1 in 6 Australian couples will have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy.

It’s not a number which I had paid any attention to until recently.

Back in 2011 my best friend Tegan, was diagnosed with endometriosis, a disease which has followed her in the form of chronic pain, migraines and issues surrounding conception ever since.

For 8 years she and her husband Daniel, have been trying to conceive and earlier this year they went down the road of IVF.

Tegan and Daniel are my best friends. I’ve known Tegan for close to 20 years now (oh lord we’re getting old) and the strength and courage that these two display in their tiny every day battles astounds me. They take every doctors appointment, injection, procedure, and pregnancy test in their stride and conduct themselves with an amount of grace and dignity which I can only hope to have.

What truly amazes me the most, is the stories that I have heard, through Tegan, of other couples going through similar situations. Everyone’s story is unique, but all have the same theme, this quest to create life, and there are SO MANY of them.

One in six couples will have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. That number is huge, and quite frankly, it’s scary. As someone who has not yet gone down the road of trying to have a baby, I can only hope that I will not be one of those one in six, but in saying that, I personally know of 8 couples (just off the top of my head) who have had trouble conceiving and I’m sure I know so many more who haven’t shared their struggles openly.

So I wanted to find a way to raise awareness, to show those who may be silently struggling to conceive that you are not alone, and that this fight can be fought in so many different ways.

So whether you are in the early stages of trying, you’re deep in the middle of doctors appointments and fertility treatments, or you’ve come through the other side and your family is now complete, I want to hear from you.

I want to hear your story and I want to photograph you and your family, as it is right now, complete or not yet.

I will be waiving my session fee for any family who is willing to share their story and have their images featured on my website.

If I have enough interest it would be my dream to create an exhibition or book from this series.

To be a part of this project, just fill out your details below, and tell me your story on the following page.

From there you’ll be able to book a time to come into my studio in West Launceston. This way we can chat face to face about your family and your portraits. I understand that this topic is highly personal, and I want the chance to meet with you and get to know you and your family a little better before I photograph you.

We’ll also be able to start planning your portrait session and will discuss the location of your shoot, who will be involved as well as what to wear and all the nitty gritty stuff I bet you haven’t even thought of yet.

You will also receive a 10x7” print of your family as a thank you for sharing your story with me. You’ll have the option to purchase more images if you wish, but there is definitely no obligation to do so.

If you’d like to get involved fill out your details below.