full digital gallery download, print products, and custom albums. Boutique collections start at $500. For information and bookings, head to spotofserendipity.com/eventphotography. Questions? Reach out via DM or lindsay@spotofserendipitylcom #yumaphotographer #yumaphotography #yumalifestylephotography #yumalifestylephotographer #yumafamilyphotography #yumafamilyphotographer #yumaeventphotography #yumaeventphotographer #yuma #yumaaz #boutiquephotographer #boutiquephotography #arizonaboutiquephotographer #spotofserendipity #eventphotography
Here is a little sneak peek of what I am releasing next month! I have wanted to offer an annual membership for years and I am stoked that this is finally happening! An annual membership is so much more than simply scheduled photo shoots throughout the year. Member perks include first dibs at my calendar, special rates on shoots, surprise gifts following shoots, extra image downloads, print credits, custom albums, and other exclusive boutique offers! Early bird pricing will be offered during November and December! Be the first to know: subscribe to the Spot of Serendipity newsletter and you'll be the first to know when early bird membership goes live. Link in my bio.site. As always, my referral program applies to members too! #yumaphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #yumanewbornphotographer #yumafamilyphotographer #yumaphotography #boutiquephotography #boutiquephotographer #lifestylephotography #yumaaz #spotofserendipity #becomeamember
Really having a blast with these families this year! I never expected a shoot with three littles, two of which are twins!, to go efficiently or smoothly but these kids were THE BEST. We actually had extra time at the end of the shoot because they were so easy. Amazing! I still have one shoot left this weekend which includes complimentary holiday card design and ordering! LINK IN BIO FOR BOOKING. #yumaphotographer #yumafamilyphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #yumafallfamilyshoots #yumanewbornphotographer #yumaaz #yumaphotography #spotofserendipity
One of my favorite women, @coach_mac_sells_yuma, has put a lot of effort into a collab with local businesses this Fall. She's rounded up some badass businesses in our local Yuma area and gathered us all into her space like the baws she is! I created this offer for her #fallinlovewithlocal campaign this Fall for local Yumans only! I have just a few Fall Boutique shoots left. You can expect a lot more from a Boutique photography shoot than your average photo shoot. AND, this year, custom holiday card design and ordering are included for up to 25 cards with any Boutique shoot. Sessions are October 7th, 13th, and 14th at 5:45pm. BOOK NOW via the bio.site on my profile. Questions? Send me a DM! Looking for a new home in Yuma? Jaime McGalliard - @coach_mac_sells_yuma - at LONG Realty is LEGIT the BEST realtor I've ever worked with....and we've purchased and sold homes in multiple states in the past 15 years. Jaime is - hands down - the hardest working agent I've ever worked with. I'm almost always disappointed with my real estate agent experience....but Jaime far exceeded any expectations we had for her. She crushed it! She made buying a home in AZ while still living in NY super easy. Give her a call and she'll do the same for you! #fallinyuma #yumaaz #livingthedream #coachmacsellsyuma #theLONGway #theLONGwayhome #LONGrealty #yumascoach #yuma #yumarealtor #azrealestate #azrealtor #spotofserendipity #yumafamilyphotographer #yumaphotographer #yumaboutiquephotographer #boutiquephotography #lifestylephotography #yumahomesforsale #inthebunwetrust #visityuma #yuman
“Dads are special during labor. Dads can get right next to Mom and speak soothing and encouraging words to her without much disruption to her “flow”. She is accustomed to his smell, his voice, his breath, his body, etc. Her body recognizes his body on a cellular and subconscious level. And while every Mother is different in her needs during labor and birth, chances are Dad knows her better than anyone else in the room. When I motion to Dad to offer Mom another sip of water in between contractions, she is much less aware of his presence in close proximity to her than she is of mine. When Dad applies a hip squeeze or counter-pressure during labor, she relaxes into his touch a bit more than mine. This is why it’s so important for doulas and Dads to be legit teammates during labor and birth. I spend a lot of my time at births helping Dads help Mom.” - an excerpt from my coming book for Dads. Still working out the details of the title but it’s a book I’ve wanted to publish for a long time built off of a course I developed in 2020 that teaches Dads how to be doulas 💪🏼 While that class has been offered in the privacy of my clients’ homes, I will be offering an online/virtual option this Fall. #DadDoula #Dudela #Birth #Doula #SpotOfSerendipity #Ebook #BirthEbook #Fatherhood #BirthPartner #BirthSupport #BirthingPartner
It's officially September and Fall bookings are in full swing over here now! You may choose between Petite sessions offered the last week of September or Boutique sessions offered the first two weekends in October. Learn more at spotofserendipity.com/booklindsay. Questions? Reach out at [email protected]. Boutique sessions are limited - book now before they are filled up! Booking link in my bio.site link ✨ #yuma #yumaaz #arizonaphotographer #lifestylephotography #yumafamilyphotographer #yumanewbornphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #yumaphotographer #spotofserendipity #fallsessions #fallphotography #fallphotosessions #fallphotographer #yumafallphotos #yumaphotographer
“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” — Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh © Spot of Serendipity | Lifestyle 2023 👉🏼 Everyone on my mailing list receives discounted shoots AND they get first dibs at bookings. 🍁Fall shoots will be offered two weekends: October 7th and 8th + October 14th and 15th. There will only be two spots per day for a total of 8 spots. 🍁Fall lifestyle shoots are designed for families to capture their images for this year’s holiday cards….and when you book by September 15th, I will take care of all the card designing and ordering for you! All you have to do is choose which of your images from your gallery are your favorites and I’ll handle the rest. ✨Spot of Serendipity is Yuma’s only boutique photography studio. From the first personal consultation to the shoot itself, boutique photography is a completely different business model. This is not your average photo shoot; this is a customized and curated client experience. 👉🏼 Make sure you are on the mailing list to ensure first dibs to shoots and all the discounts! Head over to my bio.site in my bio to sign up. Bookings for Fall shoots open up in a couple weeks! You can also head to www.spotofserendipity.com/signup to get on the mailing list. As always, send a DM for any and all questions. #yumaphotographer #yumaphotography #yumadoula #yumafamilyphotographer #lifestylephotographer #lifestylephotography #yumanewbornphotographer #spotofserendipity #yumabirthphotographer
✨Somehow….my brain is still in Summer mode but….Fall lifestyle shoots are just around the corner! 👉🏼 Everyone on my mailing list receives discounted shoots AND they get first dibs at bookings. 🍁Fall shoots will be offered two weekends: October 7th and 8th + October 14th and 15th. There will only be two spots per day for a total of 8 spots. 🍁Fall lifestyle shoots are designed for families to capture their images for this year’s holiday cards….and when you book by September 15th, I will take care of all the card designing and ordering for you! All you have to do is choose which of your images from your gallery are your favorites and I’ll handle the rest. ✨Spot of Serendipity is Yuma’s only boutique photography studio. From the first personal consultation to the shoot itself, boutique photography is a completely different business model. This is not your average photo shoot; this is a customized and curated client experience. 👉🏼 Make sure you are on the mailing list to ensure first dibs to shoots and all the discounts! Head over to my bio.site in my bio to sign up. Bookings for Fall shoots open up in a couple weeks! You can also head to www.spotofserendipity.com/signup to get on the mailing list. As always, send a DM for any and all questions. #lifestylephotography #yumaphotographer #yumafamilyphotography #yumaphotography #spotofserendipity #yumadoula #yumaaz
“The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything.”– Frank Sinatra A great quote from one of the greats, and one of my favs. While our lives overlapped timewise, I never got to see Frank perform as I was not old enough yet to appreciate him when he died. What a legend. This quote sums it all up for me, what birth gave me, what I believe birth is supposed to give every woman: confidence without fear. But that doesn’t always happen. Most often, the confidence that is gained during the rite of passage from maiden to Mother is stolen from women during birth. This happens many ways but typically by the overriding of her autonomy, her instincts, her innate wisdom about her body, her needs, and her baby’s needs that takes place within the realm of obstetrics. Women do not need books or fancy classes to give birth. We already know how to give birth. It’s part of our biology curated over millions of years. It’s built in. But when a “care” provider, a nurse, a family member, a friend starts coercing a woman in labor manipulating decisions she may have made differently herself, that is the moment she loses the confidence that is being created by bringing her baby in to the world. Birth is so intricately designed and so perfectly created to provide us with all we need to care for our babies with full confidence in our ability to do so. But if that process is disturbed and disrupted, then it does not function as designed. It is my belief, that then Motherhood does not function as designed either. Can we recover from this? Absolutely. Have humans developed the ability to adapt and cope? 100%. But is any of this ideal? Does it make Motherhood more difficult? Based on personal and professional observation, I believe it does indeed. ✨ Looking for support during pregnancy, birth, or Motherhood? Click the bio.site link in my profile to work with me. I am here to help you! ✨ #birth #thisisbirth #undisturbedbirth #freebirthdoula #doula #spotofserendipity #birthlikeamammal #takebackbirth #yumadoula #yumaphotographer
Starting next month, I’ll be offering FREE monthly calls discussing the basics of mammalian birth. These calls will be open to anyone and everyone - first-time parents, seasoned parents, and those trying to conceive. These calls are part of Birth Like A Mammal - a new podcast and developing book. Topics covered include but are not limited to: mammalian pregnancy, stages of labor, undisturbed birth, the actual risks related to birth (not the ones your OB mentioned in your last appt), what babies expect upon birth, and why/how lactation and nursing has become so difficult in our modern society. All attendees will have the opportunity to book a private session with me at a discounted rate following the call. Bring your questions and concerns and let’s Birth Like A Mammal! To sign up for this FREE call, send a message or register via the link in my bio.site! ✨ Looking for support during pregnancy, birth, or Motherhood? Click the bio.site link in my profile to work with me. I am here to help you! ✨ #pregnancy #birth #thisisbirth #undisturbedbirth #doula #yumadoula #arizonadoula #spotofserendipity #mammalianbirth #birthlikeamammal #yumaphotographer
Something most people miss in the realm of obstetrics, and even midwives working from a clinical mindset and training, is the “labor land“ headspace a woman reaches in the later stages of labor. This is when a woman’s brain switches from a logical and reasoning place - where she’s able to hold conversations and be aware of what’s going on around her - to a more primal and mammalian head space - where she is deeply engrossed in the work her body is doing and less aware of what’s going on around her. When a woman is in “labor land“, she is at her most vulnerable. This is when she needs the most support from those who love her and care about her, from her birth team, and from her care provider. This is the place that most women who experience obstetric violence become traumatized. This is the place that I find the most important in my job as a Doula to protect. When we leave “labor land“ undisturbed and without disruption, birth flows and works as it is designed to do. It is in this space of labor that obstetric interventions and disruption introduce the most risk to both Mother and baby as well as the entire birthing process. The most important decision a woman will make during pregnancy is whom she chooses as her care provider. If the care provider does not understand “labor land“, a great amount of risk is introduced to Mother and baby. If the care provider, and the staff associated, do not understand the mammalian biology behind “labor land“, the likelihood that a woman will experience trauma is greatly increased. “Labor land“ is essential to the laboring and birthing process of mammals. It requires absolute trust and protection from both the Mother and those in the laboring and birthing space. ✨ Looking for support during pregnancy, birth, or Motherhood? Click the bio.site link in my profile to work with me. I am here to help you! ✨ #birth #thisisbirth #mammalianbirth #birthlikeamammal #doula #yumadoula #yumabirthphotographer #spotofserendipity #undisturbedbirth #leavebirthalone #yumaphotographer
“Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.” – Alexander Hamilton I’ll never tire of photographing Homecomings, or watching small children run with all their heart to their Daddy whom they haven’t seen in seven months. And, in this family’s case, crying behind my camera as Daddy meets baby girl for the first time. A HUGE shoutout to this incredible woman who *birthed a baby* while her husband was gone and crushed way too many months of solo parenting. There are not many folks in this country that know what that is like. (Hint: it’s insurmountably difficult and exhausting.) The women handling entire households during deployments are the real heroes of the military. And then they still show up in dresses and heels looking absolutely gorgeous at Homecoming. What a beautiful day this was for so many families being reunited with those they love. On this Independence Day week, the greatest thing we can do for our children and our grandchildren and all the generations of Americans after them is protect what we established here 247 years ago. We can acknowledge that America has many faults, and still defend the freedom that is written into our Constitution. The Constitution exists to protect us *from* the government. If we don’t have freedom in this life, we have nothing. We no longer have to look very far to see what happens when we allow the government to take things from us. It turns out when the government takes, it does not give back. Thank you to all the Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers who do their part in taking a stand for our country, especially to this man here who missed the first half of his baby girl’s life while serving in our military. Welcome home! #militaryhomecoming #military #militaryphotographer #yumaphotographer #yumafamilyphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #welcomehome #yumaaz #mcasyuma #yumahomecomingphotographer #spotofserendipity #arizonaphotographer
Gorgeous. Strong. Confident. Nurturing. Attached. Incredible. Love. These are just some of the words that come to my mind when I think of this Mother right here. This little sweet baby boy is so very lucky to have this woman as his Mama. She is so wise beyond her years, it's astonishing. I feel honored to have been able to capture the day this sweet baby arrived in her arms, and to document their love story again months later in one of the most uniquely beautiful places in our land. Cheers to all the Mothers, new and seasoned, sacrificing everything for their babies, young and old. “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” – Barbara Kingsolver . . . #lifestylephotography #yumaphotographer #yumaboutiquephotographer #spotofserendipity #yumabirthphotographer #yumadoula #yumaaz #lifestylephotography #arizonaphotographer #arizonaphotography #portraitphotography #motherhood #photographingmotherhood
Babyhood. Boy, these years go fast. And they tell you they go fast but you really don't grasp that at first, or maybe even for a couple years. Somehow, I've been a Mother for over a decade. I have no idea where all that time went, and a lot of it is foggy to be honest. But what a GIFT it has been to be a Mother, and what incredible TEACHERS children are. As a society, we really think we know what babies need and want. But truthfully, babies know what they need and want more so than we do. Babies are significantly more tuned in to their intuition and biology than any adult walking this Earth. And when babies cry, they cry for a reason. They are not "exercising their lungs" or "being manipulative". They are COMMUNICATING with us. It's up to us to listen and respond accordingly. Babies cry when left alone out of pure survival. They truly believe if they are left in a crib, a swing, a baby chair, a carseat, a stroller, etc that their life is in danger. They have absolutely no understanding or realization that they are safe inside your home or your car. They have been programmed by evolution and biology to be in our arms, carried, not left alone in order to *stay alive*. Babies do not "self soothe" themselves to sleep. That is a horrible lie we've been sold by modern humans who have forgotten we are mammals. The babies that finally shut up and fall asleep alone are completely traumatized and are neurologically shutting down out of fear and THAT is the reason they have stopped crying. It is permanently damaging to their psyche as well as their brain development. It is NOT "self soothing". In fact, nobody "self soothes". Most of us seek the comfort of another person when we are upset, scared, sad, etc. There is no "self soothing". Hold your babies. Sleep next to them. Nurse them whenever they want. Follow their lead. Trust them. They are only little for a little while and they know *exactly* what they need to not only survive, but thrive. © Spot of Serendipity | Newborn
I saw a post this morning in a traveling group from a frustrated Mother of a 12 month old. She mentioned she couldn’t get him to sleep in his pack-n-play. They are in the middle of a two week adventure through Spain and Portugal. She said every time she would attempt to lay him in the pack-n-play for a nap or at night for sleeping, he was screaming and crying. Why do we make baby sleep and parenting so difficult for ourselves and our babies? This baby is CLEARLY in major distress when asking to be separated from his parents in a foreign place after changing time zones, hearing new languages and sounds, and overall likely feeling unsettled in this new environment. Adults feel the transition of travel no matter how often we travel and what age we are. It seems absolutely clear that a baby would feel that on an even more intense level. Babies do not know they are safe inside a building. They don’t know their parents are in the next room. They don’t understand any of that. How could they? This baby - he’s ONLY been on Earth one year - and all babies truly believe attachment to their Mothers or caregivers is imperative to their very survival. This baby is “screaming crying” when asked to be separated from his Mother as he truly believes he is going to perish if left alone, ESPECIALLY in a new environment. His reaction is 100% normal to mammalian biology and his evolutionary programming. As modern humans, we forget we are mammals. We forget that babies are always acting from a place of evolutionary programing. We forget that they know exactly what they need and when they need it. Babies have no understanding of manipulation. Everything they do is from a purely instinctual and biological perspective as they know no other way to behave. The solution for this family is simple: do not ask your baby to be separated from you. Keep your baby with you. Put him in a carrier for naps. And sleep next to him at night. If we slow down enough, we can hear our instincts telling us this. It’s not difficult. We make it difficult with anti-mammalian expectations and our cultural conditioning. There are no “tips or tricks”. It’s super simple: babies are supposed to be with us.
Yikes. Where did a week go? It's so insane to balance work and Motherhood. Sorry I’ve been MIA. I had a conversation this week with a new Mother who mentioned her pediatrician told her to give her 4 month old rice cereal. We are still telling Mothers this?? Goodness. In case you are a new Mama, or a seasoned Mama and just unaware, do not - DO NOT - give your baby rice cereal, ESPECIALLY if they are on breastmilk, as in the case of the Mother I was speaking with this week....! Why would any educated person recommend rice cereal for a nursing baby?! Humans require an enzyme called amylase to digest any type of grain. Typically, we do not develop amylase in quantities large enough to digest grains until around 2 years of age. So, when you give an infant rice cereal (or any grains), it's incredibly hard for them to digest and can cause long term gut health problems. I mean, look at how many adults are walking around with chronic gut issues so much so that we have names for them as if they are "diseases". I am flabbergasted that I've known for a decade to not give infants rice cereal, or any grains, due to the lack of amylase present in a baby's body and yet pediatricians ("experts" with letters after their name) are STILL telling Mothers to give their babies rice cereal! Not to mention the high risk of choking on rice cereal. Lawd! SO, new Mamas - all parents - skip the rice cereal. Babies simply need breastmilk....just like mammalian biology designed it. And in the (should be) rare case a baby cannot receive his/her Mother's milk for various reasons, seek donor milk. And if that doesn't come to fruition, try a goat milk-based formula, or make your own. There are 9 zillion recipes for that on the internet. And if you are still having trouble, PLEASE message or email me and I can help you ❤️ © Spot of Serendipity | Birth
“A grand adventure is about to begin.” – Winnie the Pooh Indeed it is, Pooh Bear. In every birth I’ve ever witnessed, supported, or photographed, this phrase here comes to my mind at some point during a Mother’s labor or birth. The absolute honor given to me to share such a sacred space with women and families is overwhelming. Birth is such an intimate and reverent occurrence, those of us in birth work should never take for granted the privilege we have be given by our clients. I believe that one of the foundational problems within obstetrics and hospital birth is the complete unawareness of this dynamic. Most working in those environments do not see birth as a reverent or intimate event, nor understand the privilege they have to be in attendance. This is almost always indicated by the staff barging into labor and delivery rooms unannounced and without permission as well as the endless stream of pointless conversation and chatter that I have experienced at 98% of hospital births I have attended. Humans are mammals and we have the same requirements as all the other mammal species to bring our babies into the world: darkness, stillness, quiet, respect, reverence, lack of disturbance, and so on. Obstetrics is the antithesis of mammalian birth, and the poor - and declining - outcomes within that system illustrate as such. We have a rising Cesarean rate (most of which are unnecessary and/or caused and preventable), we have a rising maternal mortality rate (again, caused and preventable), and we have an abysmal nursing rate for Mothers and babies at the six month postpartum mark (mostly due to interventions during labor as well as Mother/baby separation after birth). And those are just a few. None of those bode well for evolution or survival of a species. I read a quote the other day that said “the most feminist act a woman can take is to freebirth her babies at home” and I deeply agree with that. There is nothing feminist about obstetrics and the industrial birth complex that is labor and delivery wards in hospitals. © Spot of Serendipity | Birth
As a horse owner, I am in several horse owner groups on FB. In one such group this morning, a member posted an update regarding an orphan foal. They lost the mare in the minutes following her giving birth to a colt. Upon further reading, the theory was she had a seizure from a blood clot when the cord broke after birth. I asked a few questions trying to figure out whether the cord was severed by a human or broke organically from the logistics of the birth. (Sometimes a foal will get tangled in the cord or step on it after birth.) When I asked, the answer was that the cord snapped after the foal exited the amniotic sac BUT there was a human IN the stall with the mare and foal and the human broke the sac. And there it is: humans interfering with mammalian birth again. Zero humans should be in a stall with a mare while she's foaling. When we disrupt and interfere with birth, we introduce risk that otherwise would not be there, and often that results in fatality. Birth works best when *left alone*. Disruption is the worst thing we can do to birth. We do it all the time in obstetrics: -elective induction -scheduled unnecessary Cesareans -artificial rupture of membranes (AROM) -epidurals -episiotomies -separation of Mother and baby upon birth -bottle feeding immediately after birth -hands on Mother while she's trying to latch baby and the list goes on and on. When we have a rising maternal mortality rate, we definitely are not doing it right, or even well. When are humans going to learn that Mother Nature knows better than we do and give her space to do what She has perfected for millions of years now? © Spot of Serendipity | Birth
Happy Sunday, Yuma! Spring in the desert is in full swing! The birds are lively and chirping, the grass is turning green, the days are lengthening, and the weather is PERFECT. Spring time in Arizona is the absolute best time for outdoor photo shoots. No bugs, no humidity, no heat! I am scheduling SPRING SHOOTS for all lifestyle photography clients - families, newborn, maternity, couples, etc. starting **April 1st and running through May 27th.** All shoots will take place during weekday evenings and weekend mornings, giving everyone an option. Head to >> www.spotofserendipity.com/booklindsay << to book a SPRING SHOOT in Yuma. You can also find that link in my bio.site. All shoots booked this week (before March 31st) will receive a 15% discount - that's $67 off a short shoot and $79 off a full shoot! I can't wait to see you ❤
"Put it on the wall!" I wrote that comment on a friend's Facebook page yesterday in response to a set of breathtaking images of her and her young boys. Because we all do it. We take a bazillion photos of our kids or dogs or ourselves and then those images just live on our phones or computers forever. Or worse, we schedule a professional photography shoot and then never get around to printing the gorgeous images we received, and invested in! I quit doing that to my clients. I work from a boutique business model. Think about your favorite boutique....why do you like it? What is it about a boutique that is much more appealing than a big box store? Customer service? Unique products or inventory? Or the satisfaction of spending your money on a local business? Personally, it's all of the above, and I want to give that to you. All of my photography packages include print products and clients can also add whatever they like a la carte! I want to create art that adorns your home and reminds you why life is worth living to the fullest. Summer is coming to the desert and my sunset shoots will fill up fast as the weather changes. Head to the first link in my bio.site to get yourself on my calendar!
“With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.” – Sandra Lake That last bit of sunlight over Parliament and the River Thames….a cold winter evening splashed by golden hour. We walked and walked after lingering in Westminster Abbey, stopping for sweet and savory street nuts on the Westminster bridge to hold us over until dinner time. When I travel, I typically stay away from popular tourist areas and try to find the hidden gems and immerse myself in the local culture more so than anyone gets on a group tour. (I hate group tours.) However, in London, the history of the city is so intriguing to me, and some of the most fascinating places are the popular tourist areas. I had the opportunity to spend my travel abroad summer semester during college in the UK and was able to really immerse myself in local culture then. London is rich with history, some of it is awful, some of it is triumphant just like any city or country. The way they conduct their government is so interesting to me and the very old traditions that they still carry on today is amazing. I took my daughters for a 4-day stay in London last month and we managed the British Museum (a must see!), playing in Hyde Park and St James Park, Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard, afternoon tea, the Guard’s Museum, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, dinner at The Londoner, Convent Garden, Westminster Abbey, and loads of walking as well as a visit to my uncle’s house in Kensington.
“The skill of being with women in pain in labour often rests in believing in women when they do not believe in themselves.” – Nicky Leaf This is one of the most significant skills anyone supporting a Mother in labor can hold. The very "skill" of riding the waves with a laboring woman while leaving her undisturbed is the best way to help her through. A well versed doula or midwife can simply observe a laboring woman, the way she moves her body, the sounds she makes, and fully understand her progress in labor without ever touching her or speaking to her. © Spot of Serendipity | Birth
"The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before." – Albert Einstein My whole life, I've felt that I didn't fully "fit in" anywhere. When you're in school and stuck in the social constraints of society, you feel not fitting in is "bad". Maybe you even feel something is "wrong" with you and you should change yourself in order to fit in somewhere, or with some specific group of humans. It turns out athletes and choir members typically do not overlap....neither do collegiate equestrians and sorority chicks ha. And then, as you age, you realize what absolute nonsense that is, and you stop caring. At least, that's been my personal experience. However, sometimes roaming your own path, or participating in a hobby that you don't share with anyone else in your life is lonely. I have a hard time finding other Mothers within the military world who also unschool their children *and* run a business. I have a hard time finding other women who want to wander the Earth with their kids with no itinerary. I have a hard time finding other Mothers who run a business from home and whose children are home with them as well. I have a hard time finding women who ride horses that also have children. I have a hard time finding other women who feel the same as I do regarding American society, and the ingrained rat race that we have become so accustomed to we don't even see it anymore. As an adult, I have never felt I belong "in the crowd", and I have never wanted to be a part of "the crowd". The groupthink philosophy of "the crowd" has never resonated with me on any level. That's likely why I got in trouble so often in middle school :) And that's okay. It's just lonely at times. But sometimes, the real growth comes from finding myself in places nobody else I know has been before. © Spot of Serendipity | Travel
Happy New Year! ✨ I am spending the winter in Germany this year. My kids have never been in school for a myriad of reasons, one of which is to have the freedom to travel. In my opinion, travel is the very best education any human of any age can receive. Travel teaches us a multitude of things not learned in a book or classroom. “Worldschooling” (since we need a label for everything these days) is our “curriculum” (since we don’t use those either). While we are here, we will also travel to Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, England, and whatever else we can fit in. I have so many 2022 client images I’ve still not shared but will mix in some images from our travel as well 🙂 A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has given me the honor of capturing your lives this past year ❤️ I wish you all peace and health in 2023 🥂 © Spot of Serendipity | 2022
Something I almost never have to plan for when photographing in Arizona, or the Southwest in general, is inclement weather. Other than the occasional wind storm, literally nothing precludes a photo shoot from happening! And we *always* have an incredible golden hour! This is one of my favorite spots in our little desert town; a little taste of the forest I miss so much <3 © Spot of Serendipity | Lifestyle 2022
Something that Spot of Serendipity has given me is the opportunity to meet people I never would have otherwise met...and photograph incredible moments and humans. This man’s wife came to me last month inquiring about headshots for the local community theater website. In our conversations, I learned he is a trumpet player and she is a singer. Often, they need images for auditions...so we planned to incorporate some shots for such use into our headshot shoot. He showed up in a tux and she in a gorgeous evening gown. We met in a citrus grove, the sun gave us that perfect golden light, and we made magic. This particular image was inspired by a Louis Armstrong photograph I found from decades ago….and are now some of my MOST favorite images I've ever created! © Spot of Serendipity 2022
“Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angelshine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes there is always enough left to lasso your heart.” — Alan Beck © Spot of Serendipity 2022 | Lifestyle
