THIS MOTHER OF 5 POSSESSES AN UNCANNY KNACK FOR BOTTLING UP THE ESSENCE OF A LIFE WELL LIVED
Rachel Larsen Weaver—You’ll remember that name by the end of this article.
This artist, writer, long form film photographer and mother to 5 travels the U.S. creating the moments you, as a mother hope to never forget. She can so eloquently speak the thoughts we cannot put words to and capture the moments we never knew we needed to keep. We just couldn’t get enough of her heart-tugging work, so we headed to the Maryland beaches of the Chesapeake Bay with Rachel and just listened. Listened to her enthusiasm for details, her reverence for the simplest pleasures and the joyful soul behind a mother fully grounded in presence and ever in search of essence.
Meet Golden Girl // Rachel Larsen Weaver
Let’s talk about that party of 5, ages ranging from 19 to 5. Did you know you always wanted a big family? And how is the dynamic with such a range in ages?
My oldest daughter, Sena, was the result of an unplanned pregnancy when I was 19- so it’s not as though I entered into motherhood with a plan in place. I feel like once Tom and I shored up our relationship we sort of foolheartedly jumped into having a second, Gus, to prove we were really doing the whole family/ parent thing. But then there was a pretty big gap while Tom went to law school and we tried to figure out how to become adults.
We had Arlo after law school was done and we knew we would have more. Alamae came a couple of years later and it took us nearly five years after the birth of our youngest, Townes, to decide that we were actually done having kids.
In addition to my kids, I have 7 nieces and nephews who live within two miles of me- so there are a whole lot of kids cycling in and out of my house any given week.
What do you love most about being a mother?
I love the constant company. I am very extroverted- I like having lots of people around. My kids are among my favorite people to hang out with and they’re always down to grab groceries, stop at the bakery or head down to the beach.
The stories you are capturing for families, all shot exclusively on film - we look at the photos and can’t help but reflect on the feeling that lives inside of those moments in our own lives. Tell us how your long-form photography sessions work and invite us into understanding the details you look for when you make the decision to snap the camera.
Long Form Sessions are extended photography experiences that are as much about the act of witness as they are about the creation of images. The sessions are 24-36 hours- I stay with families in their homes. I eat meals with them. Together we create a body of work that honors the life they are building and the days they are crafting. It is not a “day in the life” sort of session- I don’t feel obligated to take pictures of every single thing people are doing. It is more about the idea of creating with a spaciousness of time- enough time for people to settle into themselves, enough time to navigate feelings and tantrums, enough time to play with new creative ideas and techniques.
One of the things about shooting with film is that it costs me nearly $2 every time I click the shutter, so I am very intentional about when I click. For me, it really involves being turned on- not in an erroctic sense, but in a deeply sensual sense. I want all the switches to be flicked, ya know? I am trying to experience the moment with my whole body- my body knows when the moment is the most saturated with essence.
I want every image I make to be drenched with humanity.
How do you want to remember these days?
Many photographers speak to making images for the future. They talk about how children will be so grateful to have these images of their mothers. And that does sound lovely and true, but it is not what motivates me. I create images so that people can access the present in a more meaningful way- that is my driving force. So it’s interesting, I’m not really thinking about how I remember these days as much as how I experience them right now. And I want to experience them with ease, which doesn’t mean the days are “easy,” but I want my approach to be fluid and grateful.
Homeschooling while building your biz sounds like a daunting task. Tell us why you chose to homeschool opposed to traditional school, and how you make time for it all.
I am a semi-rare elder millennial who actually was homeschooled, so it was pretty natural to pursue. I feel like I always need to make a point of saying that I really believe in public schools, and I want them to thrive- it’s not that I am avoiding them as much as I love home schooling. I travel a fair amount for work and I work about 25 weekends a year. I don’t think I could have the career I have if my kids weren’t home schooled- I would never see them. But I also homeschool with my mom; we divide and conquer the kids by ages. My nieces and nephews are thrown into the mix too. It’s a very collaborative effort.
Ok, back to your inspiring craft. What does “personal work” mean to you and why is it so important to the success of what you are able to produce?
All my work is personal work is of my kids, my friends or sisters, or clients. It is work that is exploring intimate spaces and inner landscapes. I am always making pictures of the people in my own life so that I keep in touch with what feels meaningful and poignant, so that when I show up at a paid shoot, those things are familiar to me. I’m always practicing: when I walk into a home for the first time and I’m meeting new people, my eyes have been trained to find the gestures, the expressions, the movements that are getting to the essence of who people are.
Our former bodies and identities can often feel lost in the midst of motherhood. The notion of making people come home to themselves can be felt through your work - specifically your depiction of self-love and how it should be a birthright that is celebrated - ain’t that the truth!? Tell us more about the “body stories” you’ve shot for your clients. Bonus points for the ones within the context of motherhood.
I shoot body stories as a separate offering and also sometimes as a part of Long Form Sessions. Again, it is in part about the power of witness. I have spent a big chunk of my adult life learning to come to loving terms with my body. I bring that love for myself to every session, hoping to model to people how it looks. One of the things that feels like a pretty huge accomplishment is that my clients don’t ask me to make them look thinner or younger- to get rid of their double chins or their stretch marks. If you talk to other photographers, you might realize that this is sort of a big deal.
Mary Oliver says that attention is the beginning of devotion, and I think that for many of the mothers I photograph, getting to have the space to pay attention to their body again is the gate that leads to devotion.
While you can stop time beautifully for your clients in your long-form photography sessions, how do you slow time with your family when there is not a camera to keep the moments?
I speak it. Something about making the words and acknowledging the moment seems to ground it.
What does mealtime look like in your home?
Family dinner is a huge part of our family culture. I have said before that I’m interested in creating a meal more than I like to actually cook. We eat the same things on a pretty regular rotation and I’m not all that inspired to play with recipes. But sitting down at the table together and eating a nourishing meal that is primarily grown locally and sustainably, that matters to me. I like to eat on dishware that I love: we’ve got a colorful stack of Everyday Bowls from East Fork Pottery and a collection of vintage Frankoma plates that we use every night.
What is the vibe of your home? What is your interior style and where do you find inspiration to decorate?
I want a home that feels storied and comfortable. It’s an old 1940’s cottage with very crooked floors and walls. Whenever I make big decisions, like redoing a bathroom or the kitchen, I try to make decisions that honor the integrity of the house and that aren’t on trend- I’m hoping that means I’ll like the choices longer.
There are piles of books everywhere. I’m a big fan of antique red wool rugs and naturally dyed linen sheets and furniture that can take a beating- give me chunky pine and oak- you can keep the mid-century designs because I love them, but they cannot stand up to the wear and tear we inflict on them.
My kids joke that the theme of the house seems to be naked women- there are nudes in nearly every room. Lots of my art comes from my best friend’s antique shop Evergreen Antiques and True Vintage. In the last few years I have tried to support more living artists. Some favorite pieces in my house: my Joleen stained glass by Carrie Shusta Stained Glass, my weaning linocut by Jill Lavetsky, and the giant piece by Reneesha Wulf that I bought last year.
The question we ask every mom, because we know not every day or moment is what we see on instagram…. How do you reset when meltdowns, arguments, messes, you know, just the typical chaos of motherhood prevails?
I think that each child needs different things in those moments. Like my daughter Alamae can lose it sometimes and in those moments she mostly wants to be heard- she really needs to move to a private space and get the chance to tell “her side,” whereas my son Arlo usually wants to get to have a moment to himself to compose himself.
I try to be as proactive as I can in avoiding the meltdowns. Getting outside or running little errands together can often reset the energy in the house. My kids are pretty exceptional in the fact that when I ask them to help me around the house, they jump to it. We do a lot of “ten minute family pick-ups” and everyone jumps in and cleans. It’s amazing how much of a difference it can make in how the house feels. Because EVERYONE is helping and because they know that once the time runs up, I let them go no matter what’s left to do, they are all pretty invested.
“We do a lot of “ten minute family
pick-ups” and everyone jumps in
and cleans. It’s amazing how much of
a difference it can make in how
the house feels.”
How do you as a mother make yourself feel your best on the days when it feels like you are caring for everyone but you?
My hair is very important to me so I like an easy cut that doesn’t need me to work at it but plays well with humidity (For all intents and purposes, I live in a swamp so…) Granted, I mostly just chop at my own hair but I’m kind of good at it if I do say so myself. I love a dress (or skirt/shirt combo) that cinches at the waist, isn’t afraid of some boob, and likes to flow over my ample hips. I feel like a hefty part of my wardrobe comes Christy Dawn and Curator SF. Getting dressed in something I love everyday is a big deal for me. I wear chunky rings and big old earrings,
I also just bought a pair of white cowboy boots after having been on the search for a wide foot/ calf option for YEARS. If this is your issue too, WYDR is a new brand and means I can finally wear something other than Birkenstocks.
Greatest wish for all of your children…
That they know how to find peace within themselves.
Favorite place in your home to hang is…
As a family- the dining room table. As a human alone- the back porch.
Simple pleasures…
Reading on the beach.
Coffee in a perfect mug (french press with a splash of whole milk and a few drops of maple syrup).
Putting on an easy to wear dress that makes me feel a lil sexy- the goal is always to have a nod to a Wild West madame.
Feel good song/ playlist…
I’m kind of old school in that I really like to listen to albums- I find the idea of making a playlist absolutely daunting. Shovels and Rope is my all-time favorite band. I’m on a huge Valerie June kick right now. I’m a stomp and holler kind of lady.
You are happiest when you are…
Playing in the water with my kids- preferably the ocean, but I’m flexible. Motels pools work in a pinch, ya know?
NEWS FLASH! Rachel will be making her way through California (South to North)
June 5-11, so head to her website to book Long Form Sessions & Traditional 2-hr Shoots!
SHOP RACHEL
