Mothers

My project ‘Mothers’ consists of a series of portraits and interviews of mothers and their children highlighting the bond between them. I was drawn to focusing my work on maternity based on my own experiences with my mother. I am an only child and from very early on I was fascinated with this bond, often watching documentaries about childbirth on television.

The portraits and interviews I have compiled showcase a mother’s instinctual need to protect her children and give them lots of affection. At the same time, the interviews highlight some of the challenges that women face during the early stages of their child's life.

I spent significant time with each subject before the photo shoot to establish feelings of connection and trust. All the while, we discussed their experience of motherhood and I took the time to observe them as they interacted with their child. The resulting portraits are made in intimate environments chosen by the mothers themselves, typically their own room or living room. While the young mothers, therefore, felt comfortable while the portraits were being made, it was often challenging to depict the isolation that they experienced. 

These feelings were more evident in the interviews in which I asked the subjects about the challenges they have faced along with the joy and love. Many of the subjects had similar experiences of feeling frustrated and, at times, scared and confused. For example, when I asked about the most difficult part of being a young mother they mentioned constantly worrying about their kids, time management issues, and fatigue.