Do You See Me?

In the future, we won’t be a statistic.

Black women and birthing people will thrive in our postpartum having been seen, heard and cared for in the way we have always deserved during our pregnancies and births.

We will be alive and living, breaking generational cycles, becoming our ancestors dreams.

Growing and nurturing our future and the future of babes who can stand tall and be proud of their journeys, without trauma holding them back.

These images are a body of work that I have created to represent and reflect the reality of being parents of colour. The work continues to grow and one day will be a symposium of mirrors reflecting back what more of society needs to see.

Do you see my POWER?

"I have the important role of observing, acknowledging and healing the cycles of generational trauma in order to truly change the narrative for my children and all of my descendants"- Ngombo

Do you see my TENACITY?

"Being pregnant was a joy whilst constantly having the statistic in my head that black women are 4 times more likely to die in childbirth. It is being excited at becoming a mother whilst trying to shake off the single black mother trope."- Emma

Do you see my BEAUTY?

"There isn't a lot of photography of us out there and I wanted other women and people to see what our bodies look like. Not the images they see on the news and on social media of hip hop stars or poverty porn but real images of a Black mother with her Brown daughters"- Mammy

Do you see my MAJESTY?

"I knew if I wasn't proud of who I was, how was my son ever going to be proud of who he was?"- Faye

Do you see my VULNERABILITY?

We need more positivity, more success around Black birth and parenthood. There is a lot of doom and gloom out there and I think we can do better at changing the narrative"- Bianca

Do you see the SOFTNESS in my STRENGTH

"Motherhood is tough. I've had to be both mother and farther but I wouldn't change it for the world. The first words, teeth, first days at school. Teaching your child to be the best they can be"- Elaine

Do you see my PRESENCE?

"I suppose in comparison to a lot of people, I have a lot of privilege being a midwife but what comes with that is the guilt. The guilt of knowing that I sometimes work in this system that I am trying to change. But we continue to strive to improve"- Benash

Hello

My name is Lorraine

I am a Black mother, woman, doula, photographer; sharing stories through written word and powerful life experience photography. I am here to change the narrative around birth and I offer support people to help them thrive through their pregnancy, birth and postpartum parenting journeys, especially those whose skin acts as a barrier to being seen, heard and held in their most vulnerable stages of life.

Find Out More About Me

Would you like to become a part of the "Do You See Me?" project?

I am always looking for Black and Brown muses to photograph at any point in their parenting journey, so if you would like the chance to be involved in changing the narrative around Black and brown parenting experiences and would like your image captured by me, please use the form to show you interest

In exchange for your involvement, you will receive free photographs of yourself and your family.

Check out the rest of my work on the socials: