Hey Mom’s that hide behind the camera, I’m talking to you.
How often have you been flicking through your family holiday photos and despite there being close to 500 pictures, you’re only in like, 20 of them? And 10 of them are the blurred shots your kid took when they were trying to be helpful. 5 of them are those awkward phone selfies you take by accident when you don’t realise that the camera is on the wrong setting. And well, none of them are at all flattering.
Just me? I think not.
In our case photography is a little hobby of mine. I thoroughly enjoy taking photos and as a result, for nearly all the important moments that my kids have had, there is a photo to remind them of it. The only problem is that I’m never in any of them with them. Savouring these memories isn’t as important to everyone else as it is to me.
Although it’s not really a problem for them right now, we never know what the future holds. How important it might be for our kids to have photos to remember us by. Capturing and storing memories to look back on is something I’m seriously passionate about. It’s important to me. It’s my vibe.
When I met Josie at the last #CTMeetUp, I knew she was someone I could get along with. Such a lovely woman, so calm and just good fun to be around. When she contacted me a few weeks later to do a Mother’s Love portrait shoot with Josie Photography, well you know me. I grabbed onto the opportunity to capture more memories with my kids like it was a packet of Nik Naks trying to escape.
The whole focus of the Mother’s Love shoot it to put mothers into pictures with their children. Not the blurry, disinterested shots our partners may take, but beautiful pictures that you would be proud to put up on your wall. To share with your friends and for your children to remember you by.
So summarise – it’s exactly what every Mom needs.
The shoot was set in the comfort of our home where Zelda from Pretty In The City came to do our hair and make up. You could not wipe the smile off the girls faces because she curled their hair! Something that I haven’t been able to do. Then I had my hair and make up professionally done by Zelda too. I love having my make up done. It’s what Princesses must feel like.
Josie was so great with the kids. So understanding when my little rascals got out of hand (as they do when they are in any kind of public eye, because they like to embarrass me). Even though getting a shot of all four of us, all smiling and looking at the camera at the same time was almost impossible, Josie was so chilled and relaxed. It made it so easy to be in front of the camera instead of behind it.
So I want to offer you this chance too.
One lucky person will be winning a “Mothers Love shoot with Josie Photography” worth R1750.
The prize will involve a photo shoot at a location of your choice (home or studio), with professional hair and make up. The result is a beautifully gifted set of five prints and a flash drive full of edited images.
EXTRA ENTRY: Share a photo on Instagram tagging us in your comments @cindyalfino, @josiephotocpt and #321motherslove. If you want to you can add post link so your friends can enter too: https://goo.gl/yZn3Nv
This photo can be a funny/blurry image of a picture that your husband took, or yet another image of your kids without you in it, or something along those lines. Any reason why you need this photo shoot in your life.
If you’re feeling really generous I’d love it if you could share this giveaway with a friend that you know that would love this opportunity – here’s some text you can use when sharing it: “I’d love to be in a Mother’s Love photo with my children – pick me @cindyalfino and @josiephotocpt https://goo.gl/yZn3Nv”
Now, feast your eyes on the kinds of pictures you will be winning. How gorgeous?!
26 comments
A Mother’s Love is gentle and kind, unselfish and selfless. It is about doing and being your best in order to give them the best.
These images are so gorgeous Cindy. I myself have all those weird blurred selfie style mom and kids pics. #blessed
What absolutely stunning photos! I have a million pics of the kids but very few have me in them and zero have me looking good enough to display in a picture frame.
These photos are absolutely gorgeous!!
Mothers love to me means embracing the experience of raising two young people with all that the experience entails, the good , the bad, the joys, the tears, the challenges and struggles. Being the unsung hero and the behind the scenes support cast. Changing my hat to whatever the situation requires; the homework and project assistant, the nurse, the cleaner, the disciplinarian, the vilian or the social worker. Sitting in the back row or standing on tip toe at the school concert after waiting for 3 hours just to have 5 minutes of glory beaming with pride as by boy rocks the stage for his 5 minutes of fame. It means no takeout lunches at work for a whole month due to new nikes because of 5 a’s in a report card for my soon to be matriculant. It means I get to be part of the life journey of two beautiful souls that makes my heart at times feels so full that it spills over through my eyes!!!
