Photography Project Celebrates the Beauty of Mothers’ Real Bodies

Photography Tips

Ashlee Wells Jackson, a photographer based out of Chicago, is making a point to show the natural beauty of a mother’s body after childbirth in her photo project titled, The 4th Trimester Bodies Project. The project showcases women’s bodies just after they have given birth in hopes to restore confidence and pride in their bodies:

Jackson had the idea to photograph herself after a trying and heartbreaking pregnancy, in which only one of her twins, Nova, survived and was born at only 24 weeks. Nova spent 100 days in NICU before she was strong enough to be released from the hospital. The loss of Aurora, Nova’s twin sister, and Nova’s battle in intensive care weighed heavily on the new mother.

A project that started just as a personal assignment has turned into an epic venture, as Jackson prepares to take the project on a worldwide tour. See the video below for more details about The 4th Trimester Bodies Project, and check out Jackson’s website for tour dates and to find out more information on how you can be a part of the project.

“I felt broken and damaged, and at a point in my life where I wanted to be celebrating my body for creating life, I was dealing with the fact that it took it away… I wanted to put a picture of myself out there to help myself cope and to hopefully help other women.” – Ashlee Wells Jackson