How to Capture the Flecks of Gold in Everyday Motherhood with Kiera Liu
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The small moments are the story
In this episode of The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast, I sat down with Kiera Liu, founder of Frame of Life, to talk about something I know so many of us feel deeply: we want to remember these years, but we don’t always know how to keep up with all the photos, videos, and little moments we’re collecting along the way.
Kiera is a photographer, storyteller, and former criminal defense attorney whose work now helps families and brands document life in a more meaningful way. What I loved most about this conversation is that Kiera brings both practicality and heart to the topic. She isn’t asking mothers to become scrapbookers overnight or to make elaborate photo books every year. She’s simply inviting us to notice what already matters.
From burnout to storytelling
Kiera shared her surprising career pivot from criminal defense attorney to photographer, and it was such a powerful part of the conversation. After pouring herself into emotionally heavy legal work and burning out quickly, she stepped away and returned to the thing she had always loved: storytelling.
Photography became a way back to joy for her. It also became a way to help families reconnect with each other — not through stiff, overly posed sessions, but through real life, muddy boots, movement, and play.
That part of the conversation felt especially refreshing because it reminded me that the best family memories often happen when no one is trying too hard.
Why moms feel so much pressure around photos
We talked about the pressure parents feel to create big memories — vacations, holiday magic, perfect photo shoots, curated moments. But Kiera gently challenged that mindset by reminding us that the everyday moments are often the ones our kids will cherish most.
The muddy hands. The way siblings play together outside. The little feet. The changing teeth. The ordinary rhythms that make up a family’s life.
Her work is such a good reminder that memory keeping doesn’t have to start with a massive project. It can begin with simply paying attention.
The “Daily Delights” method
One of my favorite parts of the episode was hearing Kiera explain her Daily Delights method.
During postpartum, instead of opening Instagram at night and doom scrolling, she began opening her camera roll and using it almost like her own private feed. She would go back through the day, choose her favorite images, heart them, and delete the rest. Over time, what remained were the moments that truly mattered — the “flecks of gold” hidden inside ordinary life.
I loved this idea so much because it shifts the camera roll from a source of overwhelm to a source of reflection.
The iPhone caption feature every mom should know
There was also one tip in this episode that absolutely stopped me in my tracks: you can swipe up on photos in your iPhone and add a caption underneath them.
That means your camera roll can become a searchable digital journal.
You can write a quick note about what happened in the photo, include a few keywords, and later search for it when you want to find that moment again. For a parent who has ever scrolled endlessly trying to find “that one cute picture from last summer,” this is such a game changer.
Memory keeping does not have to be complicated
Kiera also shared about Memory Keeping March, a month-long accountability experience she created to help families finally tackle one memory project at a time.
What stood out to me most was her honesty: even as someone whose whole business revolves around photos and storytelling, she still needs accountability too. That felt so human and so relatable.
Her encouragement was simple: choose one project, contain it, sort it, work on it a little at a time, and let it be enough. It does not have to be a perfect yearbook or an expensive heirloom album to matter.
Better photos, less pressure
We also talked about practical photo tips for moms and dads who want to capture better everyday images.
Kiera’s advice was refreshingly simple:
use natural light
notice which rooms in your house get the best light
pay attention to golden hour outside
zoom in on the little details
do not feel like everything around the subject has to be perfect
That matters because so many of us assume we need a spotless house or a perfectly manicured backyard to take meaningful photos. We do not. We just need to notice the moment and catch it while it’s here.
Following your kids into what they love
Toward the end of the episode, Kiera shared about becoming a “fishing mom” because her son loves fishing — even though it’s not naturally her “thing”.
I loved that part because it’s such a picture of motherhood. So much of parenting is learning to lean into what lights your child up. Not because it’s convenient. Not because it’s your favorite. But because you know these invitations won’t last forever.
That thread ran through the whole episode for me: memory keeping isn’t really about photos. It’s about noticing what matters while you are living it.
Want the full episode?
Listen to the full episode with Kiera Liu wherever you listen to podcasts.
