MEGAN CARSWELL GLADDEN

MEGAN CARSWELL GLADDEN Wife. Mother. Heart-Led Family Photographer. Poet's heart. Offset Artist and Click Pro. Atlanta, GA

Calling me home, Summer 2015Double exposure on Holga/Madelyn at 8, portrait I wrote a blog post many years ago about thi...
03/08/2021

Calling me home, Summer 2015

Double exposure on Holga/Madelyn at 8, portrait

I wrote a blog post many years ago about this Summer exactly two years after the death of my mom. These scans arrived today, on International Women’s Day and my heart burst into a million pieces. I cannot let today go by without speaking of my mother who comforted me in ways that I haven’t found since. She’s not here to guide me through picking up from the difficult days my daughter sometimes faces. These two beautiful females who were once so close here on earth only to unexpectedly have to close their chapter and leave me to pick up the pieces. It hasn’t been easy but the one thing I do know is the strength that’s been passed down to us is far greater than the hurt. Celebrating all three of us today and being as tender and gentle to myself as I can be. I never wanted to be in the middle, but it’s where I am ❤️

Blog post linked in my bio if you’d like to see

Take me back to the way it felt. Wind blown, heart swept ❤️
02/15/2021

Take me back to the way it felt. Wind blown, heart swept ❤️

One hot Summer day in the backyard of a friends house. Her girl, my girl and a favorite chicken. Timeless and untouched....
02/08/2021

One hot Summer day in the backyard of a friends house. Her girl, my girl and a favorite chicken. Timeless and untouched. Transport me back to whatever era you wish I suppose ❤️

I know the rhetoric of words and confusion that 2020 brought to so many lives. I thought 2021 would feel better deep dow...
01/23/2021

I know the rhetoric of words and confusion that 2020 brought to so many lives. I thought 2021 would feel better deep down in some gigantic way yet so far it’s done so little to calm my nerves and ease some pain. While I nurture my three beating hearts through such difficult times, I too find a need to pick myself back up again. Mental struggles can be so hard. I’ve found it hard to even pick up my camera again questioning so much in my head.

What is my purpose when I’m behind the lens? What do I shoot if my muses are moving on? How can I connect my voice in a more meaningful way to what’s happening in the world around us? Why am I no longer connecting to art and others that was lighting me on fire just a few months back? Where do I go for meaning now that’s it’s been lost? Confusion mixed with a deep sadness.

Film friends...are you committing to any projects this year? For now I’m continuing to send in my old rolls for processing. Slowly picking myself back up again one roll at a time

Sometimes we start someplace totally different than where we end. The path in the middle wrought with unknowns and quest...
01/12/2021

Sometimes we start someplace totally different than where we end. The path in the middle wrought with unknowns and questions not unlike what so many people feel today in these times.

I think what I’ve learned in my own life and watching my kids navigate things is that there really is no perfect path. There are ups and downs and so much in between and to be honest it’s a lifelong thing you must give yourself over to. I’ve given up wishing for things to be 100% right or perfect (but I sure as heck try) and this year without a doubt have given so much over to faith, hope and restoration. I’ve recognized that perfection is overrated and forging a path that’s less public and more private is inherently good for my soul, my family and my heart.

I hope my less is more approach here in these spaces is more purposeful than ever. The bones with which we build upon are so important as it speaks to who we are deep in our souls. I’ll be making sure what I do and say here is meaningful in 2021. I still believe in the best qualities in others and that it still exists. We just have to get out there and find it even in the most divided of circumstances.

More of this in 2021 ❤️
01/01/2021

More of this in 2021 ❤️

It’s easy to look at 2020 and wonder what happened. These photos represent so much growth and hope that I headed into th...
12/31/2020

It’s easy to look at 2020 and wonder what happened. These photos represent so much growth and hope that I headed into this year with and today I’m so grateful for the reminder of what I’m capable of and not to lose sight of my long term goals. I’ve been silent through this pandemic and used this time to stop, re-evaluate, and care for myself and my family. Allowing myself to take care of some very deep needs was so healing and I’m grateful for 2020 putting this front and center. Headed into 2021 with new perspectives, less desire to please others and more desire to continue work that lights me on fire, and doing other things that I’ve missed while working on the difficult but rewarding job of raising my babies. Feeling so grateful for a refresh and reset this year. Can’t wait to see what’s ahead ❤️
Happy New Year friends! Can’t wait to reconnect here in 2021 🥳

I’m refusing to believe in less than 20 days we are leaving our home of 7 years. Leaving behind a long chapter of old ho...
12/10/2020

I’m refusing to believe in less than 20 days we are leaving our home of 7 years. Leaving behind a long chapter of old homes and closeness. Restored paint and floors. Updates I’ve loved and updates I never got around to. Praying and hoping no matter what we do or how we approach the design process my babies always feel the warmth found in these old houses. So, that’s where I’ve been. Nurturing growing bodies, making hard decisions and thinking hard about the future. Never thought I’d want a tiny piece of 2020 to stick around awhile longer 🙏

Classic Hitchcock this year. More birds on the way. Hard to believe it’s October but fully embracing it 💀💀💀
10/08/2020

Classic Hitchcock this year. More birds on the way. Hard to believe it’s October but fully embracing it 💀💀💀

My three in squares. Playing by the water. As we do.
09/18/2020

My three in squares. Playing by the water. As we do.

Equally as beautiful in color but I feel myself slipping into the soulful work again. I can feel the black and white wit...
09/18/2020

Equally as beautiful in color but I feel myself slipping into the soulful work again. I can feel the black and white within my heart. It never leaves me. It visits me often when I feel pain, sorrow and listen to the sad songs. It feels like home over and over again.

It’s been quiet online for me lately. We recently watched “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix and things haven’t sat right w...
09/15/2020

It’s been quiet online for me lately. We recently watched “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix and things haven’t sat right with me ever since. My daughter long grown from these days shown here asked me recently why things feel so heavy right now. We’ve stared straight at death again the last few weeks as well as constantly hearing about difficult things whether it be random things happening to acquaintances or difficulties people we love are going through. Our ability to process these things as adults are difficult let alone our children. ⠀
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I’m struggling with this concept of helping my children embrace and see joy versus them feeling like there’s always a life battle they face. How do I teach them this when I’m knee deep in puppy p*e and the beginnings of mold seeping through the bathroom paint that feels like we had painted just yesterday (only to realize the years have gone by so fast)? Daily joy is a concept I can only see and try to feel when I slow down and leave these spaces in my head where I feel the incessant pressure to be perfect or “get better” at something or comparison, etc. Which leads me right back to the gut punch reality that we are all online way too much. Even the most stable human is vulnerable to the constant pressures placed upon us with notifications, photos, messages, and mostly “fake” news spiraling around us these days. ⠀
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So grateful for this one roll of film I sent off that’s been sitting in a bowl on a shelf for quite some time and the recognizing of time flying. Holding onto the joy of the fleeting moments and trying to wrap myself up into the real world as much as possible these days. joyboat

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