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Re: Motherhood – A Curated Photo Series by Creative Moms
Re: Motherhood – A Curated Photo Series by Creative Moms
by The Luupe
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Creative moms, curating what they see — and how it feels to move through the world.
Mother’s Day often comes wrapped in clichés — cards, flowers, filtered gratitude. But what if we looked at motherhood the way we look at a great photo? With curiosity, nuance, and attention to the stuff that’s unsaid?
This year, we’re flipping the script with Re: Motherhood, a visual series curated by creative moms who are shaping culture while raising the next generation. The result is bold, personal, sometimes messy, and often beautiful.
From stepmoms and founders to food editors and artists, each curator shares what it means to show up as a mother and maker — not always perfectly, but always honestly. They invite us into the spaces where care, identity, and creativity collide.
Jolene Delisle: Work in Progress
For Jolene, motherhood and creativity are not in conflict. They’re companions in a long, nonlinear story of becoming.
“This collection is a reflection of how both creativity and personal growth are never truly finished. They unfold slowly, imperfectly, and beautifully. I wanted to capture that sense of becoming—the quiet ambition, the evolving identity, the in-between moments that often hold the most meaning,” says Delisle.
As founder of The Working Assembly, Jolene’s career has been about bold design and thoughtful storytelling. But the shift into parenthood cracked something open — not just in her schedule, but in her vision.
“Motherhood has rewired the way I think about creativity. I’ve become more resourceful with my time and more open to where inspiration comes from—sometimes it’s a children’s book, a quiet walk to school, or just watching how my kids see the world. It’s made me sharper and more ambitious, not in spite of being a parent, but because of it.”
One of her most unexpected sources of inspiration? A roadside ice cream stand in upstate New York — lovingly renovated into Cherries, a community hub and creative outlet. Delisle says, “There’s nothing more creatively energizing than building something that brings people together.”
Ariel Aberg-Riger: Hold Music
For Ariel, the images came not from a concept, but a feeling — something “hovering in the in-between,” waiting to be noticed.
“I added images that hit me in the in between, that hovered, images where you can feel the potential coiled up and ready to unwind out, if you're ready for it” says Aberg-Riger.
A celebrated visual storyteller, Ariel’s work lives in the intersection of equity, policy, and emotion. But in this collection, she turns inward — inspired by her youngest daughter’s bold creativity and the unexpected lessons parenting offers.
“I find that people often focus on lack—what is taken away from you as a creative when you parent—your time, your energy, your sense of self. And those are definitely things to contend with! But when I'm at my best as a mom and as a creative, I am tapping into the same thing, I just AM.”
She describes creativity and parenting as rooted in the same muscle: play, flow, openness. To her, both are an invitation to show up — messy, wild, and beautifully human.
Dawn Perry: Feeling Into It
Dawn’s collection is instinctual, sensory, and delicious — an ode to pleasure and presence.
“I initially started by thinking about what my kids would like — pizza, pasta, eggs, ice cream — and then found myself choosing images that naturally caught my eye — some reminded me of long-ago travels or moments in time; others just looked delicious,” says Perry.
The editorial director of Breville+ and a longtime food writer, Dawn knows the creative grind. But instead of pushing through, she’s learning to surrender to slower rhythms.
“Being a working parent can feel impossible at times: we can get so wrapped in the day-to-day stuff that has to get done that we let the creative play fall away. But trying to force the conditions for creative expression doesn't work either. Lately I'm trying to carve out idle time to let my mind and body wander instead.”
Colie Edison: The Little Moments
For WNBA executive Colie Edison, motherhood isn’t just about milestones — it’s about the small, messy, unforgettable moments in between.
“Motherhood for me is all about finding the little moments — the ones that make you laugh, cry, scream, smile — and appreciating them all.”
Her Re: Motherhood collection reflects the balance she’s learned to embrace: the joy of being present with her child, and the equally essential time spent recharging with her village — girlfriends, solo getaways, and quiet time with her partner.
“It’s all part of this incredibly special journey I am forever grateful to be on,” says Colie. Colie’s images are about care in every form — self, family, friendship — and the ways we show up, not just for others, but for ourselves.
Chelo Segear: Thriving
Chelo’s collection, Thriving, is a celebration of motion, confidence, and the joy of watching children grow into themselves. As a photo editor and researcher, she’s spent her career curating visual stories — but motherhood offered her a different kind of perspective.
“These images resonated with me because they show little humans interacting with their world and standing in their confidence.”
