In 2018, Eb was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy. She chose to stay flat, rather than go through the numerous surgeries needed for reconstruction. When she asserted this, her plastic surgeon tried to convince her otherwise, telling her it was her husband’s choice and not hers.

She chooses not to wear prosthesis in day-to-day life as she feels no less of a woman just because she doesn’t have breasts – and she’s proud to model that for her 16 year old daughter. Eb was told after all of her treatments that she and her husband would not be able to conceive without IVF, but much to their surprise she fell pregnant in 2021 without the need for fertility treatments. She has since given birth to her son, Arlo. 

It has been such a deep privilege to meet and work with Eb. Initially, she reached out in response to a very open motherhood call I had sent out in late 2020, but it was many months before our schedules aligned. By the time we were able to meet and create some of these portraits together, she had fallen pregnant. This has naturally opened up space for us to stay connected and to continue making photographs together.