Paula

Motherhood changes you, your identity, your energy, your sense of self. This session was about Paula embracing that shift as a new mother to 2 girls. “I feel like I am going through a pretty big transformation as well as somewhat of an identity shift. The timing to do a shoot like this feels right. Doing something outside of my comfort zone as I embrace growth.”

Her intention was also to navigate postpartum healing, this was her moment to soften, reconnect with her feminine energy, and celebrate how far she’s come.

This was more than a photoshoot—it’s was a reclamation.

How do you currently feel about your body?

I have so much more love and respect for my body than ever before after having children and what it means to truly take care of me. The biggest shift happened when I really started to tune in and listen to what my body needs. Prioritising whatever that was, which gave me the confidence to feel good in my body. What I have learnt is it really does take a deep level of self care and consistency, whatever that may look like for you. 

What was the intention behind your shoot?

For me I was really wanting to connect with my feminine "soft" side. I am very much in my masculine energy most of the time so I wanted to explore and embrace the parts of me that I am needing to step into more. Having that awareness really helped me during the shoot, feeling into that energy. It helped me to see myself in a different light and that my soft feminine does exist. 

What advice would I give to other women on this journey?

I would say wherever you are in your journey, you will never be this version of you again. It is such a beautiful opportunity to experience, honour and reflect on where you are at, to honour your feminine side, and explore different sides of you that you may not know exists. To surrender to any vulnerability around it as you'll walk away from this experience feeling empowered and proud for giving it a go.  

Almost a year later I checked in with Paula asking what had occurred since our shoot together. Here’s what she said:

“The biggest shift I experienced after my session with Mae was discovering a mirror I never knew I needed, not just to see myself as I am, but to recognise the woman I’m becoming. It awakened a deep sense of remembrance, like reconnecting with a part of me I had long forgotten.

Seeing myself in a new light sparked an undeniable knowing, big life changes were not only needed, but necessary for me to fully step into my most authentic self unapologetically. That shift in perspective gave me the confidence to take action from a place of truth.

It meant trusting my intuition without second guessing. No longer seeking external validation or needing to check in with others to know if I was doing the right thing. I let go of expectations around outcomes because the choices were made from alignment, not fear.

I stopped people pleasing and started honouring what felt right for me. And in that, I found calm. There is a deep peace that comes when you truly trust your inner voice, the quiet whispers of alignment you’ve always known deep down.

And on the other side of that trust is where you finally meet yourself.

I continue to look at my photos to remind myself who I really am and who I came to be.”

What was the best part of your shoot?

Gosh there were so many beautiful moments throughout the whole shoot. On reflection, I think one of the best parts had to be exploring different sides of myself whilst being in nature in a fun and playful environment. Dressing up embracing my feminine side. There were so many elements to the overall experience that made it so wholesome. From start to finish.