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A 'non-shoot' maternity session

Trigger warning – infant loss. 

I drew inspiration for this maternity shoot from my friendship with Courtney during the early 2000s and decided to shoot as if I’d picked up my 35mm film camera and casually snapped a few pics of my friend … just as our parents would have done. 

It felt good to strip this shoot back to the real, raw and natural. I took my time before pressing the shutter, I intentionally composed some of the photos in a haphazard way to keep it looking real, and I tried not to obsess over the edits. 

Sadly, Courtney and Lyle lost their little boy Jesse at just 34 days old.

I get goosebumps writing this as I realise the responsibilty that we as family photographers have to honor the real connections we see in front of our lenses.

Sometimes, the photos we take become what a family look to for comfort and connection when they lose a loved one. This experience has reminded me how important it is to approach each shoot that I do with with reverence, empathy, and a deep understanding that the power of any image lies not only in its technical perfection, but in its ability to transport you to that moment, or period of your life.

My darling friends Courtney & Lyle, during times of sadness, I hope that these photos remind you of the 9 months and 34 days of love that Jesse brought to your lives, and I hope that they help you to feel close to him. 

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