Celebrating Motherhood at Wingaersheek Beach
Inspired by Elise de Haas, a talented photographer based in Perth, Australia, Niko from Lily James Photography and I organized a heartwarming creative motherhood session at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, MA. The concept was simple yet profound: a gathering of mothers and mamas-to-be, accompanied by their little ones, dressed in minimalist outfits with the beach serving as the perfect backdrop. Our goal was to celebrate motherhood, promote body positivity, and capture the unfiltered joy (and occasional chaos) of children at play by the sea.
Our group consisted of nine beautiful women, three of whom are pregnant, along with eight adorable children. Each of these women brought their unique stories and experiences of motherhood to the session, creating a tapestry of love, strength, and joy.
We began with some large group shots, with all our mamas dressed in jeans and white tops. The combination of posed and candid shots allowed the kids to be themselves, capturing genuine moments of playfulness and affection. The women then broke into smaller groups, including a special focus on our three pregnant mamas.
Moving from the dunes to the beach, the session took on a new energy as the children explored the rocks and soft white sand of Wingaersheek. They splashed in the water and got delightfully sandy, embodying the carefree spirit of childhood.
As the evening progressed, a few mamas had to leave as it approached bedtime for their little ones. Those who remained changed into our next set of simple outfits: all white, some dressy, and others just bathing suits or undies. The sunset painted the sky in shades of pink and purple, creating a magical setting as the tide receded, revealing beautiful patterns in the sand and shallow puddles for the kids to play in. Low tide at Wingaersheek is truly breathtaking, with the reflection of the pastel sky in the water.
We ended the session with our three pregnant mamas, capturing the golden hour and the transition to the serene blue hour. We took fun group shots of the trio and solo shots of each stunning woman, celebrating their radiant beauty and strength.
Organizing this session with Niko was an absolute honor. We invited a few other photographers to join us, and it was incredible to see the different perspectives each brought to the same subjects. The diversity of viewpoints highlighted the unique beauty of each moment.
A big thank you to all the wonderful mothers and children who participated, enduring the buggy dunes and the inherent chaos of photographing children at golden hour. Your patience and joy made this session truly special.
