AM Collective, Stokes Family
Hollie Stokes
Season of Motherhood June 2023 Rooted
Season of Motherhood June 2023 Rooted
AM Collective, Stokes Family
Hollie Stokes
Artifact Motherhood May 2023
Artifact Motherhood May 2023
AM Collective, Stokes Family
Hollie Stokes
Artifact Motherhood September 2022
Artifact Motherhood September 2022
AM Collective
Hollie Stokes
A Mother's Prayer

One of the hardest lessons I learned as a young woman is to never put people, especially those you love, on a pedestal. For years as a child, teenager, and young woman, I held my mother in such high regard that I thought she could do no wrong. She was absolutely perfect in every way. Unfortunately, I was setting up our relationship for failure. When I discovered her brokenness, the glass house I meticulously built around her in my head shattered. It was devastating to find out she had flaws that ran very deep and parallel to my own. Oh how my pride and vanity melded into anger. It took a long time to accept the person, the mother, I discovered in the wreckage. I now realize how unfair it was to put her up on that perch in the first place. This is a lesson I certainly learned the hard way, and one I desperately want you to avoid.

A Mother's Prayer
Stokes Family, AM Collective
Hollie Stokes
Wonderfully and Perfectly Made
Wonderfully and Perfectly Made

Documentary Session

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Munster

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In-home Storytelling Session

What does an in-home storytelling session with three boys under 5 years old look like? Energy, silliness, soccer balls, brownies (who needs directions?), spatula licks, messy faces, bubble bath beards, books and, of course, a baby with sweet dreamy snuggles. In-home storytelling means getting comfortable in your beautiful chaos. It’s understanding that you will pour over these memories years, maybe even decades from now, and appreciate the beauty of being present with your family because your reality is beautiful, your reality is worth documenting.

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Neupauer

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Half day in the Life

Children change so much–especially in the first few years of life. The thing that attracts clients to a documentary session is the art of preserving these fleeting memories and moments. Mothers are usually the memory keepers, the force behind the photograph and Facebook memories. What makes a half-day “in the life” so unique is that we have the opportunity to move out from behind the curtain and into the spotlight with their family. Doing the things that they love and creating lasting memories. Proof that they were there too!  

In September, I had the pleasure of photographing a family who temporarily moved from Germany to Tulsa. This is a little slice of their family’s Saturday routine–moments full of cuddles, kisses, silliness, fun, and the intimate gestures unique to this family. Someday, these pictures will evoke memories of days and weekends in America. Memories of  how much they love their boys and one other.