Laura Wood is a photographer and educator from South Yorkshire, England. She is the mom of two boys. She has her daily life and motherhood influencing many of her photos and is Phlock Live is the co-founder of a photography community that offers informative workshops and webinars.
Wood discovers self-portraiture. She does this by taking her feelings and emotions out of the head and heart, and then placing a mirror in front of herself using the camera. The process has given her the ability to deal with anything from depression, sleep deprivation and anxiety, to awe-inspiring joy and gratitude. She believes that finding our inner voice is easy by letting go of expectation and pressure and focus exclusively on intuition, impulse and spontaneity.
Laura was a guest of Photographers Without Borders (PWB) the organization’s founder Danielle Da Silva as part of PWB’s ongoing ” Storytelling for Change” webinar series. Below are edited extracts from the panel discussion, which examine the importance of motherhood to her work, as well as the importance of “in-between” moments.
Da Silva: You’re one of the few individuals I’ve ever heard of who put “I’m a mum” in the very first line on their bio. Could you explain something about this?
Wood: I’m extremely satisfied to be a mom. That’s a part of it. However, another thing is that I’m a mother over anything else within my own life.
Da Silva: There’s this gorgeous, nostalgic look to your photos, and these real moments that are beautifully captured. What is it that makes you think about these stories in this manner?
Wood The thing that truly interest me is the notion that motherhood, being a parent, is timeless. One can take a look at a picture that was taken hundreds and many years ago and witness the same bond between a parent and their child like you might 20-30 or 40 years later. It’s about traveling back in time and experiencing the emotions we felt during those times, and I’ve carried the memories of those times close to me through my work. My photographs serve as a way to preserve the memories of those times while leaving an enduring legacy that demonstrates to my children how much of a mother I was, as well as the relationships we had during the time that we lived.
Da Silva: Do you have a photo of other families?
Wood Wood: Yes, I do. I’ve noticed that clients who come to me want to tell their story in a unique way. Instead of capturing photos that show everyone smiling and staring to the camera are looking for something that tells the tale of what makes their family special, since each family functions in the same way.Being in a position to capture this is a privilege. It’s the moments which tend to tug at my heartstrings most, since they’re the most important part in our life.
Images by Laura Wood
Da Silva: I’m curious about your method. Do you carry a camera around with you? What are you waiting for or search for?
Wood: Occasionally, I’ll use my camera for a whole day however, I don’t always shoot because my kids want to feel like they have a mom who is there. There are times when I realize that I’m a mom. It’s not through a lot of moments like seeing my reflection while holding my child, or realizing that I’m not able to wash my hair that day since my children have been dependent on my attention so much. These moments of realisation be a part of the stories I write about telling the tale of what’s happening inside my soul and in my head.
