Hi Bri, thank you for taking the time to talk with us today. Could you please tell us who you are and what you do?

My name is Bri. I am a mother of two living in the Pacific Northwest. I create art that empowers mothers through photography. I also love the earth and spending time in nature. Rocking, hounding and grinding the rocks I find into shiny gemstones brings me a ridiculous amount of joy.

Last year, you published Images of Empowered Motherhood, a photo book which explores your transformation into motherhood. Could you talk to us about your book and the evolution you experienced in your transition into motherhood?

My book is a culmination of my evolution into motherhood and the person I am today. I feel motherhood stripped me of everything I thought I knew of myself and built me into a new, stronger person with acceptance flowing through my veins. The book is proof that the early days of motherhood were real. Those days were such a blur I can't even remember them. One of the ways that got me through some of those days was self-portraiture. This was during the start of the pandemic, and I was totally burnt out by wedding photography. At this time, I had the freedom to create art that aligned with what I was going through. I needed to get the creativity out some way, so I took pictures of day-to-day life. I got the idea to elevate motherhood and shed light on breastfeeding, especially for women of color, where it is still so taboo. As I was working on the book, I was growing in love for myself and the way I did motherhood. I never had that confidence until I really started documenting and being able to see for myself.

On your social media, you talk candidly about the stages of motherhood and how it shifts and changes with time. What have been your most significant stages, and how have you navigated them?

It is amazing to me how ever-changing motherhood is. It looks so different every day. One of the most significant stages for me would probably be when I stopped breastfeeding. Each time was pretty impactful for me. The first time, I stopped breastfeeding earlier due to mental struggles, and I felt so much guilt for not giving myself completely to my child. I eventually soaked in the mantra that "fed is best". As long as my child is eating, then we are in a good spot. The second time, I stopped breastfeeding after two years. It was like going through postpartum all over again, hormone-wise. I had to navigate big feelings within myself and develop a new way to connect with my little ones. Overall, I feel every stage has its own significance and has left me a whole new person.

What has been the most challenging part of motherhood?

Parenting myself. I had a hard childhood that left me with a wounded inner child. I feel it is so important to work on your healing while parenting. We can't pour from an empty cup. So, I've been very gentle with my inner child while raising my children, and that's so challenging. Also, navigating new situations I didn’t have the tools to deal with. Like when the kids argue. I was an only child, so I had no idea how sibling dynamics actually work. I've had to learn that stuff along with them.

What’s the most valuable lesson your mother taught you?

Tomorrow is another day, so hold on.

What would you like your children to learn from you?

A sense of independence and acceptance. A deep-down love for themselves.

How do you maintain your sense of self as a mother?

I give myself the grace to be a human. That thought alone keeps me grounded in myself. Like just recently, I've decided to give up shaving (unless I'm getting a tattoo, of course). That's giving myself the grace to be a human. Shaving sucks, and it's hard to do with balancing mom life. So I have accepted it's not for me. Little decisions like that strengthen my sense of self within motherhood.