Welcome!

We are so thrilled you are here, exploring what this community has to offer as we launch and continue to grow and evolve.

Our community Facebook group is open to all professional photographers (please have your site listed publicly in your profile so we can approve you to join) focusing on motherhood or with an interest in motherhood photography.

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In this post we wanted to share a bit with you about submissions and what we are looking for. Please be sure to visit the beginning for a little more information.

When I was asked if and when I was going to go ahead with this idea my biggest fear was judging submissions.  I knew what I was looking for & the aesthetic I wanted to showcase, however judging a photographer’s art that they felt strongly enough about to submit is a lot of pressure. Bringing along 3 other curators on this venture with me was one of the things that I felt kept things fair for everyone so I’m so thrilled to introduce them here and also let us each tell you about what we’re thinking about when looking at each submission.

Jenny Cruger

“First and foremost I am looking for a deep connection & emotion.  It can be happy, silly, tender, bittersweet, loving, etc. but that emotional element must be present in a set of images.  A mama is so connected to her growing belly, tiny newborn she just met, or her child she’s nurtured and watched grow before her eyes that translating those things to a photograph are always number one for me.  I also want to see beautiful light with dimension, high quality technical skills, consistent editing styles, and I’m a sucker for light pastels & neutral tones.”

Allison Craig

“It may be her singing their favorite song, telling a funny story, or finding their tickle spot that ignites that single moment.  It can last only a split second, yet gives you a glimpse at their deep-seeded connection and bond.  What you capture could also be happening in their family room, too.  It’s real and authentic and them, as they are.  As important as connection is, so is location and clothing choices.  You can capture a beautiful moment, but if their clothes are loud or the location is busy, it will take away from the beauty of that moment.  Oh, and don’t forget:  golden sunlight and a ton of bokeh never hurt a soul”

Leigh Ripps

“When looking at a submitted set, I want to see solid technical skills, cohesive editing, and the unique voice of the photographer, but beyond that, I want images that show me what it feels like to be a mother. Go beyond just taking a picture of what a mom looks like with her child, and instead create images that show the deeply felt emotions and small moments that make up motherhood. A strong set for me also has a wide variety of images that paint a complete story of the day and moments you are documenting.”

 Lauren Penney