Expecting: Mother and Child

M

Photography and text by Corey Amaro

I met Melanie a few years ago when a blog reader (Yosh) saw an antique in a photo on my blog that she liked. Yosh wrote me an email asking if the antique was for sale. Luckily, I had Melanie's business card, I called her to ask.

In other words because of a photo on my blog, that a blog reader responded to, I became good friends with Melanie.

 

M.A.

In September, right before I left to go to California, Melanie was nearly seven months pregnant. We had talked about talking some photos of her round belly. We had hoped to take them when she was further along, but as I was leaving we decided to take them earlier just in case she had the baby before I returned home.

 

Melanie

Melanie and her round belly came over to my house. I gave her an antique sheer linen curtain and told her, "This is what you are going to wear for the photographs."

She laughed, Melanie has an easy laugh, even when I am serious.

"Really?"

"Really."

Melanie is also a good sport, she said, "Okay, I'll trust you."

 

Profile pregnant

I think she let me have my way because I am older than she is…. and wanted some photos of herself pregnant, and well the curtain was an antique. You see with both have a thing for antiques.

Laughter was a big part of the day. Trying to hang a curtain on a pregnant woman is not an easy task. Let's just say you have to be pretty good friends to do it.

We took many photos… and not just because Melanie is photogenic (God is she photogenic) but because that dang curtain wouldn't cooperate, or hang, or fold the way we wanted it too.

And then the baby would kick…

 

Expecting

Melanie had Mathis early, a few days shy of my return to France.

Mother and child are fine (click here to see Mathis!)

I am hoping to take some photos of both of them… with the antique curtain of course!

 

————————————————————————————

NOTE:

The responses to yesterday's miracles… your stories are beautiful! I read and re-read them. Touching, heart warming, soothing… hopeful! I don't want your miracles, nor your sharing of them to stop I want to hear more of them!

To some miracles are events that cannot be explained. To others miracles are the beauty of life at hand. Miracles to me are the small notes of love that make me believe in something far greater than here and now. Miracles can be events that cannot be explained, and moreso they are the beauty that leads me to love.

The random winner (French Husband picks a number and then I count through the comments to that number: Which was eleven.) The winner of the altar chemise is Jenna.



Comments

34 responses to “Expecting: Mother and Child”

  1. Will you take photos of me whenever I am pregnant???? Pleaseeeeeeeeeeee!

  2. Gorgeous photos, Corey! I clicked over to have a peek at Mathis…he’s adorable!

  3. How lovely! And you were spot-on, Corey, when you insisted that she be photographed in the curtain. The way it drapes around her lovely baby-filled belly~~these turned out so great. I loved your comment that you have to be good friends to fiddle with the draping..:-) Thank you for the link to little Mathis. He is beyond adorable.
    A hopeful way to start my day!

  4. The miracles I’ve had always have to do with people. Moving to a God forsaken place in TX there was an incredible woman across the street who became my best friend. She helped me so much. She had just moved there from CA so I really think it was set up by God.
    Loved the photos, especially the sun coming through the curtain showing the outline of her belly.

  5. I’d pose for you if you could make me look that pretty. I LOOK pregnant sometimes (I’m 54 and post hysterectomy:)
    Seriously, the photos are spectacular…you are such an artist, talented in sooooo many areas.
    jackie
    bliss farm antiques

  6. Beautiful photos of Melanie and Mathis. You captured her well, the shadows are perfect.
    My miracle – well, it’s starts with an ugly divorce and ends with a grandchild who brought a family back together. I watched my parents divorce and our family was ripped apart. After they both remarried, still no more easier to all be in the same room. Then my brother’s wife had my nephew. That sweet child changed our lives. Everyone forgot the pain, everyone got along, for the baby. He mended what was broken, he was a miracle much needed.
    He was our miracle baby. He’s a man now but still precious and sweet as the day he was born.

  7. I can’t even describe how lovely I find these images, bravo Corey. Welcome to our world Mathis!
    Congratulations to Jenna as well, I am quite jealous. I also enjoyed reading all the miracles (and interpretations of the word) and I see now there are many many more since I left my comment yesterday – looking forward to reading them all.

  8. Melanie is indeed very beautiful and your photographs are exquisite. It is a special time for a woman and you seemed to have captured a glimpse of the inner emotions reminding me of that special time. The setting, the light and the draping look effortless despite your behind the scenes struggles with the curtain.
    Some of your portrait work is my favorite Corey…you truly have a gift!
    🙂

  9. Now , the one who is photogenic is MATHIS . I can’t wait to introduce you to him and to talk to you about my new life and my new experiences.
    I love the way he smells …he smells milk , he smells joy , he smells love..

