I talked to a sweet friend today about maternity photos. This particular lady has a crazy creative eye and unique artistic brain that you might not understand if I tried to explain her to you. Read this. And this. And then, this. I trust her wholly to capture and create images we’ll surely treasure forever.
When I was pregnant with Lilly, I didn’t want a single picture taken. Ever. There were maybe 6 pictures taken total during the time that I was showing-pregnant (I don’t count my wedding pics because I wasn’t really showing yet!) that have me in them. With Grace, there are a *few* more but not many.
Because… Weight. Acne. Anemia. Strangely fitting clothes. Enormous boobs. Swelling. Exhaustion.
They don’t make a lady feel pretty, let me tell ya.
But I am a different woman today than I was before. I am brave. I am proud. And I am excited to document this part of my family’s life as a gift to this baby and a service to myself. I BELIEVE my husband, this time, when he tells me I am beautiful. I listen. I take it all in. I tell my girls that I FEEL beautiful.
I’ll never wear the double zero designer denim that looks so cute on the pregnant models in the magazines. And maybe I will gain more weight than my pregnancy app tells me I should. I won’t wash my face every night and I will struggle to drink enough water most days of the week. I won’t run every day or do yogilates or hit it hardcore at the gym. But I’ll do water aerobics with the elderly a few times every week because it makes me FEEL good. And I’m cool with that.
I will be in the photos this time. I will document this baby growing, show her what her Mama’s body has gone through to get her. And give her our story to remember for her lifetime.
Xo
-J
Kelly says
Love this! From the outside, you always look so beautiful that it’s hard to imagine that you wouldn’t want to be photographed. We’re always our own worst critics, aren’t we? Glad you’re embracing the journey.