Capturing the Beauty of Motherhood: My Experience with Bonnie Pictures Photography

As a pregnancy yoga teacher and mum to two energetic boys (aged 6 and 8), life moves fast. Between school runs, yoga classes, and trying to keep up with growing feet and endless questions, it’s easy to forget to pause and take it all in.

I’ve always admired those beautifully serene pregnancy photoshoots — the ones that seem to freeze a fleeting moment in time. But like many mums, I took blurry mirror selfies in pregnancy of myself looking a bit frazzled and by the time I thought about it, it was too late.

Then I met Susie from Bonnie Pictures Photography through the school playground — a fellow mum and a wonderfully talented photographer. We connected through our businesses, and one day, she offered to do a motherhood photoshoot for me. I was so excited to try it out for myself!

What made the experience so special was the care and intention Susie brought to every part of the process. Before the shoot, she invited me to her home for a consultation. We chatted about the style I loved, looked through outfit choices, and even discussed pose ideas. She encouraged me to create a Pinterest board to help bring the vision to life — it felt like such a collaborative and thoughtful approach.

On the day of the shoot, she welcomed me into her home where she’d created the most beautiful, calming space. She’d even arranged for hair and makeup so I could feel my absolute best (what a treat!). Nothing was too much effort — you could tell she genuinely wanted it to be a special experience.

When my boys arrived, she had toys ready for them, making it easy to transition straight into the shoot. She was brilliant with them — patient, playful, and able to get those natural smiles that only come out when kids feel totally at ease. We tried a few different outfits and poses, and Susie somehow made everything feel relaxed and effortless.

One photo that really stands out is one of the three of us — eyes closed, just being. In the moment, I didn’t think much of it. But now? It’s my favourite. It lives on my bedside table and reminds me daily of how precious these moments are.

Get in the Picture

It also made me think — how often are we mums actually in the photo? Our phone reels are full of snapshots of our kids, selfies they’ve taken of themselves, and maybe the odd family pic where we’re half in the frame. But we’re rarely the focus. And yet, when we look back at our own childhood photos, it’s the ones with our parents that we cherish the most (and yes, giggle at their hairstyles!). There’s something so grounding and beautiful about seeing those moments. I'm always encouraging my hubby to take pictures of me with the kids, however messy I look, because I know we will cherish those the most.

The final photos are simply stunning. Susie captured something so real — the connection between me and my boys, this chapter in our story, the magic of motherhood in all its messy, beautiful glory. I’ll treasure them forever.

If you’re a new mum or a mum with older kids, I can’t recommend a motherhood shoot enough. Time goes by so quickly, and we’re so rarely in the frame. This experience was a gentle reminder to slow down and celebrate where we are — not just as mums, but as women.

Thank you, Susie, for giving me that gift. 💛