Becoming Parents, Hardcover

An intimate and honest photo book about becoming parentsPhotographs that transcend romanticised imagesA narrative of control and collapseIntense and vulnerableText in English and German

Becoming a parent is not only about joy, happiness, and fulfillment. It can also trigger anger, despair, exhaustion, fear, and pain, as photographer Janine Bächle demonstrates in her long-term, autobiographical project, Becoming Parents. Bächle documented her pregnancy with an unvarnished lens, breaking taboos by showing unfiltered bodily details and functions. Through her sensitive yet shockingly honest photographs, Bächle documents her everyday family life, the changes in her body, and the emotional spectrum of becoming a parent. She deliberately sees her project as a realistic counterpoint to the romanticised images in relevant guidebooks and the perfect portrayals on social media. In addition to making care work visible, the book shows the struggle with feelings such as aggression, sadness, and fundamental doubts about parenthood. By juxtaposing her photographs with diary entries, lab results, and birth records, the narrative oscillates between control and collapse. The result is an indissoluble tension between image, word, and document that captivates viewers and allows them to experience the intensity and vulnerability of becoming a parent.