There is of course something very amazing about a mother child bond. But what about the father? Not having that physical connection, and breast feeding to rely on, it becomes an act of will. A heart bond that is something so special. A outward bond, that comes through with their time, play and loving glance. 

This is such a lovely thing to capture! When I hear a father say they wish they had infant Daddy photos, my heart is crushed by the thought that they didn't do it. What a beautiful thing to commemorate a time when, a child may remember only Moms touch, but can be comforted by this photo that Dad was right in there, holding and loving them up, right from the start.

Wow, Mother's Day. I love Mother's Day. I love saying, well we are going to do it because it is Mother's Day of course. Lately I have been hearing a lot of mothers say, well I feel so guilty, doing what I want to do. And I of course do the same thing. But why I ask, but why?

Why can we not do what we need for ourselves everyday. I also love hanging out with my daughter Maya, I love going on hikes with just her and I. We laughed so hard yesterday. We made daisy chains. We spied on dogs. I was so happy, and I know she was too. 

I am waiting for a time when we can rise like queens, and love ourselves in a way, that we all win, because mom is so happy. I love that idea. I love that to be a cultural standard, not waiting until they grow up, and move out, but now. 

I love the idea of women leading the way on health and well being, by taking care of themselves first and foremost. I bet some people may read this and gasp, I feel so brazen for writing this. What will happen to the world? Families will rest on the care from a woman that is truly happy. 

One of the amazing perks to this job, is getting to hang out with doulas and midwives. The birthing community is so special. Women who are in full support of bring babies into the world with the  mother's will intact. 

Yesterday I photographed the Portland Doula Collective. They have a variety of Doulas for different stages on the birth process. Martha is a birth Doula. I have photographed one of her newborns, and the family was glowing. The mother was happy, healthy and vibrant, so then the baby was of course, and that goodness only spreads right to the father. The mom was praising Marthas' encouragement and advice, and felt a huge sense of comfort by her presence. Martha usually works in the hospital, which remains very hands of. To have an advocate for the mother is a huge emotional support, that can promote a healthy and happy birth. 

All of these beautiful doulas are educators and believe strongly in the healing power and becoming prepared and supported. Post Pardum care is another aspect of Doula care. Sometimes mother may have had some issues, and could be feeling a lot of guilt around aspects of post pardum, that may cause issues with bonding. Doulas can come and offer guidance about letting things go, and important things to focus on in the present. 

http://www.portlanddoulas.com/

It couldn't make me happier that women are turning to choosing  Home Birth more and more. It's not just in Portland either! How amazing that we are evolving into the direction that is about choice and empowerment for women.

I am not against hospital birth, and I do not want to vilify anyone. I am just happy that we as a culture can embrace methods that are simple, and natural, instead of preparing for the  worst. 

Mothering magazine has a great online community, and this article is such a great way of having an open discussion about a sensitive topic. 

http://www.mothering.com/community/a/best-homebirth-articles-and-discussions?utm_source=featured&utm_medium=homepage+body&utm_content=logged+out&utm_campaign=featured+content

I have been a photographer, since I picked up my father's Nikon F. But when I figured out what I really was passionate about, it was Birth Photography. I had such an amazing birth. The process of entering into a experience that pushed me to a new sense of myself. Supported through this journey into motherhood, with the most amazing teachers, my midwives. And at the end the most amazing payoff, a beautiful daughter. 

I was so in awe of this mystical experience, that I wanted to be a part of it. I love being on the support team of supporting women to find their inner power and master their fears, and physical pain, to discover a strength that will carry into their lives that wil only be beautiful to watch. 

Birth is truly a amazing experience. And I am so honored to any family that would invite me to such an intimate space.

All images from the birth will come on a disk. 

I charge $850 for the whole event. Being on call, then staying for the birth, and  baby photos after. 

I started out wanting to photograph outdoors, natural light only please, and oh yeah black and white. In Portland of course I needed to have a backup plan, hence the studio. 

Now I must say I love the studio. 

The lights are always facing the correct direction, no shadows on the skin. The background is a given, I can count on it. I can still have some natural light, through the lovely windows. Children feel contained, so they are not looking longingly at the playground, or wondering why I am holding my camera in their direction when they are at the park. 

Maternity is also so nice. Women can fell comfortable taking off their clothing, being draped. It is still natural, just in the setting of painted backgrounds. 

Yeah!

Mother's Day. What does that mean? Do you leave the children for a break, and have a massage? Pile in the bed for breakfast in bed, and stay in your pajamas for a good part of the day? 

