To all the Sexy Mamas

​Recently when perusing the news I saw that the singer Halsey is releasing a new album at the end of August.  The cover of her upcoming album reveals a very pregnant Halsey in a Renaissance type painting.  She is wearing a golden crown, holding an infant and one breast is exposed.  She explores the connection between women’s bodies being both a part of their sexuality, as well as the vessel which often carries, births, and provides for a child.  Halsey says, “ This cover image celebrates pregnant and postpartum bodies as something beautiful, to be admired. We have a long way to go with eradicating the social stigma around bodies & breastfeeding. I hope this can be a step in the right direction!"  
I started thinking about women’s sexuality and how often while pregnant or during postpartum women and society do not view mother’s as still being sexual beings.  Additionally, media tends to want postpartum mothers to hide the messiness of having a baby. 
            Even though it was several years ago, I still remember the image of Kate Middleton leaving the hospital after the birth of Prince George.  She has a blowout, full makeup, and is wearing a cute blue polka dot dress and high heels!  Yes she is royalty, but to this day I was so astonished that this postpartum woman was expected to look perfect and hide what her body had just experienced. 
            I often hear women not wanting to do boudoir photography during their pregnancy because they are becoming mothers.  That the sexy side of themselves needs to go on a temporary hiatus until after the baby is born, or until after the baby weight is lost.  
No, no, no , no…and no.  
Becoming a mother does not take away the sexual side of a woman.  I don’t care if you have physically had a child, or adopted…mothers are sexy.
  Maternity boudoir photography celebrates a woman’s sexuality and journey to motherhood going hand in hand.  And if you know anything about me, I’m all about embracing your imperfections, scars, the cellulite that you may be worrying about, the sleep deprivation that you may think has taken up residence underneath your eyes.  Don’t wait a year or two until you think you have finally reclaimed your sexuality or your confidence.  Celebrate that your body carried a child, birthed it and has recovered.  That a human depends on you to be cared for each day. That in itself is an incredible feat.  You are beautiful whether you are in your twenties, pregnant, in the midst of post-partum, past that stage in your life…or never want to experience motherhood.  Boudoir is for every woman because every woman deserves to feel confident and beautiful. 

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