Written by: Maryjane Griffin
@maryjanegriffinphotography | maryjanegriffinphotography.com
In one of the rare quiet moments of the summer, my husband and I were driving to the beach and our conversation drifted to a recent rejection. I’d been excited about a collaboration and felt deflated that it didn’t work out. As I shared my feelings, he gave me the nicest compliment, and with it, a totally new perspective on my efforts.
“I think it’s so good for the kids to see you pursuing your photography, to see you taking risks and putting yourself out there.”
What a beautiful sentiment. I had never thought of it that way.
Most days, I feel the weight of how photography impacts our home: missing bedtime stories for styled shoots, spending money on film and equipment, or souring the fun by taking one photo too many at the ice cream shop. There’s a hint of guilt in those moments, but the more I think about it, there’s another truth layered in - one I nearly missed.
My passion projects aren’t stealing from my family, they’re enriching it! Curious little eyes watch me plan, create, troubleshoot, and start again. They see the excitement on my face, the frustration when something doesn’t work, the small victories when it finally does. They witness the moments of pushing through an uncomfortable ask and the yes after the string of nos.
I began investing in photography a few years ago, trying to carve out joy and space for myself in the midst of motherhood. I promised myself to keep it fun and true, to follow what inspired me. And in doing that, I’ve learned something larger: that when mothers pursue fulfillment, the whole family feels it. Research even shows that when mothers experience happiness and purpose, children benefit too, in empathy, resilience, and sense of possibility. It turns out that staying true to myself isn’t selfish, it’s nourishing all of us.
One of my favorite memories of the year is photographing a home birth. The call came at four a.m. I grabbed my bag and slipped quietly out of the house, leaving my family asleep. When I returned that afternoon, the kids’ eyes were wide with pride and wonder as I described the moment a little girl held her mother’s hand when her sibling arrived. They saw me lit up with purpose, and I think they felt it too, that sense of being part of something meaningful.
I hope my children remember the mornings when I left early with my camera bag, the days I tried again after a no, and the moments we celebrated a small win together. If motherhood is about modeling, then this is mine: to live in alignment with what lights me up, and to let them see me shine.
Maryjane Griffin is a New England-based photographer using film and digital to capture everyday moments and relationships with an emotive, documentary approach.
