Lauren Bee

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.

Filtering by Category: Family Photography

Pretty as a Peacock -- Huntsville, AL family photographer

Meet Caroline.

But to me, she is Carrie.  She will always be Carrie.  I find myself slipping up and calling her Carrie on occasion (actually I always do it in my head, even if it doesn't come out of my mouth), despite my best efforts at respecting the beautiful, accomplished, brilliant woman she has become:  wife, mother, pediatric RN.  Carrie she is, and Carrie she will always be.

Why?

Because this:

That's right.  I've known Carr -- erm... Caroline for years and years and years and years.  At one point in our lives we were inseparable, wild imaginations flying about in darkened woods, My Little Ponies, cartoons, sleepovers and giggles.  We even sported the same haircut so identically that her dad once confused me for her.  Truth.

We don't look so much alike anymore.  I keep my hair very short these days and she lets hers grow out.  And I'm a bit taller.  But I like to think we could still pass as sisters.  Once a Brownie, always a Brownie.  Once a friend, always a friend.  Yup.  Sisters.

I was so fortunate recently to travel to Longshadow, her parent's home in Tennessee (designed by Carrie's brother, architect and UT professor, James Rose) to photograph Caroline with her family:  an adoring husband (and by the way, she and I both married guys named Chris), two of the most beautiful daughters a mother could ever hope to have (It was like seeing little Carrie all over again -- times two!), and energy-filled Labradoodle Archie.  It was such joy to spend the evening with her family.  It was almost like old times.  Minus the brown uniforms.

Portrait of Motherhood -- Big Spring Park, Hampton Cove, Alabama Photographer

As we near Mother's Day 2014 -- just a week away now -- I find myself pondering on the act of motherhood, this "thing" we collectively celebrate every year, this physical form so many of us take and claim in some way, whether we are the women who birthed little ones only to lose them, or if we are the women who are blessed to love tightly, tangibly, in our years-long journey of words and deeds, kissing scraped fingers, praying over hospital beds, baking birthday cakes, picking wildflowers.  So many of us are mothers -- messy and imperfect, proud and true.  As a tribe of souls whose life purpose is selflessness and growth and nurturing and strength, we are and have always been amazing in small and large ways -- though, really there is nothing small about motherhood.  Is there anything more fierce or more full of wonder than the love of a mother?  Is there anything more beautiful? For all of the mothers out there, those still with us (or not), those made and not-yet-made:  Happy Mother's Day.

 

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