Mom Honors 6 Pregnancy Losses With Breathtaking Rainbow Baby Photo

Maternity photo exemplifies the rainbow after the storm

In August, photographer JoAnn Marrero was approached by an expectant father, Kevin Mahoney. He and his wife Jessica had maternity photos of her first pregnancy taken, but the photographer never delivered them as promised.

Then, the couple endured six pregnancy losses while trying for a second child.

When Jessica became pregnant again, Kevin was determined that his wife would get the maternity shoot she always wanted. He approached JoAnn to make that wish come true.

“Jess wanted something rainbow-inspired because of the many fertility struggles she and Kevin had encountered, and so I knew I had to do something extra special for her family,” JoAnn told Scary Mommy. “My vision for part of their session was to create our own rainbow with colorful smoke bombs.” So she approached another talented photographer, Mary Maloney of Pebbles and Polka Dots Photography to collaborate. “Having worked with her numerous times, I knew we would create magic,” JoAnn explained. “I was definitely stressing about all these smoke bombs, but Mary was — as she always is — cool, calm, collected and ready for anything.”

The result is nothing short of spectacular:

“One by one, each smoke bomb was set (not without some duds, too) and with each burst of color we watched this portrait coming to life behind my lens,” JoAnn explained. “It was as if we were shooting a Skittles commercial, but sweeter — and so very worth every single moment. Through our rainbow haze, Jess stood with composure and her pregnancy glow came shining through like the sun.” JoAnn included some behind the scene shots on her Facebook page, From Labor to Love.

Six pregnancy losses. Anyone who has been through a loss knows how consuming it can be. What a beautiful moment this couple created for themselves. So often we can soldier on through extremely difficult, heartbreaking experiences in life without stopping to acknowledge to ourselves that we made it through.

This image is literally the rainbow after the storm.

“Six babies lost to have the honor to carry this rainbow baby,” Jessica wrote. “I hope my story helps someone else to know they are not alone, as the journey of loss and infertility is dark and lonely.”