So many of my clients know her by the same name my kids call her, Mama D.
This beautiful woman is my own mom, Darlene, and I’m just going to say it, she IS the heart of Heartlove. She has always been the keeper of our family’s memories. The one to make you stay just one more minute on holidays so we can get a family photo. The one to shuffle us outside to get better light for out 1st Day of School pictures. Every other week or so, a roll of film would come back and we’d sit together, eagerly flipping through to see how they turned out. Even more importantly, she was the one sitting up at night writing on the back of every photo so we’d never forget the details around every moment captured.
The day this business was born, I was sitting on the couch next to my mom with a laptop and my first DSLR. “What about Hartlove?” Hartlove is my mom’s maiden name – with an extra vowel for easy spelling, Heartlove Photography came to life.
If I could only put into words what she has done to facilitate, inspire, curate and advise this and so much of my work – but there is no short version of everything she does. Sometimes it’s a small thing like making sure I get lunch or bringing a step stool before I even had to ask for it. Or saving a session by being the one making babies smile behind me – or being the gentle hands keeping babies safe on the set. My constant sounding board. The one who has a business card in her back pocket at just the right time. And that’s just how she helps out with my work – I could fill an encyclopedia with the lessons and love she has poured into whole life.
To sum it up, Mom,
‘Thank you’ will never be enough. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me and I love you with all of my heart.
Love, Jill
