“I once had someone tell me that a camera is the save button for the mind’s eye, and I feel that is absolutely true. There’s nothing quite like finding a photographer who can capture the heart of who you are as a family. The special twin bond our oldest girls have, the ornery sweetness of our youngest, and the joy we share in one other’s company were all evident in JoAnna’s work. As a mother who is typically on the other end of the camera, I am thrilled to have the treasure of memories that she was able to capture on film. I’ve been ogling JoAnna’s film photographs for some time now and was over the moon when my husband told me we could use her to celebrate my 27th birthday – a special gift.”  

“I got negative pregnancy test after negative pregnancy test when my husband and I tried starting our family. I remember the crushing weight of insecurity and longing that proceeded every pregnancy announcement by family members and friends. After about a year and a half of trying and fertility treatments, (and throwing in the towel and our hands up) we ended up with a sweet surprise at our first sonogram; fraternal twin girls. Our twin pregnancy was textbook: I made it 38 weeks, had a natural vaginal birth and thought “man, I have this mom thing down.” Then entered breastfeeding woes, we had almost every problem you can have; one twin had a milk allergy, I was inverted on one breast causing significant pain while feeding, we had latch issues, I experienced clogged ducts, and postpartum anxiety was my constant shadow. Life has a way of putting you in your place when you feel like you have it together. Then just after Jensyn and Ainslie turned one, and I was getting the hang of things, we had another kink thrown into our plan! Our Clarah was born in 2016, a scant 22 months after her older siblings. What a beautiful kink she turned out to be.

Those all had one thing in common, we planned. We planned for our first baby and God gave us two. I was going to have an amazing breastfeeding journey. We planned to be done growing our family after the twins were born and God said, “Think again.” My husband had a hard time picturing himself as a father of girls, much less a dad of three. He has mastered the art of all things girly and I’m often jealous of the relationship that he has fostered with each of our children. I’m honestly grateful things didn’t work out the way we wanted them to. It just goes to show you that “if you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans.”

Being a mom has taught me many things. Maybe the most important lesson I’ve had to learn is that I am not in control. Hard knocks, unexpected wrenches, and oopsies happen, but sprinkled in there, are moments of indescribable awe that God handed me something so delightfully sweet. In his own timing and plan, we are happy to have made it to this place we call family.” Kailee, Mother

JOANNA ROBERTSON PHOTOGRAPHY