Intimate Maternity Boudoir Session with Dana in Akron, Ohio
'The mind I love must have wild places, a tangled orchard where dark damsons drop in the heavy grass, an overgrown little wood...a pool that nobody's fathomed the depth of, and paths threaded with flowers planted by the mind.' - Katherine Mansfield
When I first met D, she was a first time Mom who had come to me for newborn photos.
Fast forward about a year later, and when she was expecting again, she contacted me about maternity photos. In her email she gave me the ULTIMATE compliment and let me know that while she had never considered getting maternity photos before, my work had changed her mind.
It wasn't 'cheesy' and 'cliche', or typical for 'maternity', it was tasteful art. It was creative. It was embracing womanhood and motherhood and all of the changes and emotions and feelings and physical things our bodies go through while growing a human life. She gave me full and total control of styling and planning the session, and allowed me to create to my hearts content with her during her session.
Let's talk about how this is every photographers dream for a second.
You trust me enough to let me do whatever I want? To create how I see fit? To pick and choose?
You must be joking.
Ask any photographer, anywhere, and they will tell you it's the ultimate dream and biggest form of flattery to have a client trust in you so much, that not only do they come to you specifically for a session, but for your vision and your art. Then, they tell you that you can do whatever they want and they will comply. They take your input and your ideas and your direction in stride and roll with it.
Needless to say, I was more nervous than ever about this. If she hated them, if I screwed up, this would be all on me. I couldn't blame Pinterest. I couldn't blame anyone but myself for gauging totally wrong and going out on limb and just creating from my heart.
So, we had the session, I was confident it went well, and shortly after D sent me this email:
"I just wanted to write and thank you for an awesome experience on Friday. As I told you, I really don't like being pregnant and feel really unattractive and uncomfortable. You made me really enjoy my body and forget that this is "weird." The few photos you have posted are true art. They are perfect and you have made me a proud mom. Thank you for the photos, your time, and for giving me confidence. You are amazing and I can't wait for newborn photos." - D
Once again, she blew me away with her trust and confidence in me and my work. She blew me away with compliments and my heart was full, because if there is any goal for me in a session like this, it is to do exactly that. Gain a different perspective and show expecting Mother's a different side and light to this sometimes very "unattractive and weird" experience that we call pregnancy.
All while making kick ass art, of course.
- Lauren
