Capturing Life: Wife, Mom, and Photographer – Bridget Stokes
by Sheila Duncan
Photography is a skill, and Bridget Stokes certainly has it! Whether she’s capturing the high-energy excitement of a game-winning shot or the intensity of a team’s focus mid-play, her sports photography brings the moment to life. Her work not only freezes action but also tells a story through the lens, showcasing athletes’ dedication, passion, and power. Each photo feels like you’re right there in the midst of the action, experiencing the thrill of the sport firsthand. Bridget’s eye for detail and ability to snap that perfect, fleeting moment is what makes her a standout photographer. Bridget has also developed a reputation for creating extraordinary self-portraits that leave a lasting impression. Her unique ability to capture personality, emotion, and style in each shot sets her work apart. Locals rave about her creativity and how she turns each session into a fun, personalized experience. Whether it’s bold lighting, creative angles, or a natural, candid vibe, Bridget’s portraits are anything but ordinary. Her self-portraits bring out the best in her subjects, making them true works of art that stand out in the community.
I had the joy of chatting with this lovely lady about how she juggles her passion for photography with being a mom and managing family life. Let’s dive into what she had to say!
What inspired you to get into photography, and how has your style evolved over the years? “Photography has always been something that I enjoyed, but I didn’t really get into it until I left my job as a paralegal due to chronic migraines. I love being able to capture the emotions of people, especially candid shots. I mainly focused on taking pictures of my nephews playing sports and did family portraits for just close family and friends for a long time. When I continued to have people ask me about doing sessions outside of that realm, I decided to give it a shot since my favorite place to be is behind a camera. Taking that leap, I am now extremely busy with my photography, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am fortunate enough to capture families through the years and get to know people I would otherwise have never met. Photographing sports of my nephews when they were younger turned into a love, I never thought I would have. I absolutely love photographing sports for Bibb County students in all areas, as well as photographing little league games. The most rewarding thing about being a sports photographer is meeting a lot of great people and forming relationships that continue for years. ”
Do you have a favorite type of photography (portraits, landscapes, travel photography, etc.)? Why does it resonate with you? “I don’t think it’s possible to have a favorite type of photography, of course that’s just my opinion and others would probably disagree with that. I will say that capturing sports is a challenge and I enjoy that aspect; however, it is hard not to enjoy photographing new places I am fortunate enough to get to visit just as much. Every new place is rewarding to see. From the mountains to the rivers to the cityscapes I do not take any place for granted.”
Have your travels influenced your photography? What’s the most photogenic place you’ve ever visited? “I think that everyone should travel to new places as often as possible. God created so many beautiful places and it is hard, for me anyway, to not want to visit as many of them as possible during my lifetime. Sure, local travel is easier, but I feel like you miss out on so much by doing that. We have found that traveling to faraway places really isn’t expensive if you plan ahead. I do love being able to photograph our adventures and share them with others who may not go there. I love hearing people tell me that they feel like they live through our travels. I know we are truly blessed to be able to go where we go and do what we do and, for that, I am very grateful.”
Can you share a funny or surprising moment you’ve had while taking photos? “We do a lot of wildlife photography in Cades Cove in Tennessee. One time we were on a hillside and a really good friend of ours was with us. He had his camera on his tripod, and we were standing there taking a break before going to look for more wildlife. A deer came up from behind us and kept getting closer and closer. Eventually the deer walked up to our friend’s tripod and sniffed all around it. He was a beautiful buck who was curious. Moments in nature with wildlife are often magical.”
How do you balance capturing the moment versus enjoying it with your own eyes? “I often tell people that I have no idea what is actually going on around me because my face is in the camera. I see only what I am looking at at any particular moment. For me, it is worth missing out on other things to be able to capture any given moment in time that will always be with us thanks to that photograph. So many parents tell me that they are thankful for me capturing what I do so that they can actually enjoy the moment. I am so glad that God allows me to do that for them.”
As a mom of a college student, how do you juggle family life with your photography career? “Chandler lives in Laramie, Wyoming where he is pursuing a PhD in Economics. I am very blessed to be able to travel to see him often, and he also gets to come here regularly. He lives in a place that is so beautiful that it is hard not to be jealous of him and the life he is living. He is able to hike mountains that most of us will never see. Chandler is also a photographer. He has captured some breathtaking scenery and wildlife over the years, but especially now that he lives out West. I am so incredibly proud of him, but I do admit it is hard with him living that far away.”
Have you used photography to document your child’s milestones? Do they love or hate having a camera in their face? “While Chandler loves taking pictures, he is not the biggest fan of having his picture made. He does it now more than he used to because he shares his life out West with me. Thankfully selfies are a thing, although I admit having a son is a lot different because he isn’t as into that as a girl would be. I do not take any photograph he sends me of himself for granted because I am not personally there to document his graduate school experience on a day-to-day basis.”
What advice do you give your college student when it comes to balancing passion and practical goals? “Chandler is, for the most part, a very levelheaded guy. He has set a goal for himself and has not had any problem staying focused. He used to be someone who pretty much lived their life indoors playing video games and now he spends a lot of his spare time outdoors hiking, photographing wildlife or backpacking in the backcountry. If you had told me when he was in high school that he would be living the life he is now I would have told you that you were crazy. It is hard to give advice to a son who balances school and his zest for life well on their own.”
Does your family ever join you on your photography adventures? How do they contribute to your creative process? “I live with a husband who enjoys wildlife, astro and landscape photography. He started photography when the two of us got together and now has a passion for it. Travis doesn’t enjoy photographing people like I do, but that’s okay. He will now take sports photography of our nephews’ games, and I enjoy having him along with me for that, probably more than he realizes. Since Travis, Chandler and I all take photos we usually plan our trips around what kind of landscape and wildlife we will be able to photograph. We especially enjoy visiting National Parks across the country. If the three of us photograph a specific animal or landscape we will usually all have a different perspective, which is always nice to see when viewing the photographs we take.”
When traveling, do you bring your dogs along? How do you capture their personalities through your lens? “We have five dogs. Three that stay inside and two large dogs that live outside. We are very blessed to have someone who house sits for us when we travel. She loves our dogs, and they love her. Our small dogs have traveled with us in the past on occasion, but they are more comfortable in their own home than spending a lot of time on the road. I do now have a miniature bernedoodle who is training to be a service dog. He will be traveling with us more than our other dogs due to the nature of his training.”
What’s been your favorite travel destination with your family, and do you have any trips planned in the near future? “I fell in love with Grand Teton National Park the first time we visited it and I thought I would not love any park more than that just because of the feeling that park evoked. We traveled to Glacier National Park a couple of years ago and that changed. Glacier is awe inspiring. The blue glacier water and the mountains are not like anything else we have seen, and we have traveled to some beautiful places. Our next travel adventure will be to visit Grand Teton in the winter. We haven’t been there this time of year, but I believe it will be something else in a blanket of white snow with the animals in sharp contrast against the white.”
Any tips for taking great photos? “A great photograph is simply a photograph that you love. No one else has to agree with that. You are capturing a moment in time from your viewpoint. The best advice I can give to people when taking a photograph is to make sure you think about what you want. After all, you are the ‘artist’ in that situation.”
If you could only photograph one subject for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? “I think choosing one subject to photograph for the rest of your life is impossible. That would be like a parent choosing their favorite child. Can that really happen?”
What’s one place on your bucket list you haven’t photographed yet but can’t wait to visit? “Our bucket list trip is Alaska. I have planned and planned but have yet to get an itinerary that sticks. Alaska is home to not only a lot of beautiful national parks, but also some incredible wildlife and landscapes. I want this trip to be one we will never forget.”
“Exploring your community allows you to uncover its hidden gems and forge meaningful connections with your neighbors.” Thank you, Bridget Stokes, for taking the time to answer our questions so that we may get to know you and your family on a more personal level.”
