Recapture Self

Photography for me runs so much deeper than making memories Over the years as photography has evolved and changed... As we've all been gifted these amazing cameras on our phones... As my life has take twists and turns... As my kiddo has grown from baby to pre-teen... I've realized that when I pick up a camera something inside me shifts, and I feel good Even if my photos are terrible, I feel good inside There is an intentional shift of perspective that happens when I look through a camera lens. And I begin to see the world around me differently I get out of my head And into my heart I capture a slice of our life in all it's messy beauty Listen to this mini episode to hear: How you can use a camera to make an immediate shift in your mood A photo project you can do in under 2 minutes Photo Inspiration: Want to reconnect with Beryl during this 8 Episode Mini Series? Today I'd like you to, snap a selfie! I want to see your smiling face on my phone - you can text it to (703) 546-9913.  Not in the US? Prefer to se

Somewhere during pandemic life that days started to all string together and feel the same. So I just stopped capturing everything. When I open up my feed I see random meme screenshots, a few silly videos my kid recorded for her you tube channel, and items I photographed to sell on our local community boards. Sprinkled here and there are a photo of my dogs, or dinners, or unexpected family outing. But those are few and far between. I do miss the feeling of picking up my camera, but for some reason I struggle with looking for the perfect reason or occasion or moment to begin capturing life consistently again. When I get stuck like this... Instead of listening to the voice in my head that's on a loop telling me to "just pick up the stupid camera and capture something..." I get curious. Listen to this mini episode to hear: The surprising way I'm finding a path back to myself.  The step-by-step path you can take to instantly spark  your creativity.  A simple task for you to connect with me and lean into curiosity

It's been a hot minute since the Capture What Matters podcast has been in your feed. In full transparency, pandemic life turned everything in my world a bit upside down. I've been focused on unschooling my daughter and giving any of my leftover capacity to our Momtography club community. Rewinding a bit ....waaaaaaay back in 2020 I had big dreams for Momtography Club. But with the decision to focus on schooling my kiddo through the pandemic - those dreams got buried in the necessity of keeping our mental and emotional health afloat. Lately I've finally felt the fog of the past year ever so sloooooowly lift so I can reconnect with my dreams. What I've discovered through this exploration is a deep desire to help other moms like you reconnect with your dreams too. As I've started getting out in the world again, awkwardly having conversations with clients and mom friends, reluctantly forcing words onto pages of a blank journal... I've realized I am soooooo not alone in getting back to my dreams. For us moms., thi

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I’d like life to look like when this is all over. Admittedly, this pandemic seems to shine a light in the places we’ve been ignoring far too long. It’s uncomfortable and it makes me question my confidence.  Who am I? What do I value? How do I want to show up for myself and my family? Where do I concentrate my time and energy and resources right now? What is fair to expect of myself right now? A few weeks ago, we wrapped up teaching our first Teentography kids virtual class and we're starting teaching another one this week. With the help of these kids, I find the answers to those questions coming into clarity. I’ve learned from these kids, who are picking up a camera and sharing their hearts with me, how to lean into creativity and let go of expectations These teens have breathed life into me on the days where I just couldn’t for myself. And they're helping me remember there isn't anything I need to DO or anyone I need to BE in order to claim worth and confidence. As

Right now, life is NOT normal. Our routines and schedules are being tested big time. When I scroll through my news feed, I see stories of moms trying to make sense of the wacky, cooped-up home-life that we are all trying to navigate right now. I see mom’s trying desperately to homeschool – trying to make sense of the distance learning her school system just implemented last week. Many of us resorting to tablets just to keep our kids entertained. Our mental health and self-worth are being tested. Everything feels upside down. I want to remind you that your SELF WORTH is not linked to how good you do during a pandemic. Your SELF WORTH really isn't linked to anything at all. Know that right here, right now, you have permission to press pause. It's okay to take a breath and find your new rhythm. It's ok to do this #quarantime (quarantine time) your way. This month at Momtography we're diving deep into self-discovery, self-awareness, and feelings of worth. We urge you to lean into how YOU most want to show up. T

