“For as long as I can remember, I knew I always wanted to be a mother. Every time I saw a baby, I had that feeling of bliss, wanting someday to have a child of my own. But in the back of my mind, I always had hesitation because I really loved my life as it was. I had been with my husband for 10 years already, and we enjoyed traveling the world. Even when we were not abroad, we spent most weeks out and about and knew having a child meant we would need to drastically change our lifestyle. I heard being a mother was hard, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever feel truly ready. After 3 years of marriage, we decided it was finally time. Now that I have a child of my own, I truly know that being parents is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding adventure anyone can go through. On the hardest days when I am sleep deprived with a newborn, all it takes is one smile to feel that pure moment of bliss. Even though my son cannot speak, I know that smile means “thank you for all the hard work you do to take care of me”. Every day when I look at his adorable face, I’m reminded how much I love being a mother and how much appreciation I have for other mothers as well.

I am a huge fan of professional photos, as I love looking back on memories in my past. I always knew I wanted a maternity shoot, but as the months went on, I couldn’t imagine getting dressed up to go take photos since I was exhausted every day. The week I found out I was pregnant, my office shut down and we went into lockdown. The entirety of my pregnancy was during shelter in place, and most days I didn’t get dressed as I was working from home. The day of our photos I curled my hair, put on some makeup, and put on a dress I bought months prior… and I truly felt like a princess. Having these photos taken was the breath of fresh air I needed for months, and for once, I felt like I was glowing. I already look back on these photos and it reminds me of the good times and positivity of my pregnancy despite all the challenges the year brought.”  Lea, Expectant Mother

 

SHELEPOVA PHOTOGRAPHY