Life Happened (In the Best and Hardest Way): Why I Stepped Back—and Why I’m Coming Back

If you’ve followed my work for a while, you may have noticed I’ve been quieter than usual—fewer sessions, fewer posts, fewer updates. I want to share why, because I’m a real person behind this business, and sometimes life doesn’t just “get busy.” Sometimes it changes shape completely.

A few years ago, my husband and I stepped in to become the full-time caregivers for our twin grandchildren. They’re almost five now—joyful, exhausting, hilarious, and the center of our world.

I’m sharing this publicly because honesty matters to me. I photograph real people and real stories in Columbus, Ohio, and I want to offer the same humanity back.

Why we had to step in

At their birth, we stepped in because my daughter was struggling with drug addiction. For a time, we had temporary custody. Later, custody shifted to their father.

Then, almost two years ago, everything changed again. Their father went through the court process and ultimately went to prison on child pornography charges. I want to be clear about one thing: the twins were spared from his devious behavior. I spoke with the detective on the case, and he told me they found no evidence that the twins were involved in any of the photos or videos. After that, my husband and I gained permanent full custody.

That’s the truth. It’s heavy, and it’s not the story I would’ve chosen—but it’s the one we’re living. And the twins deserve stability, safety, and a home where they can just be kids.

Why I stepped back (the practical side)

One of the reasons I had to step back is simple: I create my own availability in my photography business. I can be flexible. My husband is salaried and makes more money, so when we looked at what our new reality required, it became clear that I was the one who could shift.

And then there was childcare. Because of my husband’s income, we weren’t eligible for daycare assistance, and paying for full-time daycare for two children, five days a week didn’t make sense for our family. So I stayed home with them.

The emotional side (and what I had to learn about “value”)

I’ll be honest: I struggled. I’ve never gone more than a few months without a job in my life, and here I was—almost 56 years old—starting over in a role I didn’t expect: parenting again.

There were moments I felt like I wasn’t contributing, like I wasn’t enough. It took therapy and a lot of soul searching to understand something I needed to believe: this work has real value. High value. Life-shaping value. And I’ve learned to treasure it—even on the hard days.

The last few years have been trying—financially, too

Going down to one income meant real life changes. And I’ll be honest: paying down debt hasn’t gone the way I hoped. My credit score has taken a hit.

I’m not sharing that for sympathy—I’m sharing it because I know I’m not the only one. A lot of parents and caregivers are doing their best, making hard choices, and trying to keep moving forward.

Where my business is right now

I want to be clear: I am taking clients. I haven’t stopped photographing—my availability has just been more limited while we’ve been building a stable life for the twins.

Why I built a new website (and how Wix AI helped)

I also knew I needed help getting the word out again. That’s a big part of why I created a new website with the help of Wix’s AI tools—and it has honestly been life-changing.

I’m not a writer, and my thoughts bounce around. I’m still bringing the ideas and the real details, but AI helps me keep it cohesive so I can communicate clearly.

The good news: school starts in August

The twins start school in August, and that changes our day-to-day in a big way. It doesn’t mean life suddenly becomes simple—but it does mean I’ll have consistent blocks of time again.

So yes—I’m working now, and I’m also looking ahead with real excitement because my availability will open up significantly starting in August.

If you’re in a “life happened” season too

If you’re reading this and you’re in your own version of “life happened,” I see you. Sometimes we just do the next right thing, and we keep going. That’s what we’ve been doing—and now we’re stepping into a season that feels a little more hopeful.

If you’d like to work together, Contact me—I’m booking a limited number of sessions now, and I’ll have much more availability starting in August.