A picture of love: Local photographer gifts portraits to mothers at The Haven Home

Photoshoot experience kicks off ‘Make A Mother’s Day’ campaign to support local mothers in need

Cleveland, OH – This spring, mothers at The Haven Home received a special and unexpected gift: professional portraits of them and their families, taken just in time for Mother’s Day.

Local photographer Tess Walters of Walters & Co. Photography donated her time and talent to photograph the mothers and children currently housed at The Haven Home—a transitional housing and enrichment center for pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness in Cleveland. The portraits were shared with the mothers as a personal Mother’s Day gift, capturing moments of love, resilience, and joy.

“For many of these women, this is the first time they’ve had a professional photo taken with their children,” said Cynthia Rios, executive director of The Haven Home. “The smiles on their faces said it all—this was more than a photo. It was a moment of celebration, and lasting memory.”

The portrait experience launches The Haven Home’s annual Make A Mother’s Day campaign, which ran through the end of May and calls on the public to support women and children on their journey to safe, stable housing. Every donation made during this campaign helps provide essential resources—like diapers, clothing, transportation, and supportive services—that empower mothers to rebuild their lives.

“Photography captures a moment in time,” said Walters. “The Haven Home is a place where new beginnings are happening every day, and I was honored to help capture one of those moments for these incredible women.”