Motherhood | I Heart Faces Photo Challenge

I have always known that my mother loves me. She shows me in little ways every day, even now that all of her children are grown and living their own lives. But before my son came into my life, I had no idea how deep and unwavering a mother's love for her child could be. When I took this picture at my older brother's graduation from Boot Camp, I couldn't help feeling a twinge of what my mother almost certainly felt: Pride, fear, and adoration, all rolled into one embrace.

Delauder Sneak Peek | Family Portrait

Nothing in life is perfect, and no one knows that better than a mother. When a child has their mind set on moving, they want to move. No amount of hugs, kisses, or fascinating toys will keep them still. The rare glances toward the camera are fleeting moments, usually while no shots are being taken.

But it is all right. Although there are few posed and proper shots, there is a cornucopia of emotion in what is captured. A mother's loving gaze, a daughter's gleeful grin....These are the moments that matter the most, and the ones that we usually cannot see as they happen. "Portrait" may not be the technical term for the shots from this session, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I find the love of a mother and daughter amazing to behold.