What about capturing the essence of motherhood for a timeless reminder of why motherhood is so sacred? This bond, that connection, the love that can been seen in a  moment captured for you to cherish for a lifetime. 

I am offering $100 off studio sessions for the month of May. We can spend our time, unfolding into the place and comfort of the studio. Pick out the shirt that fits everyones' personality and comfort level, and cuddle in front of the camera. Finding a spot that fits what is now, and what is precious to us. Our family, and the special bond that makes it like nothing else. 

I have really been drawn to this concept of connection. When going to my first business classes and thinking of words that describe what I do, this word came up again and again. I felt a little presumptuous to assure I had anything to do with that. It is what come through the mother. What I wanted to do is capture it through the power of photography.

I was told about this video from a member of a beautiful group I belong to The Way of The Heart. When I watched it I wanted to cry. Connection, vulnerability, and the willingness to be in your heart, yes this is it. This is the power of motherhood. When a woman can give birth with her power intact, and then connect to her own inner wisdom, and then parent from this loving connection, ahhh can I please say inner peace, therefore a world that breathes and knows compassion and justice?

When I was a new mother I was so connected to this powerful presence of connection. I really trusted my own inner voice. It was totally the truth of what my daughter needed being dictated by her deepest needs at that present moment. This kept our connection intact. 

When I started my business I wanted to photograph women giving birth, to be able to have them go back to this empowering experience whenever they needed. To see what their power looked like so they could reconnect to that strength and really own it. Forever. 

The first maternity photographs I took, my friends could just stand in the glory of what they were actually doing. Creating Life. They could own the power of their sensuality as a pure essence, not the dirty porn kind, but the real intimacy kind. The kind that creates beautiful children. The root of the creation energy that is the divine feminine. 

I really love what I do. I love the entirety of what it means to conceive a child, to bring life forth, and then to raise a conscious child. Thank you to all the women who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this concept exists today. 

I love the way of allowing, I am not always very great at it, (gross understatement), but when I am in the flow, it is really lovely what becomes of it. This sweet family came into the studio a few weeks ago now. They wanted some family shots, and some of their sweet newborn. Well the newborn was not having any part of being put down by herself. We waited, nursed turned the heat way up, but it was just not happening. What did happen instead, I think I call grace. We had a lot, and I mean a lot of amazing shots of the family. Dad and baby, oh this was a fun one! Mother and baby, mother baby and sweet older brother. Oh my, it was synchronicity at it's greatest. 

I felt as if this is the way newborn baby wanted the photographs to be, of her family. 

Here is to allowing what is meant to be, be. 

This is such an incredible article about the major food companies talking about childhood obesity.

New York Times,  "The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food", 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=1&smid=fb-share

What concerns me, is that I really feel families trust these big name companies. General Mills is a very old, name associated with wholesomisque food. People who are busy with their lives, and making ends meet, may not be sitting around reading the labels.

The idea of being comforted by buying food in nice colored labels, with friendly fonts, but this is a brain wash that started as one thing, and is now becoming a tool for seduction.

Foods, like cigarettes are becoming manipulative with no consequences for people's health. 

My daughter has a gluten sensitivity. If she eats to much white flour, with no other nutritional balance, she becomes unwell. Huge bags under her eyes, extremely irritable and fatigued. This leads to so many other imbalances as far as well being. Our relationships suffers and her school work suffers, and her confidence and her over all sense of wellness.

These are the basic fundamentals of thriving in a world that is stressful, and taxing, Knowing how to be well is necessary. 

"Under his leadership, General Mills had overtaken not just the cereal aisle but other sections of the grocery store. The company’s Yoplait brand had transformed traditional unsweetened breakfast yogurt into a veritable dessert. It now had twice as much sugar per serving as General Mills’ marshmallow cereal Lucky Charms. And yet, because of yogurt’s well-tended image as a wholesome snack, sales of Yoplait were soaring, with annual revenue topping $500 million. Emboldened by the success, the company’s development wing pushed even harder, inventing a Yoplait variation that came in a squeezable tube — perfect for kids. They called it Go-Gurt and rolled it out nationally in the weeks before the C.E.O. meeting. (By year’s end, it would hit $100 million in sales.)"

“If we are to re-establish Dr Pepper back to its historic growth rates, we have to add more excitement,” the company’s president, Jack Kilduff, said. One particularly promising market, Kilduff pointed out, was the “rapidly growing Hispanic and African-American communities.”

"Many of the Prego sauces — whether cheesy, chunky or light — have one feature in common: The largest ingredient, after tomatoes, is sugar. A mere half-cup of Prego Traditional, for instance, has the equivalent of more than two teaspoons of sugar, as much as two-plus Oreo cookies. It also delivers one-third of the sodium recommended for a majority of American adults for an entire day."

