Stephanie Sunberg is a film photographer living and working in Minnesota. I was immediately drawn to her tender, light-filled work that captures the raw messy beauty and honesty of everyday life and motherhood from all its perspectives. We were honored to speak with her and learn more about her connection to making and motherhood.
What was your life like before you found a camera? Were you always a maker?
Oh yes, in my mind I could see scenes playing out inside my head that I wanted to paint. I have always been an artist since I can remember taking my first drawing and painting lessons around the age of 5 or 6. I wanted to pursue it as a career until I stumbled upon photography in college and met my mentor who changed the way I saw the world.
How would you describe Motherhood?
Motherhood is the most fleeting, contradicting feelings of happiness, joy, insanity, guilt, excitement, rage, fulfillment and depletion. There almost is no real way to describe it until you’re in it, doing it, living it. It took me a long time to see myself as a mother - to accept the title of motherhood as I didn’t think it belonged to me.
What do you think you're searching for through the lens?
I search for the moment that wants to burn into my memory - it grabs you, it wants you to see it. The moment that I can see when I close my eyes and it will replay in my head for years to come. Film captures those moments better than anything else because it has chemicals creating the image as an impression the same way our minds do. It’s all chemicals reacting to the light at that very moment.
Tell us what Home is to you. How do you cultivate its essence for your children?
Home is where we keep adding to our memory box. I collect as many of the things they loved and save them to keep the memories alive around the house. I always have flowers in hopes the kids remember this when they get older - maybe the smell of flowers will remind them of home.
Does the process of working in film and Motherhood parallel each other?
I think its imperfection is humbling. We try to be perfect but we’re always relieved when we realize it can be just as beautiful when things aren’t ideal or perfect.
What does Peace mean or look like to you these days?
Peace feels like leaving a life that did not serve me in order to be a better person, especially mother, to my children. Peace is falling asleep with my babies at the same time every night, knowing their little minds and hearts are at baseline and this is a safe space for whatever they need.
To follow more of Stephanie's Project visit her Instagram!