07/20/2026
For the last few weeks, I’ve been a little quiet here.
On June 23rd, my mom passed away. And it really shook me.
We knew this day would come after she made the decision in February to stop treatment for her metastatic breast cancer. But knowing it was coming didn’t make it any easier. It hit harder than I expected.
Since then, it’s been a few weeks of grief, gratitude, and reflection. And as my sister and I have gone through photographs, j keep coming back to this portrait.
I photographed my mom in 2017 while I was building my beauty and branding portfolio. At the time, I simply needed someone willing to step in front of my camera. And of course, when I asked my mom, she immediately said yes to something that would help me out.
Today, this portrait has become one of my most treasured memories. When I look at it, I don’t just see a beautiful photograph. I see the woman who believed in me before so many others did.
She encouraged me when I started Alyson Berg Photography, cared for Payton so I could photograph clients and attend networking meetings, and proudly told anyone who would listen about my work.
The older I get, the more I know that the work I do isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about honoring remarkable women, like my mom, who may or may not be good about celebrating themselves.
I’m so grateful I have this portrait, because it reminds me every day of the remarkable woman who shaped my life.
Her birthday would have been August 6th.
To celebrate her life and continue the legacy she inspired, I’m opening 12 portrait experiences at a special birthday rate. My hope is to give 12 women the opportunity to see themselves with the same love and significance my mom saw in everyone else.
If that speaks to you, send me a DM for early access or join my VIP list through the link in my bio. I’d love to share the details with you before they’re released publicly.