Photographer Captures Powerful Photos Of Women During Their Earliest Hours Of Motherhood

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One Day Young is a visual project by London-based photographer Jenny Lewis. For the past 5 years, she has been capturing portraits of mothers during their first 24 hours following childbirth.

Clementine and Imogen

Frida and Ethan

Lewis aims to capture the unique relationship between a mother and her newborn, describing the portraits as “the extraordinary bonding, warmth, and strength between mother and infant.”

Gemma and Reuben

She hopes that these portraits will help alleviate the fear which some women might have about childbirth.

Anna and Sky

Liana and Archer

“Motherhood really brings people together, it doesn’t matter how much money you’ve got, or what your job is, you’ve just done this amazing thing so everyone feels joyous and proud,” Lewis said.

Laure and Tyrick

Being a mother herself, Lewis explains that her inspiration came from her own experiences.

Leanh and Lachlan

“When I became a mom, I felt a real responsibility to go up to pregnant women and say you’re going to be OK. I experienced two good and uncomplicated births and felt calm and empowered.”

Xanthe and Louie

“I knew that I couldn’t be the only one who felt this way.”

Jenny and Agnes

“I felt as if I had to share this message — and the most natural way for me to do this as a photographer was to make a series of images.”

Elizabeth and Anton

“So I sought to capture that moment after childbirth and show that women are still themselves after delivery.”

Theresa and Thomas

“I felt a picture would be more powerful than reassuring words, as you can’t disbelieve something you can physically see.”

Jenny and Max

“Each story and image belongs to each individual woman. However, I noticed through this process that this warrior comes out in all of the women. They gain this inner strength to protect the child and you can see it in the photos.”

Nicola and Verity

“They’re like those heroic pictures of soldiers on the battlefield or the footballer after the match, still full of the adrenaline of achievement.”

Shenelle and Arissa

“This moment isn’t often captured in women, but what they’ve just achieved is just as important as that goal or that battle, and that moment deserves to be recorded and celebrated in the public arena.”

Mairead and Arlo

“I was completely surprised at the serenity I found at each house. You imagine mayhem, screaming and crying and drama, yet in reality, you are invited into the calmest space ever.”

Jenny and Nora

“It got me thinking that post birth is so misrepresented in our culture and media, and this is unhelpful to women and new families.”

Katharina and Tito

“I find the collection of images defiant and beautiful, challenging the expected vision of those first 24 hours, a pure celebration of what it means to be a mother.”

Hazel and Rudy

Lewis’ work is compiled in her book, One Day Young, and is available for purchase at Hoxton Mini Press. You can also visit her website to see more of her work.