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Photographed by Vanessa Mona Hellman
Fertility

The Beauty & Complexity Of Motherhood, Captured In Video

Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano

Photography by Vanessa Mona Hellmann

If there’s one thing mothers want for Mother’s Day, it is to be seen—for not only the unending work that goes into being a parent (both physically and mentally), but also for the deep complexities that motherhood often carries.

With this in mind, our very special Mother’s Day gift to you is this beautiful short film, Mother Each Other, presented by MOTHER and created by the talented Vanessa Mona Hellmann, a San Francisco-based director/photographer and new mother herself (baby girl Frida is 8-months-old and was present during our day-long shoot!).

In this emotional video (seen below and on Vimeo), you’ll hear the raw, unfiltered stories of 8 women—Eirinie Carson, Felicia Gangloff-Bailey, Kalkidan Gebreyohannes, Elena Fong, Meryl Pataky, Ari Serrano-Embree, Elana Serrano, and Ola Serrano. Each of them opens up candidly about a variety of pressing topics, including loss and longing, multi-generational trauma and bonds, postpartum depression, the not-so-glowing side of pregnancy, joy and healing, and more.

All of the incredible women featured wear the dreamiest of gowns by San Francisco-based label Kamperett, which was founded by Anna Chiu and Valerie Santillo, and heavily inspired by (and named after) the founders’ maternal grandmothers. The video was also shot at Kamperett’s stunning shop and atelier, with an ethereal custom set created by Ashley Smith and hair and makeup by Sterling.

If you’re able to carve out some time for yourself this weekend—or this month—we encourage you to grab a box of tissues (seriously, you’ll need them), turn on this video, and hopefully feel seen in the various ways motherhood shows up in all of our lives.

Additional thanks to Drum and Lace for a fitting soundtrack, Renso Landa for sound mixing, and Jen Loman for production assistance.

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  1. Joyce Adams Watkins says...

    Beautiful and joyful young ladies experience, challenges just the beginnings of their lives journeys and there is more journey experiences too come.

    I believe the most powerful and fulfilling experience I can say I know, believe is that almighty God The creator of us all whom gives us the breath of life, nobody else can do what the Lord has created our bodies to experience birthing of life.
    Showers of blessings too all . Thank you for sharing your beautiful family experiences. Just the blessings you have shared . Happy Mother’s Day to all moms.

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