Jenny (the photographer) moved to the Hackney area of East London 20 years ago and has since photographed much of her surrounding neighborhood and neighbors.
Veronica and Eden
The idea for the project came out of wanting to show women that there doesn’t have to be so much fear surrounding the idea of giving birth.
Liana and Archer
She told Indulgd, “Having had two great births, I felt it was important this side of story was also talked about and represented.”
Chieska and Floyd
She says on her website, “Very early on in the project I knew I wanted to concentrate on the first twenty-four hours, when a woman’s body is engulfed by hormones, to capture the unrelenting physicality of the moment, straight from the battlefield.”
Tamsyn and Eve-Marie
In order to find her models, she simply put up fliers around her neighborhood, hoping to attract locals of all races, sexual orientations and ages.
Karin and Catrin
The series developed over the next five years, and the moments she captured range across a wide spectrum of what new motherhood can feel like.
Jenny and Agnes
Most women seem overwhelmed with joy and a new, all-encompassing sense of responsibility.
Nicola and Jemima
Some seem to be struggling with it somewhat, but their focus remains clear — on their newborn baby.
Gitta and Til
“I find the collection of images quite defiant and beautiful, challenging the expected vision of those first twenty-four hours, a pure celebration of what it means to be a mother.”
Idoya and Nahia
There is definitely a quiet reflection going on in each shot of the mother coming to terms with the extraordinary thing she has just achieved.
Mairead and Fia
There is also an umistakable glow and euphoria to each and every subject.
Theresa and Tommy
The ones by the window are my favorite because the mother and baby are bathed in gorgeous, natural light that heightens the reality of the moment.
Marley and Etta
“I wanted to tell a story about the strength and resilience of women post-childbirth that I feel goes largely unacknowledged in today’s world.”
Suphrawadee and Evelyn
“To reassure women that childbirth is ok; yes it’s painful but it is a positive pain, one that has purpose and is just part of the journey, a rite of passage into motherhood.”
Lottie and Lewis
Meredith and Lina
Jenny is intent on taking this project to other countries to show how the first days of motherhood compare around the world.
Larie and Tyrick
Jenny says the reactions have been very physical all around. People tend to get sucked in by the content of each image.
Clemmie and Imogen
Overall, the series is empowering and reassuring — showing women that they’re still themselves after they’ve given life to another human being.
Catherine and Raya
Xanthe and Louie
Jenny loves working with all her subjects, especially when she’s allowed in soon after the birth. She describes that energy as “crackling.”
Anna and Sky
Jenny made a book of the five-year-long project and it’s available for purchase at Hoxton Mini Press. You can also check the rest of her beautiful shots out on her website.
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