The Motherhood Project
Burgh Babies Photography
A fine art portrait series honoring raw, real, intimate motherhood. Now casting nine motherhood stories.
Hi! I am Lily- photographer at Burgh Babies Photography, motherhood welcomed me trial-by-fire, with an incredibly difficult pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with my daughter Amelia in 2022! Truth be told we had a very rough first six months, I definitely didn't feel cut out for this whole motherhood thing on the tough days- these photos were snapped between some very flustered and fussy moments. With the muse of my daughter Amelia, and my photographer/doula heart- I wanted to have a project to pour into to celebrate other moms who may need a boost, or to be celebrated- now that we have found our groove. We welcomed our second in 2024, and watched our daughter blossom in her big sister role. My heart exploded being a mom to two- but Motherhood felt tender and tiring, messy and holy, often all in the same hour.
Most of it never gets photographed, because the person who sees it all is usually the one behind the camera, or hiding from it.
Over the years of the project- we had all walks of life from military moms, to single moms by choice, mom's of children who struggled and reclaimed joy, and moms who powered through their toughest days that can now say to others, "it gets better" or at the very least “I see you, and I am here too- we will be on the other side soon.”
For 2026-2027 We are doing things a bit differently than we have in the past. More and more families are choosing to keep their children off social media, and we deeply respect that.
That’s why every session creates two kinds of images:
Intimate family portraits. The full, face-forward heirlooms, made for you, your family, and your
walls. Private, personal, and entirely yours.
Creatively “posed” portraits. Beautiful, artful images designed to keep your children’s faces
hidden, so you have options you can share online, in print, or with the world without violating your
convictions. Real motherhood, think “plandid” rather than fully posed or fully candid.
The image selected for The Motherhood Project will always be one that protects your child’s identity.
We are looking for people who are interested in having a Photography Session and sharing their images in a showcase early 2026-
You must be open to releasing one photo for the showcase, you can select which one you are comfortable with releasing.
At the end of this project we will host an art opening, where we will invite you back for an intimate evening to view yourselves as art and enjoy cocktails/mocktails and hor dourves as you view the other pieces of the project and meet other mothers, and enjoy music. We will be raising money for charity with the option to purchase prints or a future session.
What you will receive for your participation:
~FREE Booking Fee ($400 Value!)
• Professional hair and makeup, so you can arrive as you are and leave feeling like the most radiant version of yourself
• Access to our wardrobe and styling, with pieces chosen to flatter you and photograph beautifully
• A guided, unhurried session with direction that helps you relax, connect, and stay present with your children
• Partners and dads welcome. At the end of your session, your partner is invited to join for
family images, and your people can relax in our family lounge in the meantime
• A gifted portrait. We’ll choose a favorite image from your session for the project, and that image is yours, free
• A private gallery to view your session and choose your collection
~Professional retouching of all final images if you choose to purchase
-Invitation to our art opening The Motherhood Project: Chapter Three Art Exhibit by Burgh Babies Photography
-The digital format of the image we choose together for the project gifted to you
Requirements:
- Must not have a current photography session on the books.
- Must be 18+.
-Live within 1.5 hours of Pittsburgh, PA (Sessions take place in Pittsburgh)
- Must be willing to share some images publicly, your pick
-Prints and products will be available for purchase separately if you are interested in purchasing any of the images from your shoot. (Our digital collections start at 1,000 for ten images. Our wall art starts at 550.
Please note: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!! You do not need to have ever been in front of the camera before.
We also value diversity and inclusion so we absolutely welcome any and all body types, skin tones, abilities, LGBTQIA+, you name it!
How It Works
1. Apply. Tell us a little about you and your family. It takes about three minutes.
2. Get selected. We’re choosing nine mothers. We’ll be in touch before Thanksgiving.
3. Reserve your weekend. Choose the session date that suits your family and secure it with a
deposit. (You’ll get this back as session credit)
4. Be photographed. Arrive, be pampered, and let us do the rest.
5. See your story. Preview your gallery live on Zoom with me, and choose the images you’ll hold onto forever.
Select your image for the project and attend the showcase, late Spring 2027.
