Movement in the Stillness: A Branding Session with Sophie H.


Back when I worked in a corporate office, there were always reasons to get up and walk around. Now, as a photographer and business owner, my "desk days" can easily turn into hours of sitting. Unless I encourage myself to move, the day can slip away. This shared love for movement is why I was so excited to collaborate with Sophie, an NYC-based yoga instructor. I have been practicing with Sophie for almost four years now and have seen her from her first teaching to now as parental yoga instructor.


We captured her branding portraits while she was eight months pregnant, focusing on the small, restorative stretches that keep us feeling alive in our bodies. Whether you’re prepping for a shoot or preparing for motherhood, these gentle transitions are a reminder to stay present and keep moving.

A yoga or meditation session on a blue mat with props and plants in a minimalist setting.
Person in white top and blue leggings practicing yoga on teal mat with potted plant and wooden blocks nearby.

I always prioritize starting my day with meditation. Whether it’s a brief five minutes or a deeper twenty-minute sit, I make it a point to find that stillness. If the morning gets away from me, I simply shift that practice to another part of the day, ensuring I always carve out space to reconnect.

Person demonstrating yoga pose on teal exercise mat with blocks and houseplant in background.
Person performing child's pose stretch on yoga mat with wooden blocks and plant in minimalist setting.
Person stretching on yoga mat with decorative plant and wooden blocks in minimalist room setting.
Person doing yoga stretches on teal mat with wooden props and plant in light room.

A simple downward dog is my go-to throughout the day to decompress my spine and release my lower back. As a photographer, spending hours on my feet or hunched over an editing screen can leave my hips and back feeling incredibly tight. Taking just two minutes for a few of these stretches makes a world of difference in how I feel and move.

Woman practicing yoga stretches on a teal mat with wooden blocks and plants in a minimalist setting.
Yoga practitioner demonstrating stretching poses on a blue mat with props in a bright room.

Seated Side Stretch



There is a profound simplicity in a seated side stretch. It’s a gentle way to wake up the oblique muscles and improve lung capacity by opening the intercostal muscles between the ribs. Whether I’m transitioning between client calls or taking a break from a long gallery, this stretch helps me reconnect with my breath and reset my posture in under sixty seconds.

Using a block under the hands is a beautiful way to modify this pose. It adds just enough height to make the stretch accessible and gentle, which was a key focus for Sophie during her eight-month prenatal session.

Yoga sequence showing seated poses and stretches on a blue exercise mat with props.
Series of yoga stretches being performed on a teal mat with wooden blocks and houseplants.
Demonstration of yoga stretching exercises using wooden blocks on a teal mat near potted plants.

Single Leg Lunge with Blocks


By elevating the torso, the blocks take the pressure off the lower back and allow for a deeper, more comfortable stretch through the hip flexors and psoas. As a photographer, I find this particular pose so relatable—after a long day of standing and moving during a shoot, my hips are often the first place to hold tension. Using blocks in this way makes the movement feel restorative rather than strenuous, proving that even a small adjustment can bring a sense of ease and openness to your entire body.


When transitioning between sides, I like to move through a central squat to neutralize and even out the hips. While I generally practice this without props, using a block for support is a wonderful way to make the pose more accessible and restorative. Deep squats are especially beneficial for those of us who sit for long stretches, as they help release tension in the lower back and open up the pelvic floor.

Playful interaction between a person and cat during yoga practice on a blue exercise mat.
Person playing with a fluffy cat while sitting on a yoga mat in a bright room.

Beyond movement, the thing that also helps me destress is taking a few minutes to just be with my dogs. Whether it’s a quick play break or a quiet moment of connection on the mat, they remind me to breathe and stay present.


Photographing Sophie’s prenatal session was such a beautiful reminder that our bodies are constantly transitioning, and our movement much like our photography  should reflect that. Whether I am behind the lens capturing a family’s story or at my desk editing a gallery, I’ve learned that inviting these small, intentional moments of ease into my day is what keeps me creative and grounded. My hope is that these images and simple stretches inspire you to find a little more space in your own day, too.