This Irish Photographer’s Images Are A Poignant Celebration Of Breastfeeding

An Irish photographer has created a beautiful photo series in an effort to help mums overcome their anxieties about breastfeeding in public. Sophia Harding, who is based in Bundoran, is a documentary photographer with a solid reputation for her commercial work with big brands such as RTE and Electric Picnic, but in her own time she prefers to focus on portrait work, which she says allows her to capture the intimacy in relationships Explaining her idea for Nurture, a series of images of mothers nursing their children, taken in Ireland, Harding says:

"Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world. In this project I focus on the bond between mother and child and capture the beauty of breastfeeding."

Harding completed the project earlier this while in her final year studying a BA in photography in IADT. Her work with Irish families prompted her to consider attitudes to breastfeeding more closely.

"When I was hired for family portraits, I'd suggest to breastfeeding mothers that they may like to get some photographs of themselves nursing." Harding told HerFamily.

"Often the mothers where shy about this but agreed to take part. The images always resulted in a beautiful intimacy that they were thrilled to have captured afterwards."

"I began researching breastfeeding in Ireland and was shocked to see the low rates and decided to begin a project that openly celebrates breastfeeding with the hope of spreading the idea that it's something truly beautiful, and that women should not be shy about celebrating it."

To find subjects, Harding put a call out on Facebook and was surprised when she was inundated with willing mums.

"I got a huge response from my Facebook post and was able to get in contact with a range of woman and children of all ages.

I have since shared the images with the participants who where all thrilled to have these photographs to cherish forever. Many of the women where beginning the weaning process and for them, the images where extra special."

Check out the full Nurture collection here. 

Have you seen a portrayal of motherhood you think we should see? Let us know on Twitter @HerFamilydotie.