Image via Cassie Clayshulte Photography

Gorgeous photo shoot features eight expecting moms — all thanks to Hurricane Matthew

What’s better than a photo shoot featuring a beautiful mother-to-be? How about one featuring eight beautiful mothers