Hush little baby, don’t say a word

I always wanted to be a mother. I was the type of a girl who believed in fairy tales. I became a wedding photographer—heralding the fairy tales of others.

When my first child was born, after a horrible birth experience the magic did not happen. There was a strange creature, his skin coloured lilac, my body full of stitches. I felt guilty and empty and I did not know the worst yet to come.

Collaborating with fellow mothers -some of them have experienced postpartum depression - we find little solace as society and media quickly turns the conversations to the aesthetics of our bodies post birth, with little room for the fear and doubts.These heavy burdens take their toll on mothers, only a few dare to admit their vulnerability. Nurturing a space to talk about this is essential, not only for women and mothers, but for the society as a whole. A healthy society needs healthy mothers, which is why they deserve more respect and appreciation. The only way to achieve this is to listen to their stories and work together to increase their social esteem.

Before every portrait session I had an interview, where they shared their thoughts about pregnancy, the health care system, the society and social media’s pressure of being a perfect mother. It is an on-going project starting in 2020.