If you’ve wondered why I kind of disappeared from Instagram… you are not imagining it.

The truth is, I haven’t consistently posted on the grid since September.

Not because I stopped photographing.
Not because I stopped caring.
And definitely not because I stopped creating.

Actually, it has been the complete opposite.

Life just got really full.

Running a photography business—especially as a single mom—means there are constantly a million moving pieces happening behind the scenes that nobody really sees.

There are the emails.
The planning.
The outfit coordination.
The location scouting.
The timeline adjustments.
The weather checks.

And then when it rains? We figure out rain dates and start rearranging calendars all over again.

There is the traveling, the shooting, the driving home exhausted, backing up galleries, editing late at night, answering messages while making dinner, trying to show up for my kids while also showing up fully for my clients.

I am constantly trying to give the best experience I possibly can to the people who trust me to document their lives.

And somewhere along the way, something always falls behind.

For me?

It’s social media.

I wish I were one of those people who always had perfectly planned content calendars, trending reels, aesthetic behind-the-scenes footage, and consistent posts ready to go.

I really do.

To the creatives who somehow manage to run a business, create beautiful work, stay present in life, and show up online consistently… truly, teach me your ways.

I genuinely admire it.

Because while I absolutely strive for that kind of consistency, the truth is, even on my best day, I’m probably never going to be that person—and I’m slowly learning to be okay with that.

I’ve learned that my energy is usually spent making sure my clients feel cared for, my galleries are delivered with intention, and my kids have the best version of me I can give them. If something has to fall behind, it’s usually social media—and while I wish that wasn’t the case, it’s just part of this season of life.

And honestly? It has become a running joke between me and two of my photographer friends—one from Colorado and one from the New York/New Jersey area.

We met while traveling to Vegas to shoot and learn from the incredibly talented Shalonda Chaddock, and somewhere along the way, we became more than just photographer friends.

We became a support system.

Because running a business—especially a creative business—can feel really lonely sometimes.

There are so many moments where you question yourself.

Question your work.
Question your pricing.
Question what platforms to use.
Whether you’re providing enough.
Whether everyone else somehow has it more together than you do.

And when things aren’t working the way you hoped, it can feel isolating.

So we started doing weekly Zoom calls to keep each other motivated and accountable. To talk about business and life and motherhood and burnout and clients and creativity.

Then life got busy.

Summer happened.
Kids got sick.
Work got overwhelming.
Schedules stopped lining up.

We would reconnect for a call here and there, then disappear again into life.

But one thing that always stayed consistent was our joke that we should start an Instagram account called Off Brand.

Because we are constantly trying to be on brand.
Build a brand.
Focus on branding.
Create cohesive brands.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes?

We’re chaotic.
We disappear from social media.
We forget to post.
We second-guess ourselves.
We’re juggling motherhood, businesses, exhaustion, creativity, life—and just trying our best. We have come to realize we will never be those people that you say “that’s onbrand for her.”

So as busy season starts again, I’m making an effort to show back up here.

To post more.
To blog more.
To share my work more consistently.
To let people into the in-between moments a little more.

But I also know myself.

And I know there may be weeks where life gets overwhelming again and the grid goes quiet.

If that happens, just know this:

Behind the scenes, I’m still here.

Still learning.
Still growing.
Still photographing.
Still editing late at night.
Still trying to build a life and business I’m proud of.
Still trying to be the best I can for my kids and for the people who trust me with their memories.

So you might see me around here for a while.

Or you might see me disappear again.

Either way, just know I’m working.

And honestly?

Maybe that’s enough.