Many stereotypical ideas come to mind when we think of photographing love: engagement photos, romantic couple photos—full of affection and romance—and things that can sometimes feel far away in the thick of motherhood and life. Surely, I would need to go on a romantic date, get all dressed up, and hire a photographer to really capture love in photographs. These more traditional ideas of love in photography represent romantic love, or in Greek known as “eros” love. As mothers, we know there is another powerful love that exists: agape.

Agape is a Greek word that speaks to self-sacrificial love—love in action. Being a visually-minded person (hello photographer), I love how the word “agape” looks and sounds like how love sweeps in to actively fill a gap. Agape love exists across the most special relationships in our lives. Where we see small acts of self-sacrifice. Love made visible.

One of the best things about a photography prompt is how it teaches you to really look for something. I have lived it countless times, and I have heard it from others time and time again in our photography workshops. A photography prompt propels you to intentionally look for something; once you have learned to seek it out, you cannot unsee it.

Look for moments of agape love in your life, and photograph them.

When your neighbor shovels your walkway. Little pieces of paper with letters or notes from your children. Neatly folded laundry not folded by you (!!!). Your husband lacing up ice skates on the little ones. Your preschooler (very messily) helping with dishes. Photograph an act of love you are doing - putting together a meal for a friend and dropping it on their doorstep. Helping your kids put their valentines together for their class. Your notebook and coffee by the glow of your morning candle - sacrificing sleep to chase your love of creativity. As mothers, we know that this kind of love does not have to be grand. We give of ourselves a thousand tiny acts of self-sacrificial love daily. Take note of these acts of agape love—they are no small thing. They are love made visible and photographed, we carry this love with us forward.