To nurture. To love. To raise. To grow. To cry. To laugh. To feel. There are not enough words to define being a mother. My mother is a superhero. I am so incredibly fortunate to have grown up in such a loving environment and to be raised with such unconditional love. She is not only a successful business woman and the life of the party she is also my emotional rock, she always shows up for loved ones, and she taught me that positivity is truly the best medicine.

After 21 years of living under my mothers roof, I recently got married and moved out. As a newlywed, I am able to fully see the extent of what my mom did for me, and I hope that I can be a mother like her someday. She taught me that it is so important to have a passion and actively go after my goals and I would love to do that with my own children one day. I constantly think about how I can be as selfless as her and how I can emulate her traits. I am not a mother at this moment in time, but her qualities and characteristics are ones that I hope to carry in my everyday life.

My thesis project seeks to visually explore the profound and often unspoken complexities of both motherhood and daughterhood through intimate, candid photography. Inspired by my deep admiration for my own mother, I aim to capture the essence of her relentless dedication and the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. Her ability to balance multiple roles while consistently showing up for her family has shaped my understanding of love, sacrifice, and selflessness. As I reflect on my own experiences as her daughter, I realize how much of my identity has been molded by her influence.

Through my lens, I hope to draw a parallel between our lives, highlighting both the emotional weight of motherhood and the journey of daughterhood; finding my own place while striving to embody her strength and grace. The title the daughter of MY mother reflects this duality, honoring the impact she’s had on me and the legacy I hope to carry forward.