Dear Maternity Photoshoot,
Being able to carry life is a gift like no other. For some its a breeze and for others it is an uphill battle, where some days the odds are in your favor and other days, you just pray that you can make it through. For me, I was gifted the ability to carry four tiny humans under my heart and into my arms. And one tiny human who broke my heart and spirit as she earned her angel wings and a forever place in this mommy’s heart. Even though I have experience both joy and tragedy, the one constant regarding my difficult and high risk pregnancies was the inability to see the beauty of the pregnant me.
The intrapersonal struggle of accepting my growing belly and all of its changes during pregnancy hit me like a freight train. Looking back now, it’s silly. I was jealous of the ‘Pregnancy Glow’ rumor that I had heard of, yet clearly did not get to experience. I had told my self that being vertically challenged and growing perhaps wider than I had expected could not yield thoughts of beauty and moments of serendipity. To date, I may have five pictures of me being pregnant. Only five, and that may be an inaccurate count on the higher end.
Yes, I do regret not taking the time to further document my pregnacies. But if you don’t feel it, then why should you feel bad about it. Eventually, I felt guilty for not jumping on the bandwagon and then it happened..
I finally realized that the beauty of pregnancy is not the growing belly, the feeling of the kicks and hiccups or finally holding that tiny human in your arms. Instead it’s the lived story and a shared beginning about a mother embracing for the impact of an uncomplicated, endearing and unconditionally love for a child that she so longed for. That story for me was amazingly captured in time by a San Antonio photographer by the name of Veronika Gant.
The juxtaposition of life and the beauty of showing the vulnerabilty of motherhood.
Veronika has an amazing eye for detail and in my opinion her photos draw you in. Truly captivating! Hence my eagerness to take part in her Vogue Maternity shoot. By far the images that she captured are both timeless and elegant. You are seeing me at my weakest point, where my body is no longer my own. Yet, at the same time, you are seeing me at my strongest point. It is my last pregnancy and by no means has it been easy. I have suffered and expereinced my body trying to give out on me as I bare the weight of carrying another life. But I have not given in nor will I. Veronika captured every essence of me and now I have a story within a story to tell my children.
“In this picture, you will see your mommy fighting back to carry your little sister. Prior to this photo, I was in the hospital and on bed rest because my body was failing me but not her (Baby Harper). And even during this shoot, I was fighting to hold it together just so I too could have documentation of my fight to stay pregnant and healthy enough to deliver my little one”.
Let just say the end results were a dream come true and if you don’t believe me, check out my stunning watercolor shot at the end of this post. Honestly, there are no words except may be…
“Beautiful is vulnerable. As vulnerable is to blossoming. To carry such a love is just, infinite.”
Photography : Veronika Gant Photography
Please do not use any images from the site without written consent of P.S. & Thank You or Veronika Gant.