Photographing Families Like Yours, Because I’m a Mom Who Gets It
Hi, I’m Kelsey.
I’m the photographer behind Captured Forever Photography, and I’m also a mom who knows what it’s like to carry a lot. Mentally, emotionally, physically.
My sessions are built for real life, not “perfect life.” The kind where your toddler might start strong and then spiral because their sock feels wrong. The kind where you just had a baby and you are functioning on snacks and survival. The kind where you’re pregnant and already tired of feeling like your body belongs to everyone except you.
Warm, happy, and real, with just enough guidance to make it easy.
That’s not a tagline to me. It’s the whole point.
How I got here
Photography wasn’t something I picked up because I wanted a creative hobby. It became important to me in a deeper way.
After years of infertility, I learned what it feels like to want something so badly you can barely say it out loud. To live in the “not yet.” To keep showing up to life while quietly carrying disappointment, hope, and a million what-ifs.
And then when I finally became a mom, I experienced birth trauma that changed the way I understand people, especially mothers. It changed the way I move through a room. It changed how I approach the early postpartum days. It changed how I hold space.
I don’t tell you that for sympathy points. I tell you because it’s the reason I photograph motherhood the way I do.
Because I know what it’s like to be in a season that’s heavy and beautiful at the same time. I know what it’s like to be grateful and struggling. I know what it’s like to want photos, but also feel like you’re barely keeping it together.
So no, you don’t need to “feel ready.” You don’t need a perfectly clean home. You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to perform.
A Few Things You Should Know About Me
Photography is personal, but so is choosing a photographer. If we’re going to create something beautiful together, you should probably know a little more about me—beyond just the fact that I love capturing families.
Here are a few things that make me me:
✔ I love to hike—especially with my toddler on my back. There’s something about being outdoors, exploring new places, and seeing the world through my kid’s eyes that makes every adventure even better.
✔ I’m an IVF warrior and birth trauma survivor. My journey to motherhood wasn’t easy, and it’s shaped the way I see the world—and the way I photograph the moments that matter most.
✔ I have a deep love for connecting with other moms. Motherhood is beautiful, but it can also feel isolating. I truly believe in the power of sharing our stories and lifting each other up.
✔ Traveling and experiencing new cultures is one of my greatest joys. Whether it’s exploring a new country or just trying a new type of food, I love the perspective that comes from stepping outside of my comfort zone.
✔ Coffee is my love language. If we’re doing a sunrise session, just know there’s caffeine involved.
✔ I believe the best photos come from real moments. No pressure, no stiff posing—just your family, exactly as they are, in all the beautiful, messy, love-filled chaos.
