Rachel and her husband are the kind of people who get excited when they invite someone over. When I invite someone over, I'm secretly counting down the minutes until I get my "me time" again, but Rachel and Dan, I can see the giddiness in their faces every time I ring their doorbell.
Rachel is a student turned client turned friend who teaches me about hospitality, selflessness, and kindness every timeI'm around her. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to photograph her and her loving family as they wait for the arrival of their newest baby girl
From Rachel
"As a mother of five, soon to be six, children, I see now more clearly than ever the truth in the poem "Babies Don’t Keep". Babies don’t keep... and neither do toddlers or children or pre-teens. I am acutely aware of that feeling that time is slipping through my fingers.
"I often contemplate the Psalm: “Teach us the brevity of life that we may grow in wisdom.” These days with my children at home are so precious to me and have been my motivation to be a photographer myself, if only a hobbyist."
"Yet even with the very best intentions, with a long to-do list, I often miss capturing the everyday moments that I hold so dear. And as the one behind the camera, it is rare for me to be in the photo with my children, even though I spend every day with them as a homeschooling mom.
"It was such a gift to have Mae come into our home to take photos of our family, capturing a glimpse of our everyday, in a way that was artful and beautiful. I feel so awkward in front of the camera but she put me completely at ease. She urged us not to smile at the camera but to just be ourselves. She talked with us throughout the shoot and it felt like connecting with an old friend. She captured authentic connections between us and that is what I treasure most of all. These are the moments I want to remember forever, not a staged photoshoot in a field where everyone forces a smile at the camera. I couldn’t be happier with Mae’s work. She is a true artist."
I can't wait to revisit this family in a few months to meet the new little person they welcome into their love. Thank you, Rachel, for allowing me into this beautiful time in your life.
I will be visiting San Antonio more frequently as well as Houston, Austin, and DFW.
Dates are scheduled for November through March in select cities.
Please email me at hello@maeburke.com for more info,
or visit my store to purchase your session.