On a quiet evening under the full moon, fourteen “brave and beautiful” mothers gathered on the soft sands of Kawana Beach, their babies in their arms. They came not only to breastfeed in the moonlight, but to honor their bodies, their journeys, and one another — to share the struggles, the triumphs, and the tender moments that define motherhood.
Photographer and birth doula Trina Cary created this gathering out of pure love for women and their stories. Some mothers were old friends, others strangers meeting for the first time. But as the night unfolded, there were no strangers here — only women who saw and embraced each other’s strength, beauty, and uniqueness.
💬 “Every time I bring women together, I’m amazed by how quickly they open their hearts and accept one another,” Trina says. “I want to create a space where women feel beautiful in their stretch marks, their curves, their so-called imperfections. Because every mark tells a story of life and love.”
That night, there were mothers nursing tiny newborns, and others feeding toddlers well past a year. There were women whose breastfeeding journeys had been effortless, and others who had fought through tears, pain, and setbacks to be there.
I hope when women see these images they smile and laugh. I hope they can feel the love that is radiating through these women; strangers that became friends through supporting and encouraging each other in one evening of feeding their little ones together. I want the women in this world to come together. I want to create a powerful, raw, open and loving community in my photography. If I can help women learn to love their stretch marks, extra skin, lumps and bumps, I will! We are all beautiful in our own way and we need to stop comparing ourselves to one another. We are all unique and that’s okay. What’s important is that we support and encourage each other to see the beauty inside ourselves.”
A few of the mothers shared their emotional reasons for taking part in the full moon breastfeeding session.
Belinda had endured three cases of mastitis, an allergic reaction, and weeks of excruciating pain — yet she refused to give up. “I deserved to celebrate this,” she says. “It wasn’t about anyone else’s journey but my own — and I am proud of it.”
Bliss sees breastfeeding as a gift of the body’s design — something beautiful, natural, and worth normalizing. “Here’s to all the breastfeeding mummas,” she says, “and to Trina for capturing this magic.”
Leilani fought through months of cracked, bleeding nipples, shields, and tears. Today, she nurses her 9-month-old with ease. “I wanted to celebrate how far we’ve come,” she smiles.
Chiara battled lip and cheek ties, food intolerances, and painful feeds. But with help and perseverance, she now nurses her healthy, happy one-year-old — a bond she treasures deeply.
Hannah struggled with her first, but refused to let it define her. “My second time around, I was determined — and now, I couldn’t be more proud.”
That night, under the silver glow of the full moon, their stories blended into one — a story of resilience, sisterhood, and unconditional love. There was laughter, there were tears, and above all, there was connection.
💛 Because when mothers come together, they remind each other: we are enough, we are beautiful, and we are never alone.
