With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it was the perfect time to reflect back on The Motherhood Project, our Chantilly VA photography session honoring motherhood in many different ways. I’m so lucky to have such amazing colleagues in the area so it was an absolute honor when Jessica Ryles Photography asked me to collaborate on this project with her. As a styled maternity and in-home lifestyle newborn photographer, it was a no brainer to accept the invitation and get to work!
The Motherhood Project
This project was a labor of love that started back in January. Jessica and I met to discuss everything. We came up with a plan for what exactly we wanted to achieve and how we wanted to achieve it, and we set to work. We spent a good bit of time in February getting all of our ducks in a row before we opened up our application for models. Once the applications were open, we were thrilled with how many mommas were interested in working on this project with us! It was so exciting!
By mid-March, we decided it was time to get together again to go through all of our over 50 applicants and narrow it down to our 6 models that we wanted for the project. Let me tell you, it was not easy! We seriously had some amazing applicants! We knew we wanted diversity, and we knew we wanted to showcase the different methods of feeding our babies. Once we had our choices narrowed down, we emailed our applicants and scheduled virtual calls to go over all the details with everyone. Once everyone was committed, we ordered the dresses for everyone, and then it was just time to keep in touch and wait.
When our session date was getting closer, Jessica and I started to stalk the weather forecast, like most outdoor photographers do when it’s session time! We quickly realized that we may have to postpone our project. Thankfully we had a rain date already set up, and although we had to replace one of our models last minute due to the reschedule, everything turned out wonderfully. We held our Chantilly VA photography session on our rain date, and the weather cooperated!
It was such a pleasure getting work with these six moms and their little ones at Ellanor C Lawrence Park in Chantilly! Jessica and I split up our time to maximize the session. Jessica took majority of the large group and small group photos while I took photos for the moms individually as a thank you for participating.
All the mommas have now had their photo reveals and received the photos that they wanted, and our project has come to a close. It truly feels like it was just yesterday that Jessica and I met the first time to discuss the project! But time goes by quickly, and that’s one of the reasons why we as photographers do what we do. We freeze time, even if only for an evening. So without further ado, I want to share a few of my favorite individual photos from the beautiful mommas that modeled for us!
The Motherhood Project | Chantilly VA Photography
If you’rereading this and are in need of a photographer, I would love to talk to you! I offer styled maternity sessions with client closet access and in-home lifestyle newborn sessions where I come to the comfort of your home to capture your first days with your little bundle of joy! Reach out today and let’s chat!
For motherhood content on the blog, check out these articles:
As a Northern Virginia photographer and fellow mom, I felt there was a need for a safe, supportive, and drama free space for moms and moms-to-be to come together and support one another through the crazy lives we live as moms. Come join us and chat all things motherhood, pregnancy, and more!
