‘What Does Breastfeeding Look Like?’ is a project documenting breastfeeding mums around the world, by Melbourne-based photographer and mother-of-two Suzie Blake. So far, she has shot mums in Australia and the UK, and plans to extend the project around the world and compile the resulting pictures in a book. Here she explains why she started the project, and what she’s learnt so far…
The idea started as I was in need of a thesis proposal for my Masters in Fine Art application. So while I was sitting there breastfeeding my then six-month-old son Xavier, wondering what I could do, I started thinking about breastfeeding, photography and feminism and how they relate. After doing some research I learned that it’s a comparatively untouched element of feminist conversation, but an area of great importance. As it turns out, I’ve been accepted to do my Masters and now I also have this project which is doing really well.