#REPOST @spotofserendipity We were never designed to do this alone. We were never designed to raise babies in isolation. We were never designed to live in a home with one man and rely on him for all the emotional support that we need during Motherhood. We were never designed to be launched into Motherhood without any knowledge of what that looks like. We were never designed to nourish our babies with our breasts without ever having seen another woman in our community do so. We were never designed to live like this, to mother like this, to exist like this. And it shows. We have incredibly high rates of anxiety and depression and rage in the postpartum period. We have Mothers living in chronic states of stress and fatigue. Most Mothers are incredibly under-nourished. And if you ask them, most Mothers will tell you they feel unseen, unheard, and under-appreciated, not to mention exhausted. Join us this month as we build a community for postpartum Mothers in Yuma, regardless of whether your baby is brand new or graduating high school! Postpartum is a lifelong chapter, and not one to be navigated alone. ❤️ Call or message @vidaholistichealing to reserve your spot in our monthly postpartum support circle this weekend - Saturday November 12th from 10:30am - Noon! $25 includes healthy eats. Babies in arms welcome 🤱 Questions? Contact me via my bio.site in my profile 😎 See you Saturday! #postpartumsupport #support #spotofserendipity #yumadoula #vidaholistichealingyuma #yuma #repostandroid #repostw10
"In the end, we all just want someone who chooses us over everyone else, under any circumstances." © Spot of Serendipity | Lifestyle
Reminiscing on that beautiful piece of property in the Hudson Valley of NY I was lucky enough to live on for three years. Almost all of my clients shoots and personal family shoots took place at our little mini farm ✨ It was so magical, especially in Autumn 🍁 © Spot of Serendipity | Lifestyle 2021
Just as his mother predicted, this little dude arrived a few weeks "early" but right on time for him 😊 A little peanut weighing in under 6 pounds, he came right on out on the third involuntary push! We only arrived at the hospital a couple hours before he made his debut and I had the esteemed pleasure of witnessing another woman work magic to bring her baby to Earth. She knew exactly what to do and even when she doubted herself, she and her body still knew exactly what to do 💜 Birth never gets old - women continue to blow me away with their strength, power and wisdom. The honor that is my job is over-whelming sometimes... Congratulations to this family on the birth of their brand new son, James Bryan. © Spot of Serendipity | Birth
There is no such thing as “natural induction”. That statement alone is an oxymoron. There is nothing “natural” about forcing a process of Nature that has not initiated starting on its own. I sometimes see homebirth midwives (!) suggesting to “overdue” Mothers (also not a thing) different ridiculous options to initiate labor….walking, nipple stimulation, castor oil, evening primrose oil, eating spicy foods, taking a bath, membrane sweeps, and sometimes even artificial rupture of membranes (AROM). All of this is 100% contradictory to the entire design of the process of mammalian birth, and completely incompatible with the purpose of birthing a baby at home, away from the system of obstetrics. Induction is induction. The end. It doesn’t matter if you use herbs, physical movement, physical stimulation, cytotec, cervidil, or pitocin. All of these “options” give the same result: disruption of labor and birth. And when we disrupt the initiation of labor, we invite risk into birth that otherwise would not have existed. Birth is a PERFECTED process that has existed in thousands of mammalian species for millions of years. Who do we think we are to assume we know better than this perfected, evolutionary process? There is no process in Nature that requires management, and that’s that we do to birth in the modern age - we manage it. It does not need managing. (This is def going to be a longer blog post...) © Spot of Serendipity | Birth
"Hold him a little longer, rock him a little more. Tell him another story, tell him a million more. Let him sleep on your shoulder, cherish his every smile. He is only a baby for just a little while." - Unknown . . © Spot of Serendipity | Newborn
“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” - Brene Brown • Authenticity is EVERYTHING. If you can’t be authentic, then what’s the purpose of your life? If you can’t be yourself, then you aren’t truly living. If you are making choices that aren’t reflective of truth, then how can you expect anyone to trust you? If you can’t #keepitreal, who are you trying to please? • The drive/motivation/source/desire for us to be anyone but our true selves comes from a deep place in our soul. The inability to be authentic every day with everyone we meet or are in a relationship with comes from our babyhood and/or childhood. It comes from a place of insecurity.. when we tried to be ourselves as children and somebody we trusted or was caring for us shut us down. Maybe we tried to express our authentic emotions, and an adult in our lives was uncomfortable with that so they taught us to suppress that emotion instead. • This is why it is so important to respect our babies as they have opinions and feelings and needs just like we do. This is also why it’s important to listen to our small children and help them when they are overwhelmed with emotions they don’t know how to regulate or express. This is why it is important to talk with our big kids about feelings and decisions and actions and related consequences. • While I am no perfect parent, I try to use the experiences I had growing up to not repeat a cycle of trauma that was passed down to me. It took me until the age of 29 to truly start living authentically...and even moreso in motherhood. #keepitreal, y’all. Stop hiding behind a mask. Stop lying to protect your facade. Authenticity is e v e r y t h i n g. . . . #liveauthentically #beyou #youdoyou #beyourself #seesomethingsaysomething #speaktruth #honestyalways #liveyourtruth #spotofserendipity #letthekids #peacefulparenting #dothework #authenticity #childhoodunplugged #unschooling #yumaphotographer
This project is still alive and we haven’t forgotten about all of you ❤️ Sometimes life takes us down roads where we can only take a backpack on the journey even though we want to bring more things along for the ride. For the past couple of years, creative projects had little to no room in my backpack of life. This project is so special to me and I want to grow it even more, but we’re gonna need a little help 🙂 Please reach out if you have social media or marketing experience ✨ 👉🏼 It will be very important to us that anyone who joins our team deeply understand the purpose and meaning of this project, as well as the brave souls who have participated in it thus far. looking forward to hearing from you all – please feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested ❤️❤️❤️ #ExposingTheSilenceProject #BirthMonopoly #ObstetricViolence #SpotOfSerendipity #BirthTrauma #PhotographyProject #ImprovingBirth #BirthUprising #BirthKeepers #ThisIsBirth #Birth #Doula #BirthAdvocacy #BirthActivist
