Becoming a mom is definitely the coolest, hardest, most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Labor was HARD, and while each one was different, I was incredibly proud of myself and my body both times. I literally had to meet the very edge of what I was capable of, and got the best reward ever. What could be more empowering than that?!

 

But...I wish someone had come to me and said “hey, you’re going to forget so much of this. Get someone to take photos”. 


Now I document birth stories because I know how precious these memories are, and how painful it can be to only remember bullet points from the best days of my life.


You deserve to remember this, and be remembered in your birth story. Also, how cool will it be to be able to show your child illustrations of their birth while you tell them the story of their arrival?!

Hey, I'm Leslie

I'm a millennial mama who didn't realize how much s*** I had to heal until I became a mom. Just like so many of us, I've had to reparent myself in the process of raising my kids, and that is HARD. But, it's also really rewarding and beautiful to heal parts of myself in order to be the parent I wish I had growing up.

Hey, I'm Leslie

I'm a millennial mama who didn't realize how much s*** I had to heal until I became a mom. Just like so many of us, I've had to reparent myself in the process of raising my kids, and that is HARD. But, it's also really rewarding and beautiful to heal parts of myself in order to be the parent I wish I had growing up.

Buckle up, because I'm about to get vulnerable.

Here's the real reason why documentary photos mean so much to me...

As someone who experienced a fair amount of trauma growing up - family dysfunction, teen pregnancy, homelessness as a young single mom, and domestic abuse - I’ve spent many years dissociating from life.


I couldn’t tell you who my favorite teacher was in elementary school (or any of them for that matter), I don’t remember a single Christmas growing up in any sort of detail, and as a mom I’m deeply saddened that I don’t remember my son's first steps or my daughter's first word.


Because while I was blocking out everything that was painful, I also blocked out all the good stuff.


It took me a lot of time and deep reflection to admit it. It doesn’t make me a bad mom or a broken human - it’s just a way that I learned to move through and function in life the best way I knew how. 


Without pictures, it’s as though it didn’t even happen. 


Your story may not be like mine. Maybe you grew up with a loving family and have fond memories you can recall without any photos at all. 


But I think all moms have one thing in common - the day to day grind of running our households, keeping food on the table, clothes on kids backs, and making sure they all feel loved in the process - is exhausting. We often do it all without any thank you’s and with limited sleep. 


It’s hard to remember the little in between moments that made you smile or laugh amongst the chaos. Big milestones will happen, and celebrations too. But it’s those seemingly small, insignificant moments in every day that, when sewn together, make up our life. The one we’re trying so hard to cultivate with love, patience, and values to pass on to our kids.


I can’t go back and get the memories that are long gone. But I can capture right now - so there are no gaps going forward. And that’s what I want to do for you and your kids, too. You deserve to have the memories from when they were too young to even remember. And they deserve to see just how special and loved they are - not just when they accomplish some milestone - but in the day to day “insignificant”, unfiltered moments of just being who they are


There's beauty that often hides in the messy moments...


You hear it all the time, because it's true - these moments are so fleeting. The anticipation in pregnancy, the raw emotion and sheer power of the birthing experience, and the everyday adventures of family life – these moments shape us. Define us. And the memories will live on long after we're gone.


For me, it's not just about snapping photos; it's about preserving the little details that would otherwise be forgotten, capturing the unfiltered emotions, and telling your family's unique story.


There's beauty that often hides in the messy moments...


You hear it all the time, because it's true - these moments are so fleeting. The anticipation in pregnancy, the raw emotion and sheer power of the birthing experience, and the everyday adventures of family life – these moments shape us. Define us. And the memories will live on long after we're gone.


For me, it's not just about snapping photos; it's about preserving the little details that would otherwise be forgotten, capturing the unfiltered emotions, and telling your family's unique story.


Your story could look something like this...

Your story could look something like this...

Madelynn's Birth Story

Morgan // Lincoln, NE

Leslie is hands down the most amazing birth and lifestyle photographer I’ve seen. Her work speaks for itself. But more importantly, she’s an amazing PERSON! In the labor/delivery room she was so poised and professional and while trying to shoot photos for us, she was also able to help cue my husband on some un-Medicated pain management techniques that helped me to cope. When things got crazy hectic in the room she was there to capture it all and make it look peaceful and calm. She was everything I wanted in a birth photographer and more.

Chelsea // Lincoln, NE

Leslie was absolutely incredible. I am so grateful for the memories she gave us with her talented work. We could hardly tell she was there at all- she was unintrusive. She was so kind and loving, too. I am so grateful we had her with us to capture these important moments.

Hannah // Lincoln, NE

She captured emotion perfectly in every moment.

Novita Family Photostories is owned by Leslie Castleberry - a birth photographer, videographer, doula, and documentary family photographer based in Lincoln, Nebraska.