Australian photographer Suzie Blake decided that most breastfeeding photo projects were pretty staged — and in fact, most are, with gorgeous backdrops and ethereal imagery. This provides breathtaking visuals of those tender moments when a mother nurses her child, but Blake decided she could add to this conversation by showing what it’s really like — messy house, bedhead and with your older kids flipping over your couch while your baby pinches your boob flesh.
“I was tired of seeing images that fail to show the realities of breastfeeding for most women,” she says. “This project is about portraying breastfeeding in all its beautiful messiness. This is about tired eyes and no make up. This is about milk leaks and ratty hair.”
And it is. These stark (yet warm) black-and-white shots are so real you can almost feel those tiny baby fingernails scratching your chest.
Blake currently has an IndieGoGo campaign set up so she can take this project next to the U.K., but in the meantime, take in the beauty of these photos, and see what memories they bring back — or marvel at their ability to paint breastfeeding like the messy, gorgeous labor of love it truly is.
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A family affair
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Breastfeeding is often a family affair.
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Chaos
Image Credit: Suzie Blake When you have older kids, you’re always on call.
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Double trouble
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Two babies? You might nurse them one at a time.
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Two at a time
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Or maybe they nurse together.
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Relaxing, huh?
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Nursing allows moms to relax, but that may not be what’s on her other children’s minds.
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All alone
Image Credit: Suzie Blake But it’s often when we’re most comfortable.
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In bed
Image Credit: Suzie Blake There’s nothing more beautiful than a nursing mom.
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On the floor
Image Credit: Suzie Blake No matter where she has to plop down to do it.
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Lena breastfeeding photo
Image Credit: Suzie Blake How lovely is this mother?
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Lie in
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Many moms learn pretty quickly how to nurse lying down so they can rest too. Divine.
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Reconnecting
Image Credit: Suzie Blake While the chaos of your house surrounds you, a breastfeeding moment can reconnect you with your busy toddler.
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Playland
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Breastfeeding takes place everywhere and anywhere.
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They’re all hungry
Image Credit: Suzie Blake And your older child may have a snack too.
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Still gorgeous
Image Credit: Suzie Blake While not Photoshopped or airbrushed, these moms are still beautiful.
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Popping off
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Even as their babies are totally distracted and popping off.
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Nesting
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Moms often have a little nest they like to sit in to nurse their babies at home.
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All strewn about
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Surrounded by items they need or need to later find a place for.
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Drop everything and feed
Image Credit: Suzie Blake You usually have to drop everything to nurse a hungry infant, and these photos convey that perfectly.
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Hand up
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Breastfeeding a baby is a gorgeous labor of love.
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Out and about
Image Credit: Suzie Blake No matter what sorts of crazy is surrounding you.
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In the park
Image Credit: Suzie Blake Or where you breastfeed your child.
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