Mums in Real life – Unpolished Moments of Motherhood – By Alicia Hanifin

Documentary style photographic project that celebrates and highlights the dreams and reality of motherhood, the dark struggles, the pure joy and the overwhelming times that are wild, fun, sleep deprived and so exhausting as we all do our best to raise small humans.

It’s those surprisingly normal and natural moments that I aim to capture, the ones that zoom by in flash, the ones we may not love until we look back, the ones that tug at our heart strings because we were rushing or trying to juggle a million different things, the ones that show the washing pile and the unthanked chores, the ones that show how much love and care we have for our children, the ones that show our journey as a mother.

My photography documents moments in mostly black & white, often grainy, chunky use of flash, sometimes out of focus and of high contrast. I figure, now knowing the photographic ‘rules’ why not break them to create my own style. At the start of my photography journey I always loved the dark room using film and developing my own images, there was that uncertain magic of ‘what will I get’. Now that the digital time is convenient and fast I do still love pulling my images back so they become raw, grainy and original, much like the good ole film days.

My photograph of you will be accompanied by your words – something you would like to share with the world around being a mother, your story, your experience, an insight to unite and connect with others.

I have a big dream to share my photos in the form of an exhibition and in a book.

If you would like to be part of this project please message me via the Mums in Real Life Facebook page here – Canterbury, New Zealand.