Robin Masters Photography

As we were doing catechisms this morning, James was talking about how God made him and everything and my bellybutton 🤣 Then, he said, “No, not you bellybutton, HE bellybutton!” That led us to discuss how we have bellybuttons to give nutrients and good stuff when we’re growing in our mommies’ tummies and how God doesn’t have a mommy and wasn’t born or created… so he probably doesn’t have a bellybutton… but that I can’t say for sure that He doesn’t? So yeah, I hope you have a great morning with truly fun toddler theology talks, too 🥰☕️

Earlier this week, I was mentally drafting a post to announce that I’m closing the proverbial doors to my photography business indefinitely because, as I’ve explained in the past, although I’ve scaled back business tremendously since this little guy was born, it still infringed too much on family life in more than a few ways.

Then, less than 24 hours after having total peace with that decision (and hours before coming home to a partially flooded house 😅), I felt completely led to buy a business course (So excited, 🎉) that will help me pivot in a way that I can use my storytelling and marketing skills to serve with a new arm of my business while still having some capacity to document my photo families’ stories!

So, basically, I am here to tell you that I am still closing my business for the year, BUT I do have plans to return with a transformed and renewed business—God willing. And I do have a lot of hope and encouragement for my photography future with all of you!

I’ll still hop on social media in the meantime, but I will be taking a lot more time to savor slow, quiet moments with my toddler and husband without a packed schedule that overwhelms. I hope you take time like that for yourself as well!

I’ll be in touch soon, friends 🥰

P.S. If you need a recommendation for another great, local photographer while I’m unavailable, I’d be happy to recommend a few!

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Just in case you need the reminder 😘

Also, this sunset on these waves was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. God’s beautiful creation is 🙌

I’ve had the honor of knowing Liam and his family for years, so getting to take his senior portraits was 1. shocking because he was just in middle school, like, yesterday, and, it was 2. such a precious gift to capture some snapshots of this time in his life. Liam is funny, talented, sweet, and so smart. I can’t wait to see what’s to come for him 🎉

Reflecting is one of my favorite things to do when things get quiet (read: when my toddler is at Nana’s or is asleep).

Reflecting on James’ sweet ventures through a field of zinnias as he took everything in, gazed in amazement, touched all the flowers, and walked and walked through what seemed like an endless sea of them without any fear or reservation really encouraged me and made me think of the following passage:

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” Matthew‬ ‭6:26-33‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬.

I truly have to pray for belief in this regularly because I’m apt to try to plan and control…everything. And by divine design, I fail at making my own will be done in an ultimately beneficial way. But I’m thankful for the abundant evidence He graciously gives us that He is and should be in control, always working things for our good and His glory.

He is good, and He can be trusted to give us what we need—even if it’s not how what we think we need when we think we need it.

The easiest way I find to to trust Him is to praise Him, believing He’s good. Just like David, we can say:

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High,” Psalm‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭(ESV‬‬).

Thank God for that.

This guy is truly a gem. He’s so sweet and creative, and it was an honor to take his senior portraits to document this season of his life. I’m so excited for all that’s ahead for this guy.

Getting to hang out with Bret during his senior session was also great reminder of how not cool I was in high school. Seriously, swipe to see a shot that’s proof he could have his own branding deal before he graduates ✌️

The Paskells are so special to us, so getting to document this season for their family was a dream. Their family’s story is so clearly woven with the goodness and faithfulness of God, so getting to capture sweet, small, simple, and joyful moments like their babies gathering flowers for mama and how they all love each other so deeply truly made me so emotional. Their hearts are kind, and their bonds are truly so beautiful. I’m grateful I got to witness and photograph it all 💙

I’m not going to lie…

If the decision to put a pause on photography wasn’t so prayerfully and carefully made, I’d take it back in a heartbeat because this weekend’s sessions were so full of the absolute, most precious moments 😍

I couldn’t wait any longer to share this snapshot from Barrow family’s session, and I can’t wait to share more 💙💙

The last time we got to photograph the Paskells, it was all just beautiful. There were many laughs and lots of excitement as everyone was still waiting for sweet baby River to make her entrance into the world. Tonight, we get to capture the sweet moments among the five of them, and I can’t wait 🥺❤️

Getting to capture families over time and see how they grow and flourish together is one of the greatest gifts I’ve been given as a photographer 🥰

Our first session with Courtney and Nathan was the announcement of their pregnancy with Levi, the little cutie in the middle. Then we got to document Courtney’s pregnancy during their maternity session. Then we were honored to take Levi’s six-month and one-year milestone sessions. About a year later, we took their maternity portraits with baby Carson, and tonight we get to have one last session (at least for a while as we finish shooting for this season) with the Barrows as a family of four—this time with two sweet little boys running around. I am so excited, and I am so grateful for this family and all of the precious moments we’ve experienced together ❤️

This is the first official hint at what I’m releasing in November… any guesses?? 🙋🏻‍♀️

I took this picture of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, nine years ago. Although I’m a professional photographer now, I feel like maybe my eye for pictures of places and architecture might have peaked when I was 17 (just kidding… sort of) 🤣

Truly, this is one of the most foundational places I’ve ever been and plays a big part in my testimony.

There ya go. I’m excited to share more soon 🥰