Taking Up Space in Front of and Behind the Lens

Mallory Good, Bright Eyes By Mallory

As a photographer, my entire job revolves around stopping time. I capture fleeting moments so they can live forever, honoring the quiet slowness of the present while accepting just how quickly it all slips away. It is a daily practice in acknowledging that nothing lasts forever.

For almost ten years, I was a self-employed stay-at-home mother. I completely lost myself to motherhood and my business because, frankly, both are full-time jobs. Now that both of my babies are in school full-time, I’ve had to make major changes to practice self-care, preserve the precious time my family has together, and keep my small business thriving.

We spend so much of our lives moving at a relentless pace, measuring our days by how busy we are and saving our celebrations only for major milestones because everyone is “just too busy” for the little things. But true wellness requires us to intentionally slow down, claim our time, and allow ourselves to simply exist.

For years, I worked every weekend and most evenings because I thought I had to say yes to every inquiry and “make hay while the sun shines.” I stayed up all hours of the night editing while my kids slept. I was exhausted and running on empty.

Protecting my mental wellness and avoiding burnout meant establishing firm boundaries. Sundays are strictly off-limits. I limit myself to two weddings per month. I removed my phone number from my website and stopped responding to inquiries the second they hit my inbox. Dedicated admin hours allow me to put my phone away and be fully present at home.

Setting those boundaries has allowed me to say no when my heart isn’t in it or my schedule simply cannot take it—and to accept time off without believing I am failing in my business.

It isn't just a business strategy. It's an act of self-care that allows me to create a safe, grounded space where others feel empowered to take up space in front of my camera exactly as they are.

I cannot create space for others to slow down and exist in front of my camera if I am not doing that same internal work for myself behind my lens.

We are conditioned to reserve professional photography for major life events like weddings, graduations, or new babies. But life actually happens in the quiet, unscripted, in-between moments.

For over 15 years, a quote by David Alan Harvey has lived on my website: “Don’t photograph what it looks like, photograph what it feels like.”

That idea shapes how I photograph people. I guide my clients to celebrate their wonderfully ordinary lives: an unmade bed on a lazy morning, laughing over a shared mess, playing a favorite board game, or the quiet act of holding hands.

When people realize they don’t need to perform or pretend to be anything other than themselves, a visible relief takes over. They can breathe, exist without judgment, and take up space in their own lives.

Stepping into the frame is a profound act of self-worth.

Too often, people delay being photographed until they lose weight, fix their hair, or find the “perfect” outfit. But waiting for perfection means erasing yourself from your own history.

Your everyday life is special. Romanticize it. Appreciate the way the morning sunshine finds you or the gentle way your child reaches up to touch your face. Life happens when you’re just living.

Your child will never look back at a photo and think, “Mom’s hair was a mess and she should’ve lost ten pounds.” They will think, “Look at my beautiful mother having fun with me. I can almost hear her laugh.”

Being present—both in your daily life and within photographs—ensures that your existence is documented and valued.

I was here. I lived. This ordinary, beautiful life mattered.

MALLORY GOOD | BRIGHT EYES BY MALLORY
Photographer serving Central PA and surrounding areas
Mallory and her photography embody being present, authentic, and intentional.
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