milk time

milk time :: fall 2017 edition

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This past fall was a tangle of busy engagement with so many things, that this fell to the wayside. But I'm hoping late is decidedly better than never with this. Because pulling up the images today -- months after they were shot -- I'm getting the warm fuzzies all over again. This was a great set of Milk Time sessions at Simply Born Birth House. It's really satisfying to know all of these mamas have these gorgeous breastfeeding portraits as keepsakes. 

And I'll be doing this again, soon! In early March! Please keep an eye on this blog, as well as my Facebook and IG accounts so that you don't miss the date and location announcement when it comes. This past time I actually had assigned time slots for every participant, which seemed to work out even better than the former format of first-come-first-serve open house style. So I'm leaning toward setting it up that way again. 

milk time :: february 2017 edition

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This really doesn't get old, this Milk Time thing. The gathering of lactating women around muffins and fruit, the babies sitting on the floors and in laps, the conversations around breastfeeding challenges facilitated by Raquel, the nursing and cuddling and smooching. Women and their babies are magnificent co-creatures, the beautiful Mamababy, separate and yet still so truly One. These days are treasures.

If you missed this one and can't wait until the next one this summer, private milk time sessions are an option! 

A special thanks to Simply Born Birth House for letting us use their BEAUTIFUL space for this event. 

milk time at Simply Born Birth House

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I'm considering changing the name of Milk Time to Oxytocin Feast because SERIOUSLY: It's like gathering a group of women and babies together to all get simultaneously high on that amazing hormone. 

This Milk Time, which was hosted in the most perfectly appropriate and beautiful venue ever -- Simply Born Birth House -- included 16 mamas, 16 babies, a handful of toddlers, and even one daddy. We also had La Leche League leader Raquel Knack present to do on-the-spot consultations, which proved to be invaluable!

Whether each mama's baby latched on for 2 seconds or 10 minutes or not at all during their session, whatever way(s) she fed her baby, however many babies/toddlers she feeds at once, whether her baby was cheerful or fussy today, and whatever the story behind how her baby came to her, or how she came to accomplish a beautiful breast-feeding relationship... These women are beautiful in their diversity! And these babies are all SO CLEARLY LOVED. 

Enjoy the oxytocin hit. ;)

milk time :: breastfeeding and snuggle portraits

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I've lost track of what edition number we're at now. But for the first time after quite a long pause, we did a round of Milk Time portraits in the middle of July in a sweet, light-filled studio-apartment in historic downtown Grand Rapids. 

Seven mamas and their littlest loves came through to be photographed together, and five of them have given me permission to share a few highlights from their sessions here. Which is great, because I think they are absolutely oxytocin-producing images and we could all use a bit of that. 

Here's to breastfeeding, through the pain and the obstacles and straight into the bond that's unlike any other. 

Oh boy. That's good stuff. :)

It'll be a while before I do another Milk Time EVENT, but you can arrange one for yourself at a time and place of your choosing whenever the heck you want, you know. Read more HERE. 

Feed all the babies. 

milk time (vol VI)

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for this edition of Milk Time, we did some creative thinking so that we could get outdoor sessions for the many who had requested it. i knew we needed a space that had some scenic but private outdoor options but also an indoor location that was photograph-worthy in case not everyone wanted to be outside, or if it were to rain. that place turned out to be my house! which meant i had to send my own kids away for the afternoon to tidy and rearrange and clean both the house and the yard. it was a lot of work, so i hired nick at Rise Grand Rapids to do the bulk of the food prep. He brought over some delectable treats to spoil us all rotten. 

by the time the 2-hour event was over, 10 mamas with their babies had come and gone, many of them lingering to chat and snack and change diapers before or after their turn in front of the camera. it's the loveliest way to spend two hours, let me tell you!

also, for the first time ever, i had the privilege of welcome two mamas with bottle-fed babies. i'm happy to be able to celebrate all the many variations of how babies get fed. the connection that can be felt between a baby and his/her mama when being cuddled and fed is palpable in the air. every time. every way.

there will be one more opportunity to participate in Milk Time this summer. Friday, July 17 at Renew Mama Studio. Go HERE for event details and to purchase your ticket!

milk time :: amber + violet

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Occasionally an at-home Milk Time session is necessary. In this case, Amber was hit with a suddenly-weaning 2 year-old and she knew she wanted to capture some nursing memories on film before it was too late. So, I made a trip out to their homestead to do a little Milk Time mini session. Violet didn't actually latch on for very long, but the few minutes that she did were sweet and cozy. I love how she squinted her eyes as if to pretend that she was sleeping. Such peace. 

Because we knew Violet wouldn't nurse long, we used the remainder of the session to capture some sweet cuddles between Amber and both her littlest girls. I really love these photos of them. And thanks to you, Amber, for being a perfect re-entry into shooting after my maternity leave. :)

For those interested in having your own Milk Time session, there are two upcoming dates in the works, which I'll be announcing very soon. But have a new twist on them! How's that for a teaser?! ;)

Hold your babies close today, friends.