Cover image via jenpan.photography
This is Jen Pan, a wedding and family photographer. Jen is also a mother of two, with her latest having just turned one.
Being a mother and a professional, she understands the kind of issues new working mums face while public breastfeeding. Not to mention workplace discrimination.
While support for breastfeeding in public has been on the rise, a huge majority of people are still blinded by ignorance and regard it as a disgusting and vulgar act.
Jen wanted to do something to change that perception. She wanted to show how on the contrary, breastfeeding is a perfectly normal and beautiful act.
She decided to curate a photo series to showcase breastfeeding mums in their element.
While something resonated deeply in Jen Pan as a mother of two, she realised it wasn't easy to execute the project. However, the issue was one that should be broadcasted and therefore, Jen persevered.
"There were late nights in our studio where we doubted ourselves on whether this was really worth the huge amount of effort, time and money," wrote Jen
Jen may have received a few unfavourable opinions, but it did not discourage her vision. Jen's artistry is special because she chose to tell an important story through her brilliant photography.
Her photo series featured new mum Celeste, photographed in an enchanted forest to mirror the start of motherhood as something magical
Celeste's baby Ellie quietly suckled on the 22-year-old's breast as Jen took the portraits of the peaceful duo. While Jen and Celeste bonded over mother talk, she discovered that Celeste's breastfeeding journey was a bumpy one.
Despite experiencing mastitis, engorgement and oversupply, Celeste chose to be optimistic about her struggle by supplying 1,000 packets of expressed milk to other mothers who needed it. This is an admirable act as Jen said in her blog that it is "definitely easier to just dump it".
Image via Jen Pan
Image via Jen Pan
Image via Jen Pan
Out from the forest and into the city, Supermum Audra was photographed to represent working mums and their experiences pumping milk at work
Audra felt empowered as she put on heels – something she hasn't done in a long time – and makeup as she finds that it is something of a luxury. Having her hands full with three kids, she simply doesn't have the time for that on a daily basis. Photographer Jen also shared Audra's view:
Image via Jen Pan
Image via Jen Pan
Image via Jen Pan
The photoshoot was shot out in the public, specifically Raffles Place and along the Singapore River where the mother of three sported an office attire. Before she became a full-time SAHM (stay at home mum), she was known for her dedication to her work at an US-based company which led her being known as a "workaholic".
"While many companies have been supportive and encouraging to breastfeeding mummies who need to pump at work, there are many others who are not," says Jen on her website
Jen debunks the myth that breastfeeding takes too much time for mums at work, which could interfere with their tasks.
However, she doesn't see reprimanding ignorant employers as a way of solving the problem. By allowing these oppressed mums to voice their opinions in a controlled and healthy way, employers will hopefully see things from their point of view and provide them with the freedom to express milk at work.
Image via Jen Pan
Image via Jen Pan
Image via Jen Pan
Her amazing portraits have accumulated quite the audience, and many grateful mums express their gratefulness for sharing such stories
Image via Jen Pan Photography Facebook
Image via Jen Pan Photography Facebook
Image via Jen Pan Photography Facebook
One step beyond her photographs, Jen rallies women who face challenges breastfeeding in the workplace and in public to share their stories on her Facebook page:
Meanwhile, she is contact with the Singapore Breastfeeding Association, hoping that action can be taken now that so many mums are voicing out their problems.
