Intimate photos help mum get body confidence back

After giving birth three times in one year – first to a son in March 2013, then to twin girls in March 2014 – Canadian mum Melanie Varney's body confidence plummeted.

"Once the twins were born my confidence in my image was gone," Varney told The Huffington Post.

"I was on top of the world with what my body had just produced, but the reflection of myself in the mirror was that of a stranger."

Varney said that she even took to Google to try and find other post-partum twin mums so she could look for similarities.

"Of course, as mothers, we all agree that our babies are completely worth the skin, the stretches, and the lumps and bumps, but just as we are mothers, we are still ourselves," she said.

"I was still Mel. I still needed to feel happy with 'Mel,' not just 'mum'."

Luckily, a photographer Varney knew was looking for models to take part in an intimate couples session. The mum of three decided to take a leap of faith and sign herself up, along with her husband, Gabby.

The couple agreed to bare all and pose in various states of undress for the shoot with photographer Trina Cary.

Of course, it was a confronting process for Varney.

"I wasn't able to choose the angles, suck in my tummy or filter over my bits. I felt vulnerable, but at the same time empowered," she said.

Varney explained that the response to the photos on social media was very "humbling", adding that many women had messaged her to say the images moved them to tears.

However, others may have missed the whole point of the shoot, commenting that the photos are distasteful or even pornographic, Varney said.

"Our society seems to have hyper-sexualized naked bodies and associate an unclothed body with porn or something distasteful. 

"It's a body -- we all have them, let's celebrate differences in ourselves and each other!" she said.

Varney wants the photos to inspire other parents to recapture a sense of intimacy.

"Having multiple children can take a huge toll on a relationship," she said.

"Gabby and I drifted, but we never lost sight of our love. I hope that this can serve as a reminder for someone out there to take a little bit of time on their relationship … Sure, they might not choose to get naked in a lake for a photoshoot, but maybe enjoy an ice cream on the back deck together and give each other some thoughtful compliments."

Photographer Trina Cary hopes her work will inspire people to embrace their own imperfections.

"I hope people will see a strong, beautiful mother, who has chosen to love and cherish her body's flaws, and a husband who is still in awe of her," Cary explained.

"Love yourself, stop beating yourself up in the mirror, accept the new you and walk with confidence."