Embracing Motherhood, Passion, and Purpose - a Spotlight on Vanessa Amber

When I first met my friend Vanessa a little less than 9 years ago, her older girl, Elyse, was just a toddler. I believe fate brought us together in the most incredible way—I spotted her picture on a friend's fridge and realized I was already following her on Instagram! We became quick friends, and soon Vanessa appeared throughout my social media feeds as she modeled and shot so many outfits for me with her girls.

Top: Little June & Elyse at June's 6th Unicorn birthday shoot, taken at Vanessa's home. Bottom: Vanessa and her girls at June's 8th birthday shoot

Through the years, our friendship has gone much deeper. Beyond helping me with various styled shoots at her home, Vanessa would bake cakes and sweet treats for our styled shoots (which were often pretty ambitious and on short notice, but she always supported my ideas with so much grace and encouragement, ha! Thanks friend), often modeling alongside her daughters.

 Vanessa and her girls at Caris' 3rd Swan themed birthday shoot! 

Since then, we've both welcomed another baby girl—she had Aurora, and I had Caris—and we’ve supported each other through the many ups and downs of motherhood, life, and our businesses. I feel so incredibly honored to feature this amazing human and friend here today. I hope you feel as inspired by her as I have been. 

Tell us your story

I’m passionate about life, cultures, and living every day to the fullest. I was born and raised in the Bay Area, the oldest of four siblings, and I put myself through college because my family didn’t have much growing up. I earned my degree in criminal justice, thinking I’d pursue international law in Washington, DC. But life had other plans. I got married young to my first real boyfriend, but the connection was never quite there. After 13 years, I came to the painful realization that I wasn’t truly in love, and ended my marriage. 

That’s when I started to rediscover myself as a woman and a mother. I launched both of my businesses—real estate and wedding photography—at the same time. Yes, it’s a lot, but I love what I do. I have my girls about 80% of the time, and while it’s a balancing act, I wake up every day feeling grateful for this life I’ve built.

How has motherhood changed you?

Motherhood is "all encompassing". It affects every choice I make—how I work, what I work for, and how I live my life. My girls are my priority in everything. I’m a huge advocate for self-care, but let’s be real—most days, they come first no matter what.

What is your favorite thing about having daughters?

I LOVE being a girl mom. Being a single mom now, it actually makes life easier to just have my girls. We take road trips, travel together, and do everything as a trio. I love teaching them to be strong, independent women, and I do my best to nurture their creativity and sensitive hearts.

What do you hope to teach your daughters as they grow up?

I want to teach them to love others fully. As Cinderella said, “Have courage and be kind.” I want them to see their life as a gift, to know they’re never stuck in any situation, and that they have the power to change their own path. I hope they grow up confident, empowered, and always listening to their own voice.

Describe a moment when you felt proudest as a mother.

Honestly, it’s when other people tell me how well-behaved my girls are. I’ve worked really hard to teach them to be respectful and mindful, so when people notice that, it feels good. They’ve also won several awards for their artwork, and their creative minds inspire me every day.

What has been the best thing about being a mom? What has been the hardest thing?

The best part? Just being able to hear “Mom” every day. It’s a privilege, and I don’t take that lightly. The hardest part is the guilt. There’s always some guilt—because my girls split their time between two homes, because I work two full-time jobs, because I’m on my phone a lot for work. It’s a constant struggle.

How do you balance your personal passions with the demands of motherhood?

One way I’ve balanced it is by turning one of my passions into a career—photography. It doesn’t feel like work because I love it so much. I’m also really into interior design, so I get my girls involved in decorating our home for each season. It’s something we do together, and that helps me feel like I’m merging my passions with motherhood.

Can you share a piece of advice that has helped you navigate motherhood?

Self-care. I only started prioritizing self-care five years ago, and I wish I’d done it sooner. Going out with girlfriends, dancing, fun dinners, and regular nail and hair appointments—those are my must-haves. Also, having a few close friends to call when you’re ready to lose it is essential.

What do you and your daughters like most about dressing up in EleStory?

I’ve been a fan of EleStory since Elyse was just 14 months old—she’s 10 now! For the past decade, EleStory has been part of so many special occasions and holidays for us. I love the timeless, elegant, and feminine designs. They make my girls feel so beautiful, and I appreciate that.

What are you most looking forward to in this season of your life?

I am excited to continue to grow as a woman, mother and friend, To embrace challenges with grace and warmth and navigate challenges with peace. I want to love others and be a light for them in dark places.

If you’d like to follow Vanessa along on her journey, she'd love to connect! You can find her at @vanessastyled, @vanessacaptured, or @vanessasellsrealhomes. 

Thanks so much for reading!

xo,
Judy