Is this one of the most arresting breastfeeding photos you’ve ever seen?
Mum-of-two, Kassondra Coxson teamed up with photographer, Jen Pritchett to create the unusual family portraits that received a huge response when it was posted online.
“I am extremely passionate about normalising breastfeeding in general and in the black community specifically. My daughter and I had many difficulties establishing our breastfeeding relationship and were only able to overcome our obstacles because of amazing support. Too many people struggle because they don’t have that support and they don’t see people who look like them breastfeeding. This is why we need to normalise breastfeeding. Part of normalising breastfeeding is making sure people see breastfeeding” wrote Kassondra on her blog Motherhood Community.
“This is why I post ‘brelfies’ on Facebook all the time and why I decided to share my nursing milk bath photos publicly.”
Coxson explained that the idea for the shoot stemmed from wanting to celebrate motherhood and preserve the memories of her pregnancy. One set of shots show her pregnant and a second set was taken after the baby was born.
While Coxson’s powerful images are clearly enormously empowering for women, she herself described feeling a reluctance around doing a nude maternity shoot as “I realised not only would my belly be emphasised, all my rolls and flaws would be exposed.”
The idea for the milk bath was a way around this:
“I remembered seeing a milk bath photo and thought that would allow me to have a belly shoot without emphasising the things that I’m self-conscious about. While we were shooting,my daughter asked to nurse. It was the perfect opportunity to take the milk bath photos a step further.”
The images have inspired a hugely mixed reaction online with many commenters taking the time out of their busy schedules to shame the courageous mum for her appearance and decision to publicly share the photos.
Photographer, Jen posted:
“I post one picture featuring a plus-size WOC [woman of colour] who has courageously put herself out there to help normalise breastfeeding and raise awareness for black women breastfeed(ing) and I am quickly reduced to tears by the racist comments I’ve had to police tonight.”
Others however were vocal in their support for Coxson.
“It has been amazingly empowering to see the end result,” says Coxson.
What do YOU think of Coxson’s unconventional photo shoot? Let us know in the comments…
