I drive twice a day past an overgrown “swampy” type of area, that in the afternoon, the sun pours into - kind of giving a glimpse of the mystery of what might be in there.  I’ve always thought of the beautiful backdrop it would provide for a shoot.  So, when my beautiful friend Leah found out that baby number 3 was on its way….the ideas started ticking!

So, when I mentioned to Leah and Yasser that I wanted to do their maternity pictures in a swamp - I was thrilled to hear that they were all in for it!!  In hindsight I now know that their interpretation of the word “swamp” is vastly different from mine though!! They were thinking along the lines of “enlarged dirty puddle”…..whereas my swamp is more of an “up to your ankles in putrid black water, vines determined to creep up your legs and never let go and an after stench that is permanently ingrained into your nostrils” type of swamp!!  But true to their word, through lots of giggles and with the support of some very concerned members of the public looking on, they stood knee deep in goodness knows what and looked pretty for me!!

Thank you Leah and Yasser for trusting me in the name of art!!  I do owe you both ever so much!!

Nicole Fiteni