How to Get Mums to Exist in Photos

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At Bubbaroo I have thousands of photos of babies and I’m constantly looking at photography on social media and plenty of baby bumps. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get any professional photos taken when I was pregnant with my babies. Over the years we’ve had plenty of family portraits done and I really cherish all those beautiful moments in time. Today I would like to share with Krystle’s story with you…

Krystle’s Story

My first truly terrifying moment as a parent came recently, having rushed my son to emergency we sat in a hospital stall, staff rushing around trying to stabilise him. I watched his little chest sucking in so hard I could see the outline of his ribs, fighting for every breath, he was having his first asthma attack at the age of two. So I sat there numb, analysing his short life and our brief time together, thinking of all the things I had done wrong as a mother.

I never fed him strictly organic home made, sugar free, grain free, taste free food like I did his sister, he wore girl’s clothes for the first 6 months of his life mostly because I ran out of clean boy’s ones. I didn’t have a photo of his every milestone and everyday printed and neatly organised in a cute baby album. He didn’t even have a baby album, and that’s when it dawned on me we didn’t have any proper family photos or the ones we had didn’t include me!

Why Don’t Mums Exist in Photos?

I remember when my children were born my cousin told me “don’t get mummy syndrome and never get in the photos with your kids,”. Naturally I dismissed her advice completely. Why would I want photos of me at my worst looking? 5 kilos heavier than usual, okay 15 kilos heavier and bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. Let alone the thought of sitting through a professional photo shoot, that would be my idea of torture.

Years later I heard educator and my mentor Sue Bryce begging mothers to exist in photos, I still didn’t listen. It took a life altering proverbial punch in the face for me to take notice. As I was ushered to the side of the emergency room by staff it seemed like time had stopped. I was standing outside my body looking in on not only the scene in front of me but my whole life.

Family photography

Photos Mean The World To Me

A million scenarios went through my head, what if these were the last moments with my child and I never bothered with photos because I didn’t feel worthy. What if that had been me in the hospital bed and I wasn’t coming home? I imagined the heartbreak of my children when they searched for photos of me and there were none. The thought still crushes me and brings floods of tears to my eyes.

I felt so foolish and vain. I knew the pain of losing my sister suddenly and having no evidence she existed. As a teenager she destroyed almost all photos of herself, the very few photos that remained were worth more than anything money could buy to my family. They are our most prized possessions, our heirlooms. I love nothing more than sitting around my parents’ house looking at our old family photo albums laughing and telling stories about the good old days (and don’t even get me started about printing photos). And I realised that in my self loathing I was robbing my children and loved ones the opportunity, to look back and do this. It doesn’t really matter what we look like, or how we felt about ourselves, because in the eyes of our children we are already perfect. YOU ARE PERFECT. And deserve to be remembered.

Mum and baby photography by Krystle Ricci

“One day when your child is 40 years old, they will look at that photograph, and your child will treasure it more than any other photo they have ever seen of themselves” -Sue Bryce Photographer

About Krystle Ricci

Krystle Ricci is a mum and photographer from Perth, Western Australia.  I met Krystle over a year ago at another workshop we were hosting.  I absolutely loved the photos Krystle took at the workshop and we’ve been working together ever since!

Krystle was named Capture Magazine’s top 10 emerging portrait and documentary photographer for 2017/2018. She was a finalist in the Olive Cotton Award 2017 and was also a finalist in the Rangefinder Magazine Portrait Awards. Krystle has exhibited in the Head On photo festival in Sydney and has featured in the following magazines/blogs:

  • LET THE KIDS DRESS THEMSELVES
  • OFFSPRING MAGAZINE
  • LITTLE ONE MAGAZINE
  • FEARLESS & FRAMED
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL CHILD PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • LEMONADE & LENSES

Nicole Cassey presenting at a workshop

Photographing Your Newborn

I would like to add to Krystle’s advice by saying that with so much focus on the birth and getting used to your newborn, some parents who intend to have a photo shoot, forget to arrange it. Blame it on sleep deprivation! A baby is really only a newborn for a very short time. Another thing new parents aren’t aware of is milk spots. Around  5-9 weeks of age baby may temporarily develop “milk spots” on their face. These are normal and common due to hormones in their body. So the ideal time to get photos taken is during that really early newborn period. Ideally from birth to around 3 weeks.  Don’t panic if you don’t, it’s just a suggestion. It can also be common for photographers to book out. So if you really want a great photographer – get in early!

Don’t Wait…

So I urge you to follow Krystle’s advice, take the plunge and get in those photos! Be it pregnancy, newborn or family shoots – it’s never too late. Beautiful images that you will and your children will cherish forever!  Do yourself a favour and check out Krystle’s beautiful images on her website.

Nicole Cassey

written by

Nicole Cassey

Nicole Cassey, Mum to Jacob and Emily, founder and general dog’s body at Bubbaroo. Nicole was inspired to create Bubbaroo and Australia’s first swaddle after the personal experience she had with her first child, Jacob.

Nicole explains "It is such a steep learning curve becoming a parent. Getting to know the baby you created and finding your groove as a parent. You sometimes feel like you need to become a detective to try to interpret your baby's cues, personality, cries and behaviour. This is my passion to help parents on their journey, especially new parents as they transition to parenthood."

Nicole has a passion for sharing knowledge and community, regularly organising and presenting at various expectant parent and sleep workshops. Nicole ensures she is up to date with the latest evidence-based safe sleep and health research. Bubbaroo collaborates with experts in their field that share similar values and philosophies and have a passion for helping and supporting parents and expectant parents.

Nicole’s attention to detail with the creation of her premium quality baby, toddler and child sleepwear is exceptional. Nicole has been committed to ensure that Bubbaroo is not just a mass market brand producing products, Nicole’s focus is on helping your baby sleep safely in products that stand the test of time.

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