I was so pleased that she chose to do some family photos with me, as her little family was just adorable beyond words.

We captured these moments in one of their favourite hangouts.

Undaunted by the task of nursing twins, she is still nursing her two beautiful little ladies, no small feat.

I asked her if she’d like to be in my #breastfeedingtriumphs series.
She agreed!

Here’s what she had to say:

• When I found out I was going to have twins I had no idea that I’d still be nursing well into toddlerhhood. I didn’t think it would be possible but IT IS! I thought I’d have to pump and bottle feed but the twins fell into a rhythm when it came to nursing that it worked out perfectly. You see I started out with a ruined nipple from a nurse manually expressing me as it was flat. I don’t know why I couldn’t just pump on that one breast to help it “form” but I left the hospital in such pain I was worried she damaged my nipple for good! Thankfully through warm compress and TLC I was able to use that breast. I got the hang of tandem nursing when the twins had better head control but I still prefer to feed one at time as I like the one on one I get with each twin. My girls love it and I don’t see us stopping any time soon. With breast feeding twins it’s hard work but you have to push through it. There’s always a light at the end of tunnel. It’s just so convenient and works for us.

As a mom of two babies who didn’t exactly recover her body in between pregancies, you could say I’m feeling a little vulnerable when it comes to my body. You could also say that I pretty much hide from the camera a lot of the time (one of the benefits of being a photographer is that you are expected to take more pictures than you are expected to pose for).

Still, I saw my children’s lives rolling along a breakneck speed and I wasn’t in any of the photos. Here I was preaching to all the moms I met how important it was for them to get in the photo, and I wasn’t doing it myself.

I do try not to dwell on my body and it’s current state too much. I try not to say anything negative about my body in front of my children, and I try to honour the place that grew my two littles. It’s not always easy. Some days I just look in the mirror and sigh. I know that they won’t be little forever and the day where I can make myself a priority again (at least for a few hours a week) will come.

But in the meantime, I can’t let their childhood be documented in my absence. And truth be told with proper posing even someone who isn’t thrilled with how they look in the mirror, can be quite pleased with how the camera treats them.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with how you look, and realistically there isn’t really anything wrong with how I look either, I just don’t like it. And pretending that I should just get over it won’t change that fact. Maybe, like me, you’re working on loving yourself a little more, and that’s awesome. But as we do that, can we just take some pictures of us that don’t make us cringe?

xoxo

Carrie

He was 3 weeks old, a little older than the average newborn I photograph.
Still, we got some great photos and had some good laughs.
Including a few out-takes like this one:

I was so pleased to come back and see this little guy for his 6-month session.

When I first showed up he was all smiles, although you might not be able to tell by the photos. What can I say, he’s a ladies man, all smiles when he could see my eyes, but stone-cold serious once I got the camera in front of my face.

Six months is such a great time for little ones to show off their mad tummy time skills, sitting skills and to really capture their interaction with mom and dad.

Enjoy the next few months! I can’t wait to see the little guy when he’s taking his first steps!

This kid has imagination to spare!

Nearing the end of the session, the words “Mars bar” came up, as Miss C had been promised some candy for cooperating. She made sure her parents didn’t forget the deal. She smiled, but this whole deal was wearing thin. Make with the chocolate!

Even when I returned to do their viewing session a week later, she made sure to point out in a particular photo when she was looking quite serious that “that was when I wanted my Mars bar”.

Well the results speak for themselves. I think I might start carrying a stash in my camera bag.

Birthdays when they are real, live, right as it happens birthdays are pure magic. They are what birth photography is all about

I was lucky enough to be here for this little girl’s birthday.

After a relatively short but intense labour, baby C was ushered into mama’s arms.

Do you remember looking into your baby’s eyes the first time. This mama might not remember this moment, but now she has it captured, forever.

“Thank you Carrie for being there and being so great I can’t wait to see more pics…I am more than positive they are going to be awesome.
As much as I knew you were there, I didn’t (which is great when you hate having your picture taken). You’re awesome! Thanks again.”

S. Labelle

One of the strong values that I want to continue to see reflected in my business, is supporting mothers who breastfeed.
It’s not always easy, and we still live in a society that makes some women feel uncomfortable with the simple process of feeding their child the way that nature intended. I truly believe that the best way for us as a society to accept breastfeeding as the norm is to see it. See it in person, in pictures, on television ect… We see breasts in so many other ways in the media every day, and no one bats an eyelash over it. So let’s make sure no mama ever feels like she can’t nurse her little one in public.
Join me at the East York Civic Centre on Saturday, Sept. 29 for the 2012 Breastfeeding Challenge. Mamas and their nurslings are invited to come out and celebrate the joys of breastfeeding from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a fashion show from the great ladies at Evymama as well as some great door prizes. I’ll be doing some nursing portraits on site, so stop in say hi!

And other times it can be about the connection between the couple:

Older siblings have a magical connection with mama’s belly:

Make your Belly portrait the way you want it. Whether you want to be alone, or with your whole family, you only get one chance to grow this little human being inside of you. Don’t let it go undocumented.