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Milk & Muse is a woman-owned business that keeps womanhood, motherhood, and sisterhood at the center of its work. Along with photography, I am extending doula and writing services as well. When it came to establishing a name that felt right for this brand, Milk & Muse was something that I couldn’t get out of my head. Milk focuses on motherhood, maternity, and family  through photography and doula services, while Muse focuses on the other realms of creating that bring me joy (creative portraiture, music, and more).

Tell us about yourself! What makes you, “you”?

My name is Mariah Maddox, and I’m a visual storyteller. I received my bachelors in journalism from Kent State University with a minor in creative writing. My love for visuals and words grew into how I capture the world around me today. I’m a loving mama, wife, and my family is at the core of who I am. I have also been called a gatherer—my community sustains me and inspires me in more ways than one. In my free time, I enjoy watching films, listening to music, being in nature, and doing anything that feeds my creativity.

Describe your business/services and then tell us about what brought you to creating this business and why you’re passionate about it.

Milk & Muse keeps womanhood, motherhood, and sisterhood at the center of its work. As a Black woman, I largely strive to make other people of color feel witnessed in front of my lens, because I know so often our stories have gone silenced or overlooked. Along with photography, I am offer doula and writing services as well. When it came to establishing a name that felt right for this brand, Milk & Muse was something that I couldn’t get out of my head. Milk focuses on motherhood, maternity, and family through photography and doula services, while Muse focuses on the other realms of creating that bring me joy (creative portraiture, music, and more). Motherhood was my shift. I like to refer to it as my ministry, because it is largely what I DO in this season of my life. It’s a big part of me, yet it isn’t who I am in entirety. I believe Milk & Muse is perfect because it allows me to lean into my ministry while also watering the other pieces of my identity.

What goals do you have for your business in the future?

The future goals I have for my business is to expand it beyond Toledo. I want to travel the world capturing visuals and stories of motherhood, because it’s such a universal experience. I also just hope to continue to connect with more mothers and women.

What is your proudest achievement?

Thus far, my proudest achievement is my motherhood study (https://www.milkandmuse.com/motherhood-study/) and exhibit that I held in 2023. “Motherhood: The Thread That Holds Us Together” was a passion project that I spent around 7-8 months piecing together. I studied and captured the motherhood narratives of 6 moms in the community along with doing a self-study and capture of my motherhood journey. The feeling of seeing that vision come to fruition is still something I cannot quite put into words. I swell up with tears every time I view the project or think back to that time of my life.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business owner and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a business owner was struggling with imposter syndrome. I doubted if I were really the person who could make my business mean something. Reading my Bible, praying, and being poured into by friends helped me to overcome it. Also, looking back at notes or goals I wrote way back when that have now been fulfilled reminded me that I was given this seed for a reason, and I am the vessel meant to bring it to fruition.

What advice would you give to a woman looking to start a business or get into a leadership role? Is there one thing that has helped you specifically?

Find community! Don’t take your connections for granted. My community has been those who have sustained me through the process, when I wanted to give up, when I doubted myself. There would be no business without me. But there would be no me without them!

What made you want to join HerHub?

I wanted to be connect to like-minded women.

Why do you feel it’s important to collaborate and empower other women?

In a world that wants to see us down, that tries to pit us against each other … we’re all we have. We need each other. Life is too short to waste it tearing each other down, boxing each other out, or being nasty to each other. There’s so much love, care, grace, and opportunity to go around. Why not give it?
Why If you could recommend one resource (book, podcast, quote, website, etc.) that has helped you in life or in business, what would it be and why? 
“When we fail to heal ourselves, we perhaps fail to heal a thousand generations .” This helps me to keep going, no matter what the challenge ahead of me is. I have an entire generation depending on me. I have my lineage depending on me to break generational curses and to rewrite our narrative.

We love spreading love to other woman-owned businesses and we bet you do too.  Give a shout out here to your favorite, local, woman-owned business (besides your own)!

Body & Sol! Callisto Terra!
If you mention HerHub when you book with Milk & Muse and receive 10% off your photoshoot package! Visit: https://www.milkandmuse.com and https://throughthemotherness.substack.com/ (Motherhood Blog)