I will be the first one to say motherhood is no joke! Whether you've got a baby on the way, or you are deep in the trenches of making meals, doing laundry, and keeping kids alive we can all agree on one thing- it all goes by too fast! It's a cliche that is said all too often, and I believe it's said so often because it is true. We have so many things we are taking care of and planning- planning a photo session? That sounds nice, but you've got other fires you are putting out! I did mention laundry, cooking, working, and keeping those kids alive, right???

But the days don't stop, and your family keeps growing and changing as does your relationship with them. As my own kids age, I think of the things I miss- rocking them to sleep, being able to hold them in my arms, their wobbly first steps- now my oldest is 60 pounds and running ramped and we have new things we share together- but a part of my heart still longs for when he was oh so little. Since I don't have a Time Machine, keeping my family's history in a visual way has always been a priority to me, and I want to help make it as easy as possible for other families to do the same.

There are only so many things that words and stories can relay- one picture truly is worth a thousand words. (Heck, I can barely remember what I did last month!)

Let me help you be your family's visual historian. I am here to help you make that photoshoot happen, and not in the cheesy- smile for the camera- kind of way. My passion and focus is capturing the little moments that make up who you are your family are. I will be there guiding and helping you plan your session (the outfits, the location, the artistic elements, the activities)- I do it all day long and love making it simple, easy, and painless. I will be intentionally getting to know your family, so that I can engage with each of you and help everyone BE THEMSELVES the day of your session.

These aren't just photos for your Christmas card or for the "Gram"- these are the visual representation of your family- full of the things that are most important to YOU to remember and record. These are photos full of movement, laughter, comfort, and the love you share as a family. They are genuine, honest, and not manufactured.

Meet my family!

I'm a mom to two boys and three animals right in Sussex County, NJ. My husband and I love our life, support each other, and question our sanity on a daily basis!

the story behind the name

The namesake of my business and reason for initially picking up a camera is my late Dad, James Carl Dowden. Honoring him with the name of my business was the perfect choice as his memory fuels so much of how I live my life. After losing him suddenly, I searched for any and every photo I had of him. There just weren't that many to be found and none were high quality. It made me want to capture other family's and their connections together in the most honest way possible.