"Beware the barrenness of a busy life." - Socrates • Slow down, y'all. None of us are more important because we are busy. That's such a myth of garbage. • I used to be busy. So busy. And, for the most part, I enjoyed it. I met a lot of rad people and did a lot of cool shit. BUT I was 17 or 20 or 25. Now, in my late 30s, I'm over it. So over it. What is the point? I still have some days where things just sort of pile up and for whatever reason I have to check off as many things on that list as I can that day....and guess what? I hate it. Totally hate it. The whole day flies by with a large dose of impatience and irritability. Curling up on my couch with a book and tea after a short jog and yoga sesh is way more my jam. Maybe work on some recent images I shot. Something besides being BUSY. • For me, busy makes life fly by. Life already flies by. Why make it go faster? And sometimes in the rush of filling up our plates so we feel oh-so-important, we miss all the cool and quiet moments that actually make up the memories you will remember. In motherhood, when you are busy, you miss A LOT. Babies grow fast and change fast. Slow down, mommas. That work will still be there. And I know you've heard this but so will the laundry, the dishes, the mess on the floor, whatever else you feel like you NEED to be doing. Just sit down and rock the baby. Or play with your toddler. Or read with your kiddos. Or go on adventures for a whole day. That is living, and living full. And your children will remember that childhood. • This image is from this past summer in Florence, Italy. We took a whole day and just absorbed the city. We walked small streets, saw the Statue of David, ate too much gelato, stared in awe at the Duomo, learned about how much the Medici family influenced that city, and even took a moment to watch and learn how a local artist makes his watercolor paper. He even taught the girls how to do it and allowed them to make their own paper to bring home ❤️ • These small, slow moments are everything. • Slow down. • Busy is barren. _ © Spot of Serendipity 2017 | Lifestyle
"Until one becomes a mother, no one can ever tell you what it will feel like to love someone else so deeply and profoundly that you will rejoice when they rejoice, ache when they ache, feel what they feel - even without ever speaking a word." - Jennifer Quinn © Spot of Serendipity | Lifestyle _ #spotofserendipity #nursingshoot #motherandbaby #motherandson #andiandbennett #lifestylephotography #lifestyleshoot #letthekids #babyboy #nursing #normalizenursing #mamababy #littlboy #love #family #parenthood #motherhood #nikonphotography #yumaphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #yumaaz #yumabirthphotographer
“When someone tells me all that matters is that you are here now and you’re healthy, so many thoughts flood through my mind. Of course, that matters. So much. But it isn’t all that matters. No. The story of how you came into this world, and how I became your mama, my little love, matters. I wish I could say the day you were born was the happiest day of my life. But it wasn’t. It was the most terrifying day. It was the day my heart grew so big it swallowed you up, and I knew that being your mother meant I would never feel whole again without you.” - Angela from ‘mama, bare’. • This book really is a must read for every new mama in the post-partum period. We are doing the very best we can and nothing prepares you for motherhood. Not one thing. It just rips you right open and bares your heart and your soul real and raw. © Spot of Serendipity | Birth . . #mamabare #spotofserendipity #postpartum #birth #motherhood #honestmotherhood #keepitreal #talkaboutit #birthtrauma #postpartumdepression #thefourthtrimester #love #life #newborn #birthphotography #birthphotographer #doulalife #parenthood #ourdailymoments #adayinthelife #beunraveled #yumaphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #yumaaz #yumabirthphotographer
Horses are great teachers of life. And love. And loyalty. • So much so that a neurosurgeon named Allan Hamilton wrote an entire book about life lessons learned from horses. And I devour it. I go to it when I need some direction. • "The lesson that horses bring to life for me is that I must work to enhance my sense of communion with other life-forms around me, animal and human alike. I believe we once felt this immediate and palpable intimacy with all of nature. We were immersed in it and we trusted it. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution and the dawning of our Digital Age, however, we have been drawn away from that primary sense of connectivity. In a very real sense, we have banished ourselves from the natural world with all its wonders. I believe the horse's greatest gift to us is the knowledge that, while that sense of closeness may have atrophied, it still lies dormant within each of us and can be awakened anytime we choose. He constantly tries to teach us that we can reestablish our unity with the world around us." - Allan J. Hamilton, 'Lead with Your Heart: Lessons from a Life with Horses' • This resonates with me so much as I consistently feel like a fish out of water in this modern society/culture/world. I always feel like I am supposed to live during a different, simpler, slower time. Maybe I once did... This digital world of high-tech cars and social media and automatic everything makes me feel uncomfortable and tense. We have truly lost touch with the natural world. • And that, in turn, affects how we view pregnancy. And how we birth. And how we mother. We are definitely doing it far from how we are naturally supposed to do all of those things. • And it's affecting us all. • © Spot of Serendipity 2017 | Life . . . #life #horses #spotofserendipity #leadwithyourheart #oldsoul #fishoutofwater #globalcommunity #onerace #onelove #humanity #yumaphotographer #arizonaphotographer
I am taking more real estate clients this summer ☀️ Realtors, Airbnb owners, FSBO homeowners: the data shows your listings rent and sell faster with professional photographs. If you’re selling or renting property in Yuma this summer, shoot me an email at [email protected] so I can get you on the calendar! © Spot of Serendipity | Real Estate #yumarealestate #yumarealestateforsale #yumarealestatephotography #spotofserendipity #yumaairbnb #yumaairbnbrental #yumaaz #yumaphotographer #realestatephotography #realestatephotographer #yumarealestatephotographer #yumaFSBO
🏠 11802 E 25th 🏠 Built only last year! From listing: “Living your dream starts in this spacious split floor plan home. This Energy Star certified home is laid out in an open concept floor plan perfect for gatherings and entertaining. Whether you gather in the kitchen around this oversized island highlighted by a farm sink and quartz counter tops, or enjoy relaxing on the back patio admiring the perfectly manicured turf lawn....this home has it all.” MLS#: 20222679 Listed by: @coach_mac_sells_yuma **interior photos posted in stories** 👉🏼 email [email protected] to schedule a real estate listing shoot for your home, rental, or Airbnb 👈🏼 © Spot of Serendipity | Real Estate #yumarealestate #yumaforsale #coachmacsellsyuma #liveyourdream #realestatephotography #yumahomesforsale #yumarealtor #realestatephotography #yumarealestatephotography #spotofserendipity
Hey Yuma - this is happening next week! I am only booking 4 slots so snag one before they’re gone! **link in bio** (I have an ongoing first time client referral program that gives you a 20% discount every time you refer a new family to me 😎) #yumaphotographer #yumaaz #yumaazphotographer #spotofserendipity #goldenhour #yumalifestylphotographer #yumalifestylephotography #yumafamilyphotographer #yumabirthphotographer #southwestazphotographer #desertphotography
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha . . . #beherenow #presence #liveinthemoment #spotofserendipity #hudsonvalley #hudsonvalleyphotography #hudsonvalleyphotographer #newyork #autumninnewyork #fallfoliage #horsefarms #hudsonvalleyfarm #hudsonvalleynewyork
Some laughs during this season are much needed ❤️ . One of my most favorite outtakes of all time! Isn’t she gorgeous?? © Spot of Serendipity | Lifestyle . . . #headshots #spotofserendipity #portraits #nikon #nikonphotography #outtake #hudsonvalleyphotographer
“Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry – all forms of fear – are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence.” . – Eckhart Tolle . . . #spotofserendipity #hudsonriver #newyork #sunday #presence #mindfulness #thislife #westpoint
“In our day and age, global society has been saturated with the wrong teaching of false positivity. The denial of darkness never equates the abundance of light. And the denial of your actual character never equates to the reality of your best character. People today are afraid to work on themselves and on their actual realities, they believe that outward appearances are enough. Outward appearances have become everything in our current day and age. People don't see what they are actually like, nor who they actually are, in reality. They live in a phantasmic version of reality. It has to stop. In the phantasmic version of reality, there is no chance to experience true love, true goodness, and true metamorphosis. The caterpillar does not become a butterfly by telling everybody it has wings. It actually buries itself in darkness and grows those wings.” • - C. JoyBell C . . . #darkness #sunshine #rainbows #life #spotofserendipity #introspection #egowork #selfawareness #shadowwork #doyourwork
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” — John F. Kennedy . . . #children #babygirls #sistersister #spotofserendipity #beanbirdiebear #love #thislife #thisiseverything
Still working on getting the hang of three little girls over here… I had a goal to eat breakfast before noon today since I don’t even know the last time that happened. While that was a total fail, at least it only took me a half hour to remember how to carry a newborn on my back in the wrap 👌🏽🥴💃 . . . . #PostpartumLife #SpotofSerendipity #HonestMotherhood #Motherhood #BabyGirl #ClaireBear #Girasol #CarryAllTheBabies #NewbornLife #NapsInWraps #RainbowWrap #Postpartum #4thTrimester #fourthtrimester
Still working on getting the hang of three little girls over here… I had a goal to eat breakfast before noon today since I don’t even know the last time that happened. While that was a total fail, at least it only took me a half hour to remember how to carry a newborn on my back in the wrap 👌🏽🥴💃 . . . . #PostpartumLife #SpotofSerendipity #HonestMotherhood #Motherhood #BabyGirl #ClaireBear #Girasol #CarryAllTheBabies #NewbornLife #NapsInWraps #RainbowWrap #Postpartum #4thTrimester #fourthtrimester #Winning
We may have taken the tree down yesterday but still hanging onto the Christmas spirit in tiny ways over here 🎄 It’s still kinda “the holidays”, right? Admitting that the holidays are over is admitting that the #tinycherub is closing in on ✨two months ✨soon....and that means Time is still stealing #newbornlife from me 😕 So I’ll keep photographing her in all her Christmas newborn garb until she doesn’t fit in it anymore! 👊🏽 . . . #newborn #baby #babygirl #spotofserendipity #spotofserendipityphotography #newbornphotography #clairefranklin #thirdbaby #christmasbaby #bestgiftever #merriestchristmasever #thislife #snuggleme #snugglemeorganic #hudsonvalleyphotographer #january
The newborn swirl ❤️ One of my favorite things to photograph on tiny babies ... and this tiny cherub is mine 🥰 . . . #newbornphotography #babygirl #postpartum #newbornswirl #spotofserendipity #yumaphotographer #yumalifestylephotographer #yumaaz #yumabirthphotographer
New Year’s Day and baby girl’s first bath 💕 • I remember each of my girl’s first bath...babies love water and they love to be in the bath WITH their mama ❤️ They are so calm and happy, and in pure wonder of what is happening to them....the whole floating-in-water thing is familiar... yet this time all these people are staring at them and talking to them, and - in my girls’ case - taking lots of photos! • I asked my children’s father to take photos of Claire’s first bath, and specifically this photo of her lying next to the only home she’s known until now. This is the last time I’ll have a post-partum body to revel in, the last time my belly will show what it has been capable of three times now, the last time I’ll watch my body transform after making, growing, and birthing a brand new human. This time, I have mourned the loss of my belly, felt sadness as it has begun its journey back to a pre-pregnancy form, not wanting to let go of the shape of my pregnant body. This third time, I know not to rush my body to heal and recover, and I know there’s no such thing as “getting your body back” 😎 I am grateful to keep this one, just as it is. • So I’m trying to document every moment of this season, down to post-partum bellies in baths with newborn babes ❤️ What a magical season on so many levels and what magic mothers have to create new life from scratch. I will never tire of the wonder that is pregnancy and birth ✨ • Mamas - love your bodies. Take photographs of them. They are magical. Fathers - love the bodies of the mother of your children. Take photographs of them. They are magical. • And happy new year! 🎆 . . . . #babygirl #postpartum #postpartumbodies #fourthtrimester #4thtrimesterbodies #40days #newbornbath #clairebear #spotofserendipity #postpartumbelly #babylove #motherhood #honestmotherhood #postpartummotherhood #keepitreal #authenticpostpartum #fiveweeks #day35 #yesihaveatexastattoo
🎄 Happy Everything 🎄 from our house to yours! . . . . #happyholidays #merrychristmas #happyhanukkah #merrywhatever #thislife #spotofserendipity #love #babygirls #newborn #family
Howwwww??? . . . #fleeting #babygirl #thirdbaby #clairebear #spotofserendipity #babylove #40days #postpartum #threeweekspostpartum