Never in my wildest imagination did I expect to be broadcasting right now while quarantined at home.  We're currently on day 13 of my daughter being home from school, and our governor here in Virginia just made the call that schools will be closed until the fall. At the very least, a lot of our friends and their kids are grieving. And rightfully so. There's a lot of sadness and uncertainty right now.  Because our reality right now is not ever something my imagination could have dreamed up as even remotely possible during this lifetime.  Even though they are not the same, I find myself comparing the Covid 19 Pandemic to our pregnancy loss back in 2009. The trauma of both of these scenarios then and now are real. We had expectations and plans – we had imagined how life would be. And now the reality of what's actually unfolding is totally different. It’s tragic and disappointing.  But the cool thing about imagination is that we can use it to shift our perspective even during the hardest moments and find the good

Three years ago, our daughter was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety. Surprisingly, my reaction was not one of sadness or fear or worry. My immediate reaction was one of relief. Our kiddo’s diagnosis brought me relief because it gave me permission to honor and advocate for who she is. Her diagnosis reminded me how lucky I am to mother a child who is so comfortable with her creativity, and it led me to my own ADHD diagnosis not too long after hers. Here at Momtography we are champions for imagination and creativity, not only for our children, but for us as parents and role models as well. Today’s return guest, Dayna Abraham, is the founder of Lemon Lime Adventures and creator of the Calm The Chaos Framework where she supports parents out-of-the-box kids going from just surviving to thriving. I wanted to have Dayna on the show to talk about what happens when we infuse more curiosity and imagination into our parenting, especially when we are feeling the most defeated or disconnected from our kids. We talked about

I am not a Barbie mom. The reason I'm not a Barbie Mom is that when my daughter asks me to sit and "play" with her– whether it be with her Barbies or lego or stuffed toys–I freeze. Imagination is not my superpower. And...I don't think I'm alone in this. As a mom, my guess is you are more accustomed to cycling through your endless to-do list or getting your family from point A to point B than expressing your creativity.  Somewhere between childhood wonder and adult responsibility, we lose sight of what it means to play. We forget how to use our imagination and express ourselves creatively. And that is why all this month at Momtography we're exploring imagination and how we can infuse it into our lives and our photos in a way that makes us feel excited–not awkward. For today’s return-guest, Natalie Allgyer, (Episode #68) photography started like it does for many new moms, taking photos of just her daughter. As her photos improved and people began asking her to start a family and newborn business, something didn

Quick: what would you do with 10 minutes to yourself? Just 10 minutes to connect with the blissful peace and quiet you crave.  We know we need it. But how often do we actually give ourselves that time? I want to let you in on a little secret. If you aren't giving yourself this time, you aren't alone. Many of us moms have far too many responsibilities to be able to connect with ourselves and our creativity on a regular basis. But there is hope. Because when you do make the time and you do start giving yourself those 10 minutes, your life will change.  When I was still working full time as a teacher and building Momtography on the side, I would often rush out of my school building at the end of an exhausting day and immediately drive to daycare to reconnect with my daughter. After the brutal commute home, I'd be met with a barrage of to do's – dinner prep, playtime, bathtime, bedtime dishes, laundry... The list goes on and on.  I just needed 10 minutes to connect with me.  Then one day I had the idea to try a l

Mom guilt.  My guess is that you are no stranger to the complicated feelings of self-doubt, shame, and uncertainty that come with raising kids. The guilt creeps in in all sorts of ways.  You find yourself endlessly wondering: am I doing this right? Am I ruining my child? Will this be the terrible moment in their memory 20 years from now?  As a new mom nine years ago, I naively thought that as my own daughter got older, these guilty feelings would subside, but here we are. Honestly, sometimes I'm not sure how to fill the space besides swirling in more mom guilt, but I also know that my camera is there to help me reconnect, to actually see these challenges and transitions in a more positive light.  This month at Momtography, we are exploring how moms connect, not only with their families but with themselves too. And in today's episode of Capture What Matters, I'm talking to Valerie Schoenfeld, a mom of three who decided, at seven months pregnant with her third baby, that she was ready to start a photography bus

Capture What Matters helps moms rediscover themselves through photography, creativity, and self-care. Each episode features a fresh tip or technique for helping you capture what matters through your own camera. Plus, host Beryl Young, founder of Momtography, shares stories of women who have opted out of overwhelm, burnout, and the neverending to-do list through self-expression. We’re exploring motherhood in an entirely new way––through the lens of putting you and your creativity first!