She reflects on the days when mothers were dismissed as “momtographers,” their work seen as hobbyist at best. But for Chelo, photographing her children has been one of the most creatively meaningful acts of her life.
“I am proud to say that my creativity was heavily influenced by watching my children live,” says Chelo.
That creative spark is fueled not by grand moments, but by witnessing discovery — a reminder that joy can be found anywhere if you’re paying attention. Her curation reminds us: thriving isn’t just about the big milestones — it’s in the everyday steps, seen clearly and with love.
Jamie Yuccas: Stepmomming
Jamie’s collection is rooted in love that grows by choice — full of tenderness, complexity, and light.
“As a stepmom, I’ve had to learn how to define my role on my own. There are few resources available, and everyone seems to have a different opinion about how a stepmom—or bonus mom—should show up,” says Yuccas.
Her imagery moves between quiet rituals and bold, nature-filled moments. Coffee made by a child’s hands. A rope swing over a river. A small boy learning to cook eggs on a Sunday morning.
“Even when the skies feel unsettled as we blend as a family, I try to find a silver lining—or a glimmer of light shining through the clouds.”
And when inspiration is scarce, her stepson brings it back.
Yuccas says, “When he thanks me, asks for a hug, or tells me he sees me as a bonus parent — my heart melts and explodes. His emotional intelligence leaves me in awe.”
Roya Sullivan: Set the Scene
Roya’s curation is vibrant, precise, and immersive — reflecting her background in high-impact retail and window display. But motherhood, she says, has refined her eye in unexpected ways.
“I’ve become more intentional with my creativity—focusing on what really matters and how people connect with a space and display,” says Sullivan.
She approaches her campaigns — and her collection — with emotional intelligence. Every image evokes a sense of movement, mood, or memory.
“I think more about flow, emotion, and how a design makes someone feel the moment they walk in. With less time to waste, I’ve gotten better at trusting my gut and working smarter.”
Her inspiration? Not always found inside her industry.
Sullivan says, “I get the most inspiration from art, theater, and set design. Seeing how a stage or installation transforms space to tell a story makes me think differently about retail environments. A lighting shift, a bold texture, or even the way people move through a scene.”
Ellen Kim: Inspired by Warm(er) Weather
Ellen Kim’s collection radiates forward motion — sun, water, openness, and energy. A longtime creative operations leader now at Lovevery, she knows how to bring structure to big ideas. But her Re: Motherhood curation is a little less about the structure, and more about what happens when it softens.
“The overall collection of images that I selected definitely speaks to my current feeling of getting ready for warmer weather — and what that warmer weather holds for me and my family,” says Kim.
From fireworks to cliffs to open coastlines, her picks lean into celebration, renewal, and escape. The kind of seasonal shift that brings vitality back to the body, and space back to the mind.
“I’m craving celebration — more lightheartedness and Vitamin D moments in my life.”
Motherhood, Ellen says, has reshaped her relationship to community and creativity — infusing her work with deeper empathy and emotional intelligence.
“I've seen a huge (positive) shift in empathy and human understanding as a result of motherhood. It has enhanced my ability to process and understand nuanced human emotions, motivations, and perspectives — which has enriched my creative outputs.”
Even the “mundane” notion of “routine and prioritization” has become a source of inspiration that helps her move through challenges more freely. Her collection is a moodboard for possibility — for shedding what’s heavy and walking barefoot into what’s next.
Keren Sachs: Present, Now
For Luupe founder Keren Sachs, Re: Motherhood is about pressing pause on the constant forward motion — and grounding in what’s right in front of her.
“We spend so much time talking about the future... I want to lean into the present, the now.”
Her curation is inspired by the quiet, ordinary (and yet extraordinary) moments that make up life with children — light on a blade of grass, laughter after bedtime, a skinned knee mid-adventure. “Those are the moments that called to me. My kids are my muse” says Keren.
Keren shares how motherhood has reshaped her creative rhythms — no longer late at night, but early in the morning, coffee in hand, before the world needs her. Keren says, “Now, it is in the morning… when I am able to tap into my creativity and let ideas flow.”
Her images reflect presence, softness, and deep emotional clarity — a reminder that creativity doesn't always need to be chased. Sometimes, it’s already there, waiting in the light.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Luupe
The Luupe is a global marketplace for exceptional visual storytelling. Where brands connect with real creators, license exclusive imagery, and produce photo and video content that feels true. Powered by a diverse network of the world’s best talent — this is where real stories take shape.
