It's A Mom Thing For These Photographers

Sometimes, to get the perfect shot, it takes a bit of motherly intuition.

To know how to pose a newborn without waking it up. To know when to sing and dance to get a cranky toddler to smile. To be willing to climb a tree or get down in the dirt to capture the perfect moment.

These women aren’t just photographers. They’re moms.

Kameron Gunderson, Keren Fenton and Stacey Atkin are among a growing number of stay-at-home moms who have turned their love of photographing their children into a career. They travel all over the region, from Fort Steilacoom Park and Fort Lewis to the rose gardens at Point Defiance and many a muddy pumpkin patch, to capture local families’ most special moments.

Simply put, Atkin said, “I love watching babies grow up in front of my lens.”

Atkin, who got into photography in high school, started off shooting weddings in the Portland area, and transitioned into maternity and family photography when she and her husband moved to Puyallup three years ago. She limits the number of sessions she does every month to focus on the custom nature of her work – and raise her 1-year-old son.

Fenton, of Orting, would be the first to tell you that she kind of fell into her career – her husband bought her a “fancy” camera for a birthday present so she could take photos of her children, now 2.5 and 4. A few months later, a friend asked if she would be willing to take some photographs of her family – and she was hooked.

While she started out shooting children and families, Fenton’s interest in medicine – she studied to be an EMT – led her to birth photography.

Now, camera in hand, she is on the sidelines to capture every moment as parents welcome their children into the world.

“It’s real, it’s powerful and it’s emotional,” she said. “I cannot think of a better ‘job’ for myself.”

Gunderson also got her professional start after receiving a digital SLR camera as a gift from her husband, but had been taking photos since childhood.

While she doesn’t have a specific style, Gunderson said she prefers to “go with the flow and capture the true personality of the family or the child.”

And personally, the flow means scheduling her work around her sons, ages 3 and 6 months, so that she is there for preschool field trips, doctor’s appointments – and quiet time in their Tacoma home.

“I would love to be able to keep on going with this – but still be able to spend the quality time that I do right now with my boys,” she said.

All three feel that being mothers gives them a unique perspective on photography.

They emphasize familial relationships through their work – and even schedule special sessions such as family pumpkin-patch trips or for moms who often spend so much time behind the lens that they don’t have any photos of themselves with their children.

Atkin said that working with children is a completely new experience. Cuddle breaks are often needed – as well as an occasional tea party with grandpa. And she admits that she will resort to “quacking and waddling like a duck” to get a child to smile.

“I find I have way more patience for other people’s kids,” she said with a laugh. “I started doing photography before I had my son, and I think after having him, I have a new understanding about how small children work.”

Fenton said that she is able to relate to what women are going through, and therefore provide support while they are going through the painful moments of labor.

“It wasn’t that long ago that I was in their position,” she said.

Gunderson’s favorite subjects are in her sons’ age group. Between the ages of 1-3, they are innocent and full of energy, she said.

“I’m willing to try whatever a family wants so they achieve what they want out of the session,” she said. “It’s pretty laid back with a lot of laughter.”

But photographing toddlers definitely presents some challenges.

“They are quite mobile and fast,” Atkin said. “And then often don’t understand the concept of having their picture taken.”

Still, she said, “They may not give me the ‘look straight at the camera and smile’ shot, but the photos of them dancing around and bring themselves are priceless.”

Fenton faces a different type of challenge: scheduling. Given the unpredictable nature of her work, she is unable to shoot weddings – “it’s just too risky” – but she is able to sneak in some family and newborn shoots between jaunts to local hospitals. She shoots two to four births a month – and even bought her own scrubs to wear in the operating room during cesarean births.

All three have lofty goals – Atkin wants to do theme sessions based on favorite books or movies; Gunderson dreams of shooting a high-fashion spread; and Fenton admits that she would love to be a celebrity birth photographer – but for now, they are enjoying the joy of getting to do what they love.

“The memories of a new family’s big day will be the most compelling and precious memories they'll ever have,” Fenton said. “I want to make sure their baby's first photos are incredible.”

Atkin felt similarly.

“I love being able to capture special times in families’ lives,” she said, “so they have something to look at and always treasure.”