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Momtography Community Storyteller, Michelle Tait.  Listen in as they discuss how sharing your story creates connection and community.  Have a story you'd like to share with our community? Send Michelle an email saying 'I Am Momtography'! You can reach her at: michelle@momtography.club   

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Hilarie Burton Morgan. Hilarie Burton Morgan is an actress and producer and a high school friend of Momtography founder Beryl Young. Her acting career includes being a former host of MTV's Total Request Live, spending six seasons on the  The WB/CW drama One Tree Hill portraying Peyton Sawyer, and roles on shows such as White Collar, Grey's Anatomy, and many others. Burton is a mom to two kids and recently married long time partner and actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Hailing from Sterling, Virginia, and alumnus of  a Title 1 high school where the majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunches

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. Prepare to be inspired by their stories.  This week I'm chatting with Valerie Schoenfeld. Valerie is a northern Virginia lifestyle photographer and mom to 3 little boys 4 and under. It was after becoming a mom that her love for photography took on a new journey. She  wanted to be able to capture all those fleeting moments and remember each stage of her children’s lives, so she bought her first DSLR camera in the fall of 2015 shortly after her first was born. A new spark was ignited in the spring of 2019 when she took photos for people she had never met in an attempt to save up for a photography course. Little did she know, that decision would bring forth this overp

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Joyce Shulman Joyce Shulman is the founder and CEO of Macaroni Kid and 99 Walks where she reaches millions of moms each month with hyper-local and national e-newsletters and websites, social media content, video and her Weekly Walk podcast. Macaroni Kid is the largest source of family events and activities in the Country serving more than 5,000 communities in 47 states and reaching more than 3,000,000 families each month. She calls Macaroni Kid's mission E2: Empowering Moms and EnrichingCommunities. Her most recent endeavor, 99 Walks, is on a mission to combat loneliness and improve fitness throug

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week Momtography CEO, Beryl Young will be interviewed by Community Manager, Jen Doolittle. Listen in as they discuss what's coming up for Momtography, self-care and finding your community.  Interested in leading a Momtography club? Learn more here: http://momtography.club/lead

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Morgan Gist MacDonald. Morgan Gist MacDonald is the Founder and CEO of Paper Raven Books, an independent publishing company that helps people write, edit, and publish books that grow the author’s platform and create massive impact in the world. Check out Morgan's book here: Start Writing Your Book Today: A Step-by-Step Plan to Write Your Nonfiction Book, From First Draft to Finished Manuscript You can also connect and learn more about Morgan in the following places:  Website - http://paperravenbooks.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PaperRavenBooks/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mo

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Brad Bizjack. Brad Bizjack lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with his wife, Janiece, and Oliver, their miniature cockapoo! They are college sweethearts and have been happily married since June 2017! Brad was a professional network marketer for 5 years helping people across the United States and Canada with their health and wellness. After 9 months of being business, he left his corporate role to pursue a home-business full time. But his business was failing. Brad was earning 1/4 of what he was making in the corporate world even though he was promoting a “life by design.” He felt like a fraud. So he tri

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Judith Richmond. In her former life Judith was a Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster and the mother of two Eagle Scouts.  Judith learned the skills necessary to teach boys how to learn, be creative, be resilient, and make confident young men. Now she is turning her attention to teaching the same skills to girls so they can grow to be confident and resilient.  Having scout skills she learned helped her to become a better mom during some difficult times in her life. Judith has ADHD and dyslexia. Both of her sons have learning disabilities, ADHD and dyslexia. She knows how difficult it can be not only as

On the Recapture Self podcast it’s our intention to give you a peek at the lives of people who are balancing daily life, parenthood, and a commitment to their creative selves. These are people who are making time and space for their passion projects whether that be writing a book, designing a blog, photographing their family, or running a business. PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED BY THEIR STORIES. This week I’m chatting with Heather Gonzalez. Heather Gonzalez is a stay-at-home mom, wellness coach, lover of all things sweet, and working on living each day in gratitude. In previous chapters of her life, Heather has been an elementary teacher, math coach, and baking business owner, but found her true passion of helping other women who have gone through traumatic life events after going through one of her own. Heather is currently working on creating an online community and blog as a safe place to connect, share, and support women as they navigate life after trauma and to help them feel less alone during this difficult st