“To celebrate May and Sharm’s time in Dubai, we headed for the iconic red dunes for their family portraiture. Dubai is a meaningful place because this is where they started their family, and it was their first time living abroad together as a family. The dunes were the one place that they spoke excitedly about, and it’s kinda like when in Dubai, you need proper family pictures from its famed Arabian landscape. We drove about an hour from downtown Dubai to this open desert that sits along an interstate highway. I was completely blown away when I got there, it was like being in Aladdin’s picture book!   We braved the elements to capture the landscape that is so representative of this beautiful country.

Capturing this desert session had its own challenges: walking on soft sand without losing that shoe, handling equipment with fine dust, and strong winds. it’s a memorable session with lessons learned from being ready for windy deserts.

They are amazing people to be with, and throughout the whole time, they were so chill and handled the wind, sand, and dust with ease, like seasoned desert dwellers. I was able to photograph them in their natural element having a little family time at the dunes. That day, we literally went through all the real parenthood moments that a family with young children will go through, nursing, nappy change, calming the little one, heading back to the car for baby’s sweater as the air turns chilly near sundown. Simple acts of love.

Being a Mother to a young child myself, I understand that there are times when we can be so busy with life that we forget about celebrating the everyday moments and our achievements as Mothers. It is through documenting motherhood that I wish to honor the love, strength, and milestones that illustrate our individual journey as parents. Every mom’s journey is different, but to their children, they’re all beautiful and strong.” Claudia, Photographer

 

 

CLAUDIA WILLOW PHOTOGRAPHY