We recently connected with Jessica Craig and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Every time I pick up my camera, my intention is to capture the fleeting, challenging, or sometimes unappreciated chapters of motherhood in a manner which allows mothers to see these moments through a different perspective – one of grace, love, and of purpose.

For me, it’s difficult to pause and marinate in motherhood when I’m in the thick of it. Shortly after my twins were born, when I started my business, I was mainly looking for something to do for myself. Really, I was looking for a small escape from the long, repetitive, and lonesome days of the “newborn phase”.

What I didn’t realize is that taking photos of other mother’s would be so healing.

As I began photographing families, pregnancies, and eventually births and newborns, I was given a unique opportunity to peek into the lives of other moms. While motherhood felt so messy and exhausting to myself as I was trying to figure it all out, all I saw was the beauty of it when I had the chance to look from the outside in.

I soon began to see my own journey of motherhood the way that I saw other’s journeys- one of chaos, but purpose… disarray, but beauty.

I want to help every mother see themselves and every “little” thing they do through a broader, more loving perspective.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jessica, owner of Jessica Craig Photography. I specialize in motherhood photography, which is primarily made up of maternity, birth, and newborn photography. I found a love for photography while trying to find myself as a new mother. I did find myself – knee deep in a new passion, purpose, and way of healing. I aim to tell raw stories of motherhood through my images.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would have invested in education and mentorships earlier in my creative journey. There are SO many talented artists to learn from in the photography industry, and each of them has something so special to share. Photography education is easier than ever to access and invest in with new apps and photography groups/collectives. They have been invaluable to my growth.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the greatest aspects of being photographer is the freedom and ability to adapt your work in a way that best suits your personal life.

When I first began photography, I did a lot of outdoor shoots, which most often happen in the evening. This was perfect for me, because I got to finally get out of the house after a long day at home with my twins. I had plenty of time with them during the day, so working a few evenings per week felt like the perfect balance. We didn’t need to pay for daycare, and I got some time to myself in the evenings – win-win!

Once the twins began to attend preschool, I found myself not wanting to do as many evening shoots so that I can spend more time with them and my husband in the evenings – the time when we all can be together. Since I am ultimately in control of my own work, I was able to simply shift my focus to better fit my lifestyle. I decided to specialize in newborn photography, which happens during the daytime. Newborn photography is perfect for me in this phase of life because I can do my shoots while my kids are in preschool and reserve evenings and weekends for precious family time.

I’m sure I may need to pivot my focus again in the future to best fit my family’s needs, and it’s a great feeling to know that I can choose a direction that will better fit my lifestyle if the need arises.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jessicacraigphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicacraigphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesscraigphotography

Image Credits
All photographs by Jessica Craig Photography