MUSE - Sophia Kaplan

Photography by Saskia Wilson

The incredible photographs Saskia captured of you are so peaceful, still and moving. Can you tell us how you were feeling in the last weeks before giving birth?

I was so fortunate to have the ever so talented Saskia take these photographs. I will treasure them forever as they capture a really special moment in my life. It’s funny because so many women from time immemorial have gone through this but it does still feel special when it happens to you. I felt so lucky to fall pregnant and am now so thankful for my healthy baby boy. Towards the end of my pregnancy I was getting so incredibly impatient to meet my little one and to see what all the fuss around child birth was about! This huge event was about to take place, any moment, I was even worried we wouldn’t get the shoot done in time before the baby came. Weaving happily through these feelings was an appreciation of the quiet moments to myself and with my partner, the final moments of being child-free we would have, ever. We would go for walks and be in nature and really soak in the moment, the growing belly and the fact that our lives were about to enter a new chapter.

If you were to write a letter to yourself just before giving birth to Raph what advice would you give yourself? 

Be sure to enjoy every moment because the time flies past so fast. The newborn stage is short and each stage is special so lap it all up. Also the sleep deprivation can hit you like a freight train so make sure you ask for help if you need it.

With running multiple small businesses how have you found the juggle between it all since Raph came into this world and what insights have you had?

It definitely is a juggle and I have only been able to do as much work as I have because of the incredible support of my parents, my sister and my partner Michael. My family have done lots of babysitting, walking around the neighbourhood and bringing him to me for a feed while I’m installing flower jobs. It wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. That being said I have been super select about what jobs I do take on, focussing on my loyal clients who I love working for. My other business Leaf Supply has kept rolling while I took some leave because of the hard work of my business partners Lauren and Ariella. But I’m back at that now and we’re working on our second book which is exciting!

What are your favourite new memories you’ve had since you’ve had Raph?  

It’s the little things like watching him with his dad or our families and friends. Witnessing the love they all have for Raf is truly heart warming. His little nude bum all summer holidays, the extra strong cuddles we get late at night or when he’s teething, the funny little noise he makes after he sneezes, introducing him to places that have meant a lot to us and watching him learn how to be in this world are all pretty special.