Wellness

THROUGH THE LENSES OF BEAUTIFUL MOTHERS OF BEAUTIFULNOW

Time Tunnel by 3soulcakes, for BN Photo Competition Theme: Beautiful Openings.

by 3soulcakes. Time Tunnel. For BN Photo Competition Theme: Beautiful Openings.

In honor of Mother’s Day tomorrow, and in honor of BeautifulNow community members who are both mothers and photographers, we are sharing some of their most beautiful photos that celebrate Beautiful Motherhood. Many have been entered in BeautifulNow weekly Photo Competitions.

JODY MAYERS -- AKA 3SOULCAKES

Jody Mayers is one of BeautifulNow’s most avid and prolific competitors. Her BN User Name is 3Soulcakes. She enters her photos in practically every BN Photo Competition. She’s won 3 times!

GENERATIONS -- 3SOULCAKES

3soulcakes won the BN Beautiful Stories Competition with her entry entitled “Generations.”

You can feel the story being told in this beautiful photo, as the boy holds his toy windmill up as if trying to send a beacon to the old windmill standing in the distance -- From one generation to the next. The black and white format emphasizes the geometries and the realities of the passage of time.

3soulcakes Comments:

This farm has been in my family for over 150 years. While it is one of my favorite places to photograph, it also makes me smile to share the beauty and all the hundreds of places to explore with my sons. Some of my favorite childhood memories took place here and now I get the privilege of reliving it through their eyes.

“My journey and passion for photography was born long before my children were,” Jody says. “I had a desire to express myself, mostly with nature photography, but I also dabbled in photography for a brief period as a journalist with our local newspaper. I loved that the images often told more of a story than the written piece that accompanied it.”

“Before I was able to hold my children in my arms, I sadly mourned the loss of three babies through miscarriages. At that point, my husband and I were unsure if we would ever be parents. I was given a truly remarkable gift when a kind ER doctor saw my pain, looked me in the eye and said ‘You will be a mom, I know it in my heart.’"

“He was right and we were blessed with three sons, Everett, Harrison and Bennett. They are now 6, 3, and 2 and this house which I kindly refer to as my frat house is never dull or quiet. My love for photography grew almost as rapidly as the milestones they reached that very first year of life. I found myself trying to capture candid moments and also fun and unique poses.”

“Having mommy behind the camera, works both with me and against me at times. They are so comfortable with me that sometimes it's difficult to get the vision I have in my mind to life. In those instances I have to remember they're just kids and the goofy, playful poses that really reflect their personalities is always my goal above heavy posing.”

“If I had one tip to give parents photographing their kids I would say try to grasp for images you'll look back on and feel actual emotion with,” Jody suggests. “Some of my favorite photographs of my children are when they are looking off into the distance, running, staring at something with their backs turned or exploring something. I just happen to be there to capture it all so I can look back one day and stare at all the pieces of my life.”

SUMMERTIME -- MICHELLE STEWART

Michelle Stewart, (BN Username: michellestew7), also an avid BN Photo Competition competitor, won the BN Beautiful Waves Competition with her entry entitled, “Summertime.”

We can feel the waves of joy surging in this little girl as the waves rush in and forth around her. Plus we love the bright light and old fashioned red with white polka dots in contrast with the blue sea that photographer michellestew7 captured in a beautiful composition. It's summertime supreme!

Michellestew7’s Comments:

There is such innocent beauty watching your child carelessly play among the beautiful waves of the sea!

"MAGIC OF THE MOMENT" - JANNE KARI

Janne Kari (BN User Name: Monni) earned a Semi-Finalist designation for her image, entitled “Magic of the Moment,” entered in our Beautiful Magic Photo Competition. It captures the exuberance of childhood wonder.

Monni’s Comments:

“Kids playing with water topped with sunshine and very short shutter speeds combine to almost surreal and magical outcome.”

"LABYRINTH" -- MALENA MAZZA

Malena Mazza’s image, entitled “Labyrinth,” was a Semi-Finalist in our Beautiful Quest Photo Competition. Very Alice In Wonderland!

Malena Mazza’s Comments:

“We start questioning what we want to achieve in life at a very early age, we change idea and route many times while growing up, and like the path in a labyrinth we sometime find ourselves stuck, until we reach the goal. This path we undertake is often shared with friends, family and people we come across and maybe never meet again, but who in that moment are essential to redirect us to the objective.

This image is for me the essence of how we travel through life, from early age to being an adult.”

DREAMING WITH DADDY -- BLACKKATZZ

Blackkatzz entered this gorgeous portrait of father and son, entitled “Dreaming with Daddy,” in the BN Beautiful Dreams Photo Competition.

Blackkatzz’s Comments:

I chose this image because of the pure beauty. Both father and son share sleep together bonding skin to skin. Both father and child seem so peaceful in their sleep.

HICCUP BABY -- LJUBICCICA

Ljubiccica’s image, entitled “Hiccup Baby,” was a Semi-Finalist in our The Most Beautiful Sound in the World Competition. Very Alice In Wonderland!

Ljubiccica’s Comments:

“Baby making hiccup noise - just funny and beautiful…”

MY SWEET -- BEKAHANN15

Bekkahann15 won our Beautiful Dreams Photo Competition with her photo entitled “My Sweet.”

This photo is so simple -- yet so well done. It's an image we've seen hundreds of times -- a child asleep in the back of a car. Here, the little girl is angelic, with her perfect curls tumbling across her budding face. She's off in a colorful dream while her body is tethered, strapped into her car seat, displayed in crisp black and white.

Bekahann15’s Comments:

“I find this picture beautiful because my daughter looks so peaceful and happy, even though she is sleeping. Makes me feel like I'm doing things right as her mom. :)”

MY LOVES - KRYS

krys has entered several BeautifulNow Photo Competitions with images of her daughter. This one, entitled, “My Loves,” entered in the BN Beautiful Pairs Competition, is especially touching.

krys’ Comments:

My daughter and girlfriend in a beautiful bonding moment. These two are my life :)

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition. We run new creative competitions every week! Now, it’s even easier to enter with the new BeautifulNow App!

Plus check out the rest of our App’s beautiful features. It’s free to download here.