My husband wants to have kids. Stat. Yep, that’s the truth. Well, actually, he just sort of assumed it was our next step and wanted to make sure he didn’t become an “old dad.” Well, I love kids. Utterly. I love shooting families, I love the way kids are just so genuinely themselves before society and self-awareness take hold. I love hanging out with kids and treating them like people (instead of teeny little kootchie-coo-ables). Yet, for me, it’s always been a hazy issue—uncertainty, feeling unprepared, feeling that is something in my quite distant future. Sometimes thinking it might not be for me at all. And, I think that’s okay. That said… hanging out with Sarah, Richard, and their buoyant six-month-old Neve has impacted me in a really cool way. You might remember Sarah from her awesome maternity shoot! These three charmers are the kind of little family that inspires me—that makes me think being a parent could actually be pretty radical, empowering, and full of good adventure. Because they’re not fighting against parenting. They’ve embraced adaptivity. They’ve connected to their perky little girl, and jumped into the flow of children and family.

Sarah is a super-talented photographer in her own right, and I have had the pleasure of working with her before. It’s beautiful to watch her work, because she’s utterly unstressed and effortless… it’s a smooth, easy-peasy process. Of course that would translate to kids perfectly. Sarah and Richard aren’t the type of new parents who disappear off the face of the earth for two years. They still make time for friends, still connect to others, still have lives that bring them fulfillment. They’ve just learned to adapt to this glowing little gal.

In a little pink harness to help correct her hip dysplasia, Neve is unphased. I love that Sarah and Richard wanted to include her in her harness—it’s a true part of her little life at this time. It’s part of her growth, her story, and their lives.

Something else Sarah wanted to do that delighted me? Capture her feeding Neve. Breastfeeding is so often this thing considered taboo and awkward and embarrassing, and that’s pretty ridiculous, as it’s such a natural part of motherhood and growth. It was beautiful to watch Neve’s teeny toes wiggle and legs kick as she got her meal fix.

It’s always such a pleasure to photograph love. It doesn’t have to be the romanticy wedding kind. In this case, a family, hanging out, having a good time? That’s love enough for me, and then some. This family inspires me—if and when it’s time for me to be a parent, I like to think I’d do it up just like these guys. Thanks, Sarah, Richard, and Neve!