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

In home 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.

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Bethel

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I love walking into a clients home and observing how light supports their family’s story. Every client's home has its own unique story of light. Walking into a new space is a treasure hunt for me. This newborn session from New Year's Eve was a treasure trove of beautiful light and precious newborn details. The kind of sweet details that make your heart melt.

In home Storytelling Session Deheck

In home Storytelling Session Deheck

It was such an honor to spend the weekend observing this beautiful new momma navigate the ins and outs of her new daily routine, watching her soak in moments of sweetness amidst the sleepless nights, around the clock feedings, and diaper changes, observing her whisper, my sweet little bird, into her newborn’s ear, while drowsily soaking in every little detail of his expressions and tiny, perfect body, as though trying to etch each detail onto her heart.

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Ray Summer Story Session

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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of documenting a dear friend and mother of two. This is Jessica and she is as  beautiful inside as she is out. One of my first Artifact Motherhood sessions (link to her AM session here), she has since welcomed another son into her sweet family. We’ve been discussing, on and off, of doing a similar session with her newest addition. A few of my favorite moments from her motherhood summer story below.




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Family Documentary Shoot in Claremore, Oklahoma

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Family Documentary Shoot in Claremore, Oklahoma

It’s no secret that my favorite thing to do is to capture the beauty of ordinary moments--the moments otherwise missed or overlooked. What if we had someone to document our families day in and day out? What would yours look like? I’m a firm believer that we don’t have to create a backdrop to paint the beauty of our families. The beauty is here; the beauty is now.

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Byrd

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Byrd

I look at my hands and I see my mother’s hands. My mom is very youthful, but her hands are a dead giveaway to her age. Miles women’s hands age in a way that the rest of them doesn’t. It's reflective of who they are. They’re providers. The Miles women--it’s a definitive trait of theirs. They’re hard working women. When I look at my hands I definitely see that nurturing, selfless quality that my mother, my aunts and grandmother’s hands have. I think it’s easy to think you’re not a selfless, nurturing person, but in the last few years it’s definitely something I’ve learned. I will do things for other people until I have nothing left to give. My son, Rockne, has given me the opportunity to be more selfless. I have to practice everyday--putting his needs before my own.

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Leeper

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Leeper

As a child, I remember holding my baby doll and dreaming of having a little girl of my own. I recall telling my dad, Daddy, I can’t wait to get married and be a mom. 

I have always wanted a daughter. Growing up, I had faith God would bless me with one. He did, he blessed me with two!  In high school I would buy little girl stuff in hopes that someday I would be able to give to them to my little girl. I’ve kept those things over the years, and I now have it for them. After graduating high school I remember telling my dad, I’m not going to college, I’m going to get married and have babies.  Daddy just giggled. Truth is, I did end up going to college and graduate school, where I met my husband Terry.