Weaving motherhood, memory and meaning into print
Storyteller: Ashton Rynearson, United States
Ashton gathers a year of ordinary magic: sun-soaked boat days, rare snowstorms and the emotional journey of raising boys, all captured in a beautifully archival MILK format. What emerges is not just a collection of family milestone images, but a golden thread running through motherhood, creativity and gratitude. Get inspired by Ashton’s story about how she created her stunning project with us.
What format did you choose to make your keepsake and why?
I chose the Softcover Photo Book format for our family memories. I wanted something that could hold up to handling and stand the test of time while still feeling similar to a magazine. I love that it feels approachable and easy to flip through - not too precious to leave out on the coffee table, but still really well made and high quality. It strikes that perfect balance between durability and everyday functionality, which is exactly what we wanted.
Why did you create your keepsake?
Not only to get my photos out in print, but to truly appreciate the people I love, places we have been and the small joys of our year. I consider it a built-in gratitude exercise that also serves as physical evidence of my boys' childhood. Life moves so quickly, and creating this family album felt like a way of slowing it down and appreciating every memory of the early stages of our lives as a family.
What image do you love most from your keepsake?
I'd have to say the last image of all my guys on our boat is a fun image of what our summer weekends actually look like... kids climbing on and jumping off the boat & my husband smoking a cigar while I watch from far enough away to not get splashed! It perfectly captures the chaos and joy of summer. When I look at it, I can almost hear the laughter and feel the sun on my shoulders.
What is a beloved story behind a single shot in the book?
The image of my son bundled in snow gear and looking back as he trekked through the woods has become one of my favorite stories to tell. A once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm swept through our small coastal town, breaking century-old records and bringing everything to a standstill. Growing up in Northern Indiana, I knew the excitement a significant snowfall can bring, but experiencing it through the eyes of our sons and their friends was nothing short of epic. With the city shut down, hills turned into playgrounds as kids sledded on anything they could find—blow-up mattresses, trash can lids, boogie boards. It was pure, unforgettable joy and a moment in time none of us will ever forget!
What does your keepsake mean to you and your family?
This album holds the memories of our family as I see it; loved, chosen and worth remembering. It tells our story directly from our perspective, which feels really meaningful. It’s shows us that our everyday, little things in life are something truly special. I hope one day my boys flip through it and see just how deeply they were loved in these years.
What inspires you to take photos in general?
Each photo is a step toward reclaiming and reshaping who I am not only as a mother, but as a woman. Photography is one way I choose to express my creativity that encourages me to pursue adventure, change and growth. It gives me permission to see beauty in the ordinary and to document our lives with a lot of intention. It’s both grounding and empowering at the same time.
What inspires you creatively?
I'm inspired by color & texture, beautifully composed imagery, and others who experience the world behind their lens, just as I do. I love noticing how light falls across a room or how contrasting tones tell a story without words. Seeing the way other creatives interpret their surroundings pushes me to refine my own perspective and trust my eye.
What bit of advice would you offer to someone creating their own MILK memento?
Double check to make sure the final album size is correct! ...bigger is always better!
Ashton’s family heirloom shows us that memory-making doesn’t require grand occasions, it lives in the everyday. In sun-drenched boat days, record-breaking snowfalls and quiet in-between moments, she finds beauty worth preserving in a tangible family keepsake. By turning her photographs into print, she’s created something lasting - not just for herself, but for her family. The photo book she created is a simple but powerful way of pausing, reflecting and preserving a season of life that is already moving faster than it feels.
Sometimes all it takes is gathering the images you already love and giving them a place to live beyond your camera roll. Be inspired to create your own beautiful family photo album book or magazine and start creating in our Design Studio today.