A Mother’s Love is pushing through even though you’re close to tears for absolutely no reason. A Mother’s Love is giving your child that last piece of chocolate you were saving, or the crumbs in the bottom of the Niknaks packet because he’s scream crying for it and you’d rather chew off your own arm than have to suffer another agonizing second hearing him wail.
The photos are beautiful!
Firstly, i WISH I lived in CT!! And Secondly, I could eat Knox up in a second – how flipping gorgeous is he and infact, the girls….you make beautiful kids!!
This is brilliant… I realised this year that I don’t have a single photo of me with my mum… ever. Not my entire childhood or ever. It kind of breaks my heart!!! So I have a goal to get one (just one!!!) great shot of me with each of my kids… a picture tells a thousand words and I would love them to have that tangible memory. A picture with all my kids would really be a gift for me… but I would like something for each them… But how do you get eight photographs… Clearly I need help!!!
There’s nothing deeper than a Mothers love to me, before my boys were even born every fibre of my being loved them and wanted them. The love I have my boys is unconditional and instinctual and I would fight heaven and earth for them.
This sums me up in a nutshell. I have an endless amount of photos of my family, but the pics of me always look utterly terrible. This would definitely atleast ensure that I have some pics of me in them that make me look more human and less tired mombie lol
Mothers love = waking up 8 times a night and still loving the little rascal in the morning!
Currently a mother’s love means not getting grumpy with broken sleep. In general it means knowing that you’ve got someone on your side always, who’ll always love you even when they’re upset with you.
A Mothers Love to me means, unconditional love that forgets the exhaustion, sleepless nights, dirty house, sibling fights, constant talking, wall art, couch art, coffee table art, accidents during potty training AND INSTEAD remembering and treasuring the unconditional love that these little people have for you. Appreciating the hugs and kisses and quiet time. Cuddling in bed. A house full of shrieking laughter. I love the special relationship I have with each of my 3 girls.
Mother’s love is a raging, roaring love that willingly sacrifices her all to the needs and protection of her children. The getting out of bed every minute your head hits the pillow only to hear your little one cry out, the sleepless nights where only cuddles can comfort, the hospital visits where you feel like your heart is ripping from your body watching your little one endure so much pain but find peace though it all to create a a loving, safe atmosphere to ease his or her fears… I have so many pictures of our son and of course his daddy but very few with me. Sometimes we are so quick to capture every moment, every milestone that we miss being in it ourselves. Would love to win this!
A mother’s love is unconditional, immeasurable and never ending. Love in its purest form.
🙁 When are we Joburg Mommies getting such fabulousness. You guys look great and the photos are just ssoooooo beautiful.
Ah, these images are beautiful Cindy! So special
Mothers Love = giving your best, your last, your EVERYTHING to and for your child.
I would love to win this its such a special giveaway
My children are growing up so fast. I would love to capture this stage of our lives. A mothers love is unconditional.
Beautiful pics.
As someone who does photography on the side too I am never in the shots! Would love a special shoot – pick me pick me xxxxxx
This is a lovely prize.
Mother’s Love means feeling like a part of your heart is missing when you’re apart, yet raising him/her to be confident, independent and to take on the world with empathy and love. Our daughter is 7 months old-our last photos together were on the day she was born ?
Mother’s Love is hearing yourself coming out of your child’s mouth and realising the impact you have on them…which makes you want to always strive to be a better person so that they can achieve epicness!
Your photos are beautiful. I would so love this. Literally thousands of pictures of kids and their dad. Now my ex i so wish i had asked for more pix of me and my babies. Very sad. There is possibly a handful of myself in them. Would make my year enjoying some much needed timeout and pampering at your shoot.