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Creativity and Motherhood | A Conversation with Sophia

Close up of baby bump with a boho white dress

I’m so happy to welcome Sophia into this space.

I’ve admired her for a long time, the way she lives, creates, and moves through the world with such intention. She’s building a life for her family in Devon that feels deeply rooted, thoughtful, and true. A creative soul through and through, with a love for food, nature, and slow living, and an earth-mother energy that feels completely effortless.

If anyone was born to be a mother, it’s her.

I had the pleasure of photographing Sophia during her second pregnancy, and the whole experience felt quietly magical. Photographing fellow creatives always feels special to me. There’s a shared understanding, of intuition, of listening inward, of honouring seasons rather than pushing against them.

So settle in, make a cup of tea, and take a gentle wander through Sophia’s thoughts on creativity, motherhood, and this season of becoming.

You can find Sophia on Instagram at @barefoot_wandering.

  • Pampas grass at Holywell Bay in North Cornwall

1. COULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS SEASON OF YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

This season feels slow. Very centred around family and motherhood. I’m seven months pregnant now, and while I can feel that familiar creative energy that comes with growing new life, ideas bubbling away, projects taking shape. I’ve also really leaned into the slower pace this year has brought.

My mantra at the moment is trusting that everything happens exactly as it’s meant to, even when it unfolds more slowly than I expected.

  • Expectant mother holding her bump surrounded by seagrass and pampas during her maternity photoshoot
  • Expectant mother holding her bump surrounded by seagrass and pampas during her maternity photoshoot in Cornwall
  • Double exposure image of an expectant mother amongst the Pampas grass at Holywell Bay in Cornwall

2. HOW DID YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY BEGIN?

Creativity has always been part of my life. My mum is an artist and always encouraged me to be creative. She passed on the idea that it’s possible to create anything without being defined by a single practice. She also taught me to love travel. Some of my earliest memories are of long trips around Europe and America with her, taking photos or painting along the way. She inspired me to pick up a camera at a young age, and I have loved photography and travel ever since.

  • A mother holding bunches of pampas grass in-front of her baby bump

3. YOU HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CREATIVE MEDIUMS; WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY FOCUSING ON? 

Motherhood has been one of my biggest creative inspirations.

I’m constantly inspired by strong, passionate women, both in my real life and online. And when I need to reset or clear my head, I always go back to the ocean. It’s where I feel most alive, grounded, and inspired.

I am launching Nourish & Bloom, a supportive space for mothers, offering maternity and motherhood photo sessions, mama blessings, yoga, postpartum support, and nourishing gift boxes. This has been such a labour of love, giving me a space to combine all my different passions whilst helping women through this incredibly beautiful and challenging time.

I especially love the photography sessions. I have worked in many different areas of photography. However, the motherhood and pregnancy side is still relatively new, and I feel so honoured every time someone trusts me to capture them! It’s really beautiful and exciting.

  • Pregnant woman standing on the beach with flowing dress and birds flying in the sky above her
  • The sand dunes at Holywell Bay in Cornwall

4. How do you balance creativity and motherhood without burning out?

This is something I’m still learning.

I don’t always get the balance right. Sometimes life takes over, and my own creative practices get pushed aside. Thankfully, I have a lot of support around me, family who help create space for work, rest, and time for myself.

That support has been everything.

  • An expecting mother standing on the sand dunes in Cornwall
  • Expectant mother holding her bump and brushing her hair from her face during her maternity photography session in Cornwall
  • hands holding her bump during a maternity session in Cornwall
  • A mother laughing at the camera and holding her baby bump during her maternity photography session in Cornwall
  • dress blowing in the wind during her maternity photoshoot in Cornwall

8. WHAT WOULD YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM BE TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT ON THEIR CREATIVE JOURNEY?

Follow what excites you.

Don’t be afraid to try lots of different things. Seek out people who inspire you and connect with them. And spend as much time in nature as you can.

We don’t all fit neatly into boxes. We’re allowed to create and live in ways that feel expansive and true, even when that feels overwhelming. Especially then.