  10. She looks like an earth mother, the pictures are ethereal. I like that mothers are taking pictures of their pregnancies, we capture every other beautiful event in our lives.
    Thank you for the chemise. If the story had been chosen by merit rather than lot, I wouldn’t have even come close ladies.

  11. I discovered Melanie’s webshop long ago and have been of fan of her photos and shop. When she announced months ago she was having a baby boy, I was so happy for her {funny how you become “friends” via blogging}. Then she posted a picture of Mathis in early November, and I felt like I was a relative from afar seeing the first picture of the wee one that would change her life forever ~ Melanie’s little miracle. The photos are fabulous; I’m sure Melanie appreciates each and every one! Can’t wait to see photos of the baby wrapped in that lovely antique linen. Perhaps if Jesus had been born in France, he too would have been wrapped in such a linen piece by His mother.

  12. These are beautiful photos, as is the subject of the post. True portraits of motherhood and such a warm legacy for Melanie to pass on someday. The use of the antique curtain (and that chandelier) is masterful, Corey.

  13. There’s nothing more beautiful and poetic than a pregnant woman, I find the “allure” in her is almost breathtaking…..

  14. Fabulous photos of an elegant lady! Corey, you are magic with your camera. The new baby is just beautiful.

  15. I’ve been fortunate to receive some santons from Melanie and get to know her. What a sweet and lovely lady she is and your photos are terrific!

  16. Brenda L from TN

    What lovely photos…Corey, you did a wonderful job…He is just precious and so perfect….a true miracle…
    Congratulations Melanie!!!

  17. Fabulous photos.. I have Melanies blog on the my blog roll , have done for a long time .. such wonderful news on the arrival of baby Mathis.. Blogging has brought so many people together .. xx

  18. C, honestly, you could lead brocante hunting excursions and give photography lessons! These shots are marvelous! Can you come for a visit? My daughter is an AP photography student, and her ex-art teacher mom can’t help her at all!
    xo

  19. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Everything is so lovely. Melanie is beautiful, the linen is so delicate, and the lighting, it’s sublime! You really, really have a gift!
    I peeked at Mathis. I hope you will take a series of photos of him as well. He is beautiful.

  20. Denise Solsrud

    what a sweetie! he has sweet heart lips as far as i can tell.Bestest,Denise

  21. Lovingly done…
    beautiful baby boy…
    a miracle indeed..

  22. Babies are bits of stardust handblown by God’s own hands
    Love to you all.
    Love Jeanne

  23. The Corey touch in all photo contexts. Brava! These are exquisite.

  24. You are amazing Auntie!
    xoxo

  25. Corey — these pictures are heartachingly lovely. You have such a gift. Bless you.

  26. Hello Corey,
    long time since we “spoke”…
    these images are breath taking beautiful!! one of the things if not THE most-in life I value is memories…these sure are VERY SPECIAL. thank you for sharing and Melanie is very beautiful. greetings to your family
    Colette x _Afrique du Sud

  27. Corey,
    I love ALL the photos, especially the last one-breath taking! You are so much fun, sweet, kind and so warm! She is so blessed to have such lovely, beautiful memories.
    Lily

  28. Dearest Corey; this is TOPS…. ALL those photos are so touching, tender, beautiful, I love the blurry surroundings, you did absolutely wonderful. OK, you had a VERY beautiful mother to be as a perfect model – but I am shivering here with the sheer beauty, the truth and the profound knowledge that nothing compares to having a child growing in you, knowing that you will give life to a very special person within a short while, LOVING that future being already so deeply…. and you brought all this into evidence in your skillful photography. This post makes me VERY HAPPY.
    And MARYANNE; since your post is the first one above the comments…. you made me laugh out loud! This is so wonderful…. 🙂

  29. I left a comment on Melanie’s site – Mathis is beautiful indeed… what a perfect gift by our Dear God!
    I see my sister blooming with happiness over her own daughter’s girl… Children and grand children DO change our life – and thanks to all those dedicated parents and grand parents who willingly take huge changes in their busy lives on themselves in order to see new life grow and develop!

  30. Melanie must surely treasure these for ever. They are achingly beautiful. The wonder of life, jx

  31. The photos are so beautiful. I was looking through some that was taken of our daugther, her daughter and unborn girl today and the above ones reiterated how precious children and grandchildren are. Love your blog so much have been sending the links to my friends. Linda also from Afrique du Sud

  32. jend’isère

    Lucky Melanie to have a friend with a photographic eye. My only pregnancy photo is shot by a friend after she gave me a ridiculous red stripes pregnancy Tshirt. After mastering PhotoShop, I’ll change it to an embroidered antique linen! Mmm, should the initials be mine or baby’s?

  33. Perfect! ♥ it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *