A photojournalist by training, Sophie’s work has shifted with her life-from documenting what is seen to illuminating what is felt. Motherhood, in all its beauty and breaking, opened her creative heart. Through it, her photography became less about precision and more about presence, less about facts and more about feeling.

In honour of Mother's Day, we speak to Sophie about what it means to witness motherhood through the lens: the rituals, the rebellion, the quiet awe. From burning birthday wishes on the wind to finding healing in shadows and film grain, her world is one where imperfection is sacred and storytelling is a spiritual act.

What unfolds in this conversation is not just an ode to motherhood, but to creativity, identity, and the courage to keep becoming.

Kat: Why do you think motherhood makes such an interesting topic for photography? What do you look for?

Sophie: I’m fascinated by human connection - I think that’s what we are all looking for; love and connection. Motherhood is connection in its most intimate and all encompassing form. But my deep work with mothers only really began once I had my own children - it was like a mirror that I used to understand my own life and motherhood journey.

Kat: How would you describe your photography style and what has influenced it?

Sophie: That’s a good question - the style of my work has been through various iterations. I am trained as a photojournalist, which definitely explains my comfort with a laid back and documentary style of photographing. But only after having children did I begin to take photos that were far more about how they made you feel than accurate documentation. Again, perhaps motherhood had ripped my heart open and made me feel in ways that I had never imagined possible, and this had to seep into my work. Most people describe my work as moody and emotive, and while I still enjoy that work, I’m feeling very drawn to work with analogue film which has a slightly more classic feeling. I think that in a world where digital and AI photography have become so polished, there is a pull back towards to imperfections and humanity of film photography. 

Kat: What is your creative process on the day of a shoot?

Sophie: The process starts long before the shoot, with a questionnaire for my client, and then some ongoing discussions to fine tune the details. It’s always a dance between my style (which is why they hire me) and the truth of who they are (which is what I want to photograph). 

Once I arrive at a shoot I have a pretty good idea of the broad strokes of the shoot, but love to leave large parts of it up to the children and the light. Follow the pretty light, follow the children, pause them every now and again, and then let them loose. I always try and get a “safe shot” in the bag, but once we’ve got that, I let things unravel and that’s where the magic happens.

Kat: What does motherhood mean to you? How would you define your experience so far?

Sophie: Motherhood was not a journey I was ready for, or even sure I wanted to embark on. Once I was in it, I decided to approach it with my usual level of research and perfectionism, assuming that as I had read all the right books, given birth vaginally and breast fed them, what could go wrong? 

Well it humbled me to a sodden, sleep deprived heap of breast milk, blood and tears - and still very often does (the tears, less blood and breastmilk these days). 

It’s been a continual process of learning and unlearning, much like my art. Just when I think I have it mastered, things shift and change and I’m learning again. My daughter in particular has been my biggest teacher, helping me heal wounds I didn’t even realise I was carrying. 

Kat: What are the things that have profoundly influenced your creative and spiritual journey?

Sophie: My spiritual practice has been cyclical - I come from a high religion/high control background and leaving that behind was part of finding myself as an artist, and finding my voice, for instance photographing breastfeeding and nude mothers felt very rebellious but was deeply healing for me having grown up believing that women’s bodies should be covered up. But I am realising that I will always be a deeply spiritual person, and creating art is a spiritual process - even to the extent of learning to listen to my intuition and create from that place, rather than from a place of knowledge. I’m returning to that connection with spirit and self and it is definitely having an influence on my personal photography work. I am also realising that we can’t ignore our past, we have to integrate it and I’m recognising that the faith symbols and cultural heritage which I thought were left in the past, will always influence my work and make it mine. 

Kat: Are there any rituals that you have created with or for your children?

Sophie: Rituals can be simple - dinner around the table together, bed time stories and cuddles are deeply rooted ones in our home. I like to help the children write prayers or wishes or intentions at auspicious times, new moon, end of term, or birthdays, we write them down, burn them (their favourite part) and then give the ashes to god/the universe on the wind, in the water, or buried in the earth. I did it for my daughter’s birthday and we mixed her wishes with wild flowers and sprinkled them on the river and as we looked up, there was a rainbow in the sky. It felt very magical. 

Kat: How and when do you feel most present with them?

Sophie: Photography has actually been one of my favourite tools for being engaged and present with them, we always have fun adventures with a camera with us - I am having fun and they feel seen. 

Follow Sophie Smith via @sophiesmithphotography.