Why Moms Should Be in the Photos Too (Even if You Don't Feel Ready)

WHY MOMS SHOULD BE IN THE PHOTOS TOO

You had a baby. That's amazing! Your body did something incredible. You've realized how strong you are mentally and physically AND everything looks and feels different.

You know you should appreciate your body, but it's hard when you look in the mirror and no longer recognize your reflection. You step on the scale and you've never seen that number before in your life.

In the wise words of Dr. John Delony, two things can be true at once. It's true that your body is incredible and that it grew life and nourished a baby AND it's also true that you wish it looked different post-partum.

There may be some weird grieving emotions mixed in with the joy and love of motherhood. Of course you're thrilled to have your baby, but it's hard and you made sacrifices that will often go unacknowledged - especially with todays crazy bounce back culture.

MOTHERHOOD DOESN'T ALWAYS FEEL BEAUTIFUL

Maybe you took maternity photos and, like I did, you feel like you look huge in them. It's not the cute little baby bump you imagined on the pre-pregnancy body you had. I felt the same way and I'm a maternity photographer! Looking back at them 6 months post-partum, I've noticed that feeling start to fade.

Maybe you're thinking about newborn photos. You want to remember these perfect squishy pink cheeks forever, but the idea of being in the photos while your body feels so foreign and delicate feels like too much. For most moms, newborn photos is the first time they will get dressed up following birth. They still have a bump because it hasn't shrunk all the way yet and most are very tired from these first days with a newborn. Maybe this resonates with you. Maybe you're thinking, let's just take photos of the baby. I don't need to remember how I look right now.

Friend, I would ask you to reconsider.

LET FOMO BE YOUR FRIEND

Even though you may not feel like it right now. You're going to look back and wish you had been in more photos. As moms, we're often the ones behind the camera taking a million and one photos of our little bundle of joy and the trend only continues as they grow.

But what is that saying to your baby?

When you duck out of photos or make comments about how you don't look good enough to be in the photos, what do you think they are absorbing? If you - their foremost authority on life and truth - claim you don't look good, what about them? They know they are half you. Therefore, maybe they need to hide too. This can bleed into their confidence and sense of self worth.

They are watching you and you are constantly informing their worldview with not only your words, but also your actions. Giving them a mom who is confident enough to get in the photos with them - even if you don't feel like you look your best - is a heck of a gift.

But what about for you?

Do you ever look back at photos of yourself when you were in high school or college and realize you were a lot prettier than you thought you were? Time has a funny way of making us appreciate what we had. Years from now, you'll look back on the woman you are today and realize just how beautiful you actually are.

What a shame to miss out on photos with your baby because you felt you needed to hit a certain goal weight to be worthy of being in them? If you won't be in the photos for current day you, at least consider doing it for future you. I promise, she'll thank you.

READY TO BOOK THE PHOTO SESSION?

Reach out here to get started!