As a mother, I know how special and fleeting this season can be. Breastfeeding amazes me, and I’ll tell you why.
There are days when you feel like you haven’t moved from the couch; when all you do is feed and pump and pump and feed. You’re probably unshowered and smell of spit-up. It’s a challenging time and often, not too pretty. But what I love about breastfeeding is the magic. Your baby doesn’t care if your hair is dirty; he needs the nourishment your body gives him. He loves your smell, it’s comforting. Your skin feels soft and warm. Your breathing and heartbeat lull him to sleep. Your body is exactly what he needs. You are his everything. And THAT is magical.
While I love documenting raw in-home sessions that show the reality of things (because I feel that is super important to have those everyday memories), I also love shooting a mother breastfeeding session where the focus is the connection. Timeless images where mama can feel beautiful and at ease while she’s nursing.
I have one photograph of me as a new mother breastfeeding my first born that my husband took. I didn’t even take self-portraits. Oh how I wish I had more. During that time, it felt tiring, repetitive, and down right difficult (especially in the beginning). I didn’t feel photogenic AT ALL. But I’ve come to learn the hard way that it wouldn’t have mattered, any of these things. My kids would have images of love, sacrifice, selflessness. A one-on-one moment with their mother, in her arms while filling their bellies.
Get in the frame. No matter how you feel about it today, you will look back and cherish those images where you felt a foggy whirlwind of emotions. You will be reminded of how short of a time it really lasted, and the beauty of it all will come flooding back.
