Getting in front of the camera makes a lot of people feel incredibly vulnerable. In talking with the pregnant women I photograph, I hear so often how much they struggle to embrace their beautiful changing bodies while at the same time struggling with how different they look in the mirror. Maternity photography is about creating beautiful memories of a fleeting time in your life but it can also be part of your healing process as you learn to love and accept your body as it is.

“This session was so important to me because like so many other women I have struggled with body image. During my first and second pregnancies I gained 60 and 50lbs respectively. I was so uncomfortable with my pregnant body I avoided mirrors and tried to avoid photographs. I remember being asked about how I planned to lose all the weight and a week after my second son was born having a family member say “your belly is still so big, will that ever go away?” I know the questions were not meant to be hurtful but they were to me. This pregnancy will likely be my last and I want to remember how beautiful and special being pregnant was. In 20 years I don’t want to tell my children (particularly my daughter) there are hardly any pictures of any of my pregnancies because I was ashamed of my own body. How could I teach positive body image and self esteem to my children if I can’t even manage it for myself. I absolutely loved my session with you. I felt beautiful and even sexy at times which was more then I even hoped for. Thank you so much for the incredible experience and for capturing such important memories for me.”

Sara McConnell Photography ~ Ottawa Maternity Photographer