Celebrating Moms: Client Spotlight on Kristin

That journey of being a single parent and keeping your shine on is why I want to introduce you to Kristin!

I first met Kristin in 2004 at her younger sister Elizabeth’s wedding in Castine, Maine. We hit it off then and she said: "Sharyn, one day when I get married, I will have you photograph my wedding!” I did just that in August of 2010 at the Newagen Seaside Inn. A few years later, I photographed their growing family with pictures of their lovely twin baby boys.

Kristin and her bridesmaids on the rocks at the Newagen Seaside Inn. To the right of her is her sister Elizabeth :)

Years passed and I didn’t see Kristin again until the fall of 2016 when her sister hired me to do a big family shoot for their mom’s 70th birthday party. At that time, Kristin was going through the final stages of a divorce, something I too have experienced. Even though I photograph weddings and families and believe in marriage, there are times that parting ways is best for all.

Kristin's two twin boys are now five years old. She has been in education for 25 years and now works in admissions at an independent school in Boston. Divorced in July of 2016, Kristin said it was a deliberately quick process and she made some compromises to ensure a faster process. When I asked her if there was a marriage dream she found difficult to let go she answered :

"My mom and dad are about to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary and that is what I dreamed of when I got married- a long-term, loving partnership. My dad still makes my mom coffee and shovels her car out and she leaves him notes every time she leaves the house. I feel sad that I didn’t end up having a marriage like theirs."

I can appreciate that, I have met her parents and it does seem they have a lot of love, patience, and understanding between them. :) (Kristin's mom is a photographer and we always got along well )

Krisin's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Eisenhardt Fall 2016

Kristin splits her time with her children 50/50 with their Dad.

Kristin often still struggles the first night the boys go to their dad's, saying it is difficult coming home to an empty house with their toys everywhere. But, she really enjoys having some me time- and believes it makes her a better parent.

I am most grateful that my children get to see me happy and enjoying my life. They have a strong, capable mom who really loves her time with them and when they are with me I am 100% dedicated to being present with them.

What advice would you give any parents looking the reality of divorce?

It is one of the hardest things that I’ve ever done- but I would do it all again. For me, it was so clearly the right decision that I have never wavered or looked back. It gets easier as the time goes by for sure! Talk to other people who have been through a divorce for advice and support. Also, get a good lawyer :-)

What advice would you give yourself if you had to do it all over again?

I don’t know if I was aware how tough it would be financially. I would advise myself to be more aware of that as I went through it. ~ Kristin

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And despite those financial challenges Kristin reached out to me to plan and budget for her photo shoot and I appreciate that. I thank Kristin for her story and please feel free to leave comments below, we like to hear from you. I will continue more client Spotlights for more inspirational stories!

Kristin and her two boys at the DeCordova Museum Fall of 2017

In Honor of Mother's Day, I recommend if you are a mom be sure to have a photo taken of yourself. If you are not a mom, be sure to photograph a mom and give her that photo next chance you get. Moms are often underdocumented!