Stop Time! He’s growing too fast | Alison Hatch Photo
My youngest son turns twelve this weekend, and I’m in complete denial. I haven't done a bit of party planning, no gift shopping, and certainly no emotional preparation for the fact that my baby is about to be another year older. My heart just can’t take it. I mean, wasn’t it just yesterday that he was toddling around in diapers? (Or was that me, chasing him down?)
Portra 800 Yashica-C
Kodak Gold 120, Yashika-C
Motherhood was HARD for me. It felt like I was clinging on for dear life, just trying to get through each day. I regret not allowing myself to enjoy it more—constantly worrying about how my kids were doing at school, if they had good friends, and if they were emotionally okay. (Yes, I struggle with anxiety, but I think that’s just part of the mom territory.)
If Dr. Who ever showed up with the TARDIS, I’d be hopping in and traveling back in time to just… freaking… relax and enjoy motherhood! Sure, there were moments of joy, but they were often overshadowed by worry. Looking back, I wish I could have at least balanced it out to a 50/50 ratio.
Kodak Gold 200, Nikon F100, 50mm 1.4
Polaroid Black & White, SX-70
But here we are, twelve years later, and while I might not have the TARDIS, I do have a camera! And that brings me to this little nudge—fall is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to capture your own family’s moments. Let’s make sure we get those smiles on record so that when our kids are twelve (or twenty!), we can look back at these times with a little less worry and a lot more smiles. Ready for some fall family photos? Let’s make it happen!
Welcome, I’m Alison
an analog film photographer, educator, podcast host, and artist. I offer my Southern California clients a stress-free and memorable experience of getting photos taken on film. I have been featured in Shoot It With Film, 35 mm, Heartful Magazine, and published in the Front Steps Project Book. Right now I love spending my free time with my husband, three boys, and two Goldendoodles.
