WRAL: Meet this Mom: Allie Roepe
Stephanie Llorente, owner of Restored, is a regular contributor to the WRAL Family blog where she writes about relevant topics for working moms. We repost that content here.
I’ve had the honor of introducing a variety of women in our Meet This Mom series, and it’s always fun getting to know them. But today’s profile is different – because I already know this lady very well. So well, in fact, that we started a business together once upon a time – and we still like each other, y’all! Do you know how rare that is?? While we each run our own separate businesses now, we still show up for each other and cheer when the other succeeds. What a gift to have a built-in cheerleader for our successes, and a listening ear for our not-so-great moments.
Let me introduce you to Allie Roepe – diligent worker, amazing mother, gifted photographer and loyal friend. Her upbeat personality is always ready to take on the day and her self-starter attitude knows how to get things done. She’s the type A ying to my scatterbrained yang, and I’m so thankful you get to meet her today because she’s a treasure to be shared.
Check out our Q&A below:
What’s your name, and in what part of the Triangle do you spend most of your time?
My name is Allie Roepe, and I live in Holly Springs.
Tell us a little about your family and one activity you enjoy together.
I’m a busy mom of three young children as well as a business owner. We are on the go often, but when we have quality time together we love to watch movies and play outside on our play set!
Tell us about your career journey and how you ended up in your current position.
I spent 10 years working full-time in outside sales for payroll/HR providers. I left the corporate world in 2017 when I had my second daughter and launched a ministry for working moms called Restored with Stephanie Llorente. During Covid, I had a professional ‘reset’ (like so many!) and decided to re-launch my photography business that I ran on the side for more than 10 years, but this time as a more full-time business with a sole focus on heirloom portraiture.
The Raleigh market boasts many gifted photographers…what makes your work stand out?
Yes, we are so lucky to have so many wonderful options here! I chose to solely specialize in black and white heirloom children’s portraiture as of March 2021. I am the only photographer in the Triangle that specializes only in these photographs, ensuring my clients have the highest quality experience in my studio. This creative shift has been so fun for me as ‘everything old is new again’ and the reception in all of North Carolina has been tremendous!
What’s your family’s favorite thing to do together?
We love to watch movies and play outside together on our play set!
Share something you love about parenting as a working mother.
I love that my children are seeing me follow my passion! I’m also proud that I achieved corporate success early on and still made the difficult decision to step away from the corporate track to pursue my true calling – connecting with other families and creating timeless keepsakes for them.
Tell us about a challenge you’ve overcome as a mother in the workplace.
Just the sheer amount we have to juggle is incredible! Most days, I can’t believe how many balls I’ve had in the air at one time. But we just do it! Moms are so strong and so multifaceted. I’m proud to say I do my best to prioritize my physical and mental health while caring for my family and building my dream business.
What are you passionate about outside of work and family?
I recently took up needlepointing, and I’ve completely caught the bug. I’ve also been a lifelong reader, and that continues to be a relaxing escape for me when I can find the time. I’m also passionate about my faith and we love being a part of the Apex Baptist Church community.
What is one book, podcast, article, social media account, blog or other resource you can recommend for moms?
I’m still in a season of parenting littles, so I love the Big Little Feelings Instagram account. I recently potty trained my son using their program, and it was my smoothest experience out of all three kids! Deena and Kristin recently launched a podcast called “After Bedtime” where they dig into tough topics with humor, and it’s so relatable. I love it!
If you have a favorite go-to spot in the Triangle, what is it?
I would say Pullen Park has been our go-to spot since our oldest daughter was born in 2011. When friends or family visit us, we always take them there, and everyone loves it! We recently had our son’s train themed birthday party there this summer and it was wonderful. It’s such a Raleigh treasure!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I have always been passionate about helping working moms! When I was a new mom in the corporate world, I often felt alone. I desperately wished there were more community resources for working moms to find friendship, connection and encouragement. I launched a ministry for working moms to find community in 2017 with Stephanie Llorente, and I’m so grateful that it’s still going strong today! Now that I’ve stepped back from leading that group, I still do my best to support moms through membership in my local MOPS group. I love getting women connected with each other!