I have a 11 year old girl now. I still remember the precious moments of her childhood, but they are going, fast. I felt a bit sad the other day, thinking that I wish I had more of it, and I wish we snuggled more.

I have baby pictures of her. I really wish I had a really large one of her when she was just born. I would love to be brought back to that moment, where it is such a big love. Only love. That love I would want to rub all over my face, like newborn skin.

I know it would be a beautiful reminder of that feeling, that I may forget when she is tired and getting a bit sassy. That newborn is still inside of her. And I love snuggling with her, and will double up for the next few nights if she lets me. She does at bedtime. 

I love what is going on in the world today with the empowerment of girls and women. The fundamental understanding of why a community in developing countries, progress when girls are educated and women run the wealth of a village. This makes sense to me, and I am sure all of you.

I know when my daughter was born, I felt a deeper connection to the truth of the world. The actual reality of how women are treated. What are actual function is, and can be. The knowledge of what my daughter needs, by just knowing.

This is also with the admission by spiritual leaders across the world, saying that the feminine, of the U.S.,  has the power to shift the World.

I just went to see Love, Marilyn, a independent film at the NW Film Festival. What was amazing to me is that she knew the things should have been a certain way. It didn't feel right. When she started acting she could really trust herself. As she began to be involved with, and married to men, and they wanted to control her, or shame her, she became lost.

I hope my daughter can hold her own truth in the world. And trust her heart above the rational of outdated modes of thinking.

Just like I hope all mothers can trust their own intuition for caring for themselves and their babies. This is the time for whole body, whole mind living. 

Just stumbled upon this great acupuncture clinic through Alma Midwifery. Below is a excerpt from their home page. Acupuncture seems like such a nourishing thing to do for yourself during pregnancy.

The constant demand on your body, while the constant change happens as well. Your whole system rearranging itself to tend to the needs of your growing baby.

When I have a treatment for myself, my body is put in total balance, emotionally and physically.  This clinic seems like a great way to support yourself during this time.

http://mamagroupacupuncture.com/

I just finished working on a project with Alma Midwifery. I am continually impressed by what they offer to the community. I have known about the beautiful birthing house, and clinic space. They now have a amazing new movement space. 

What is totally phenomenal, to me, is there unyielding commitment to community. Every Thursday morning they have a Mom's group. New moms in the plush and confortable back room, and older kiddos in the hard wood, crawling around space in the front. They do not charge, the do not care where you gave birth, they just want to have a place for mothers to connect. Plus the space is a pleasure to be in. Everything Laura does, is so well done. Beautiful bathrooms, local art commissioned or acquired to bathe the space in beauty and the essence that motherhood is nourishing.

This is only the tip of what is offered at the Alma space. There is yoga, and a acupuncture clinic. The schedule is so packed with goodness. This is truly why I live in Portland. 

This space was featured in this months Portland Family Magazine.

http://www.portlandfamily.com/posts/the-mothering-time/

Here is the link for the intense schedule. Anything Mama you may need.

http://almamidwiferyevents.com/ 

Isn't it amazing how babies arrive, and they weren't here not so long ago, and then they just exist. They are alive and breathing into the world. Maybe the most amazing thing is that they don't realize the significance of it all. They just like being warm.

Newborn photos are so special. This precious moment is going to fly by. Baby is going to grow every week. This new feeling can be captured. The soft wrinkly skin, that you just want to touch. I wish I had more of these photos of my daughter, because every one puts a big smile on my face.

Hello World.

Newborn Packages Start at  $175.

So the other day I decided to start self-nurture myself in a different way. Becoming aware of the constant pushing and criticism from my own mind, has put in perspective the amount of self-nurturing that I think I do, I force upon myself. "What does that even look like? What does self-nurture even mean?" So I googled it. 

I found a great interview with Dr. Alice Domar. What was great about this, is that she specifically validates that women will hold a lot more stress in their body, and that we, of course, nurture everyone else, before ourselves.

I think I hit a wall last year. Being a single mom. starting my own business, and going back to school part-time (insane, denial?), got me to a place where I had to come to terms with how I wasn't allowing myself to nourish myself. Like really nourish the part of myself that makes life full and alive and joyful.

I found the article so validating, and the best  part is that it is as simple as reframing my day in a different way. Asking myself what I can do for myself today that will be for me. When I ask it that way it becomes a healthy choice, instead of resentful and panic driven self-indulgence. It allows me to create space to have time in the day for me. Flowers, fruit or a walk outside. The best thing is I have  become aware of not starting my day with the demanding presence that I usually commit myself to, but a delicate sense of love. This is nurturing!

The best part is that I will teach my daughter this. Motherhood, the toughest job, that gets the least amount of credit.

Give it to yourself.

Medicine Net Interview with Dr.Alice Domar

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53939

Psychology Today Self-Indulgence compared to Self-Nurturance  

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/200806/self-indulgence-self-nurturing

What is the gift of Maternity Photography?

I was pregnant over twelve years ago now. I still remember the flood of emotions I felt. Walking through my farm in Northern California, I was becoming something new. Noticing the orchard, still dormant. Saving energy for the fruit blossoms to sprout. This effortless relationship to giving life. It felt effortless to me as well. My body was made for this. The uterus is the strongest muscle in the human body. I was still petrified to give birth, all the while knowing my body would know what to do without me. Without my mind getting in the way. My body was connected to these trees, more than I had realized. And now this experience was happening. I am being reborn with the soil, and nutrients that gives life to everyone. Why, as a woman, had I never celebrated this before? Why had I never felt this sense of inter-connectedness so acutely? I must be still in the inferior sex midset.

After all the work, and girl power I had felt, I was still living out an outdated story. On the farm I could think about my relationship to my father, and what that created in myself. I was feeling so beautiful, and powerful and a part of beauty in a way I never had. I had so many ideas for photos. Me, in the grass, coiled in a spiral, nurturing the life within me. I was discovering something very deep, a primal intuition that would serve me for the rest of my life.  

I feel sad for women, who maybe forget themselves. I do it. We are so good at taking care of others, we can become part of the wood work. I love the idea of reclaiming our past, to honor our inner strength. This medicine women, healing aspect of our nature, that brings balance to our families, and our community. 

After having Maya, is the water at the coast. I felt the openness and that connection like never before. I had made it to the other side. I was a living breathing component of this miracle and wisdom that is available to the undeniable and effortless love that is truth. I had arrived.

I want women to rise with this transforming time of their lives. Who will they become after this experience? Honoring our bodies as the sacred, seems to be a great way ro start this relationship with motherhood, and where it will lead you. It is such a gift. I truly believe in the health of families, and that the sun that that revolves around, is the mother. May you be forever beautiful in yourself. Taking the most care of you. Filling yourself with a wealth of goodness, to be able to then give to your children. 

We're only pregnant for such a short time, compared to the lifetime we'll spend with our children. That fleeting moment that we're pregnant is so precious, and once the baby arrives, it's hard to remember what it was like to still have that wonderful belly. I wish I could see some pictures of my Mom when she was pregnant with me. I think it's so important to have at least one photo to share with your child when he or she is grown.

I think it's important to schedule your portrait session at about 33 to 37 weeks gestation, before you reach that really uncomfortable stage of your pregnancy. I find that Moms-to-Be are still enjoying being pregnant at that stage and are excited to show off their bellies. I also make sure we only show as much skin as Mom is comfortable with.

But every Mom that has felt so beautiful after seeing their portraits. I think in the long term they'll be so glad they took maternity portraits. 

 

Seven Months is such a great age for being in the studio. Baby hair is growing in. Baby can sit up and not need to run away just yet. And oh, that amazing baby chub. Oh yes, what is more snuggable, may I ask?  

This so sweet family came in the other day. We had so much fun. Babies are pretty happy getting tons of attention, and they don't mind laughing, they love it. Well I love these baby portraits too!

The studio can be an exciting adventure, and babies know when something is up, and they don't mind obliging one little bit. A morning photography session usually works best. No need to stress about it. Just act like it is any other day, and then they can just sit and play. 

My studio is located on SE Gladstone and 26th. Right off of Powell. I have many different backdrops, and plenty of space to run around in between  shoots! Photography is so precious at this age. This memory will be valued forever. Baby pictures are great in the child's bedroom. They love reminders of how little and innocent they were, and how much you loved, and love them still.

Wow this is my first pre school. I got to visit the amazing Wildwood Nature Pre School. Nicole has an amazing Farm House at the edge of Forest Park. Her children get to play by the edge of the forest, while it always be at their feet. What a beautiful idyllic backdrop, deep forest green.

 It was so nice to be able to meet such a sweet group of characters. This age is so fun, because they are out on the own, so they know who they are, but it is still all sweetness. 

The children were at ease, because it was their home turf. We talked about the deer they saw that morning and had a few laughs, and then it was back to the group, there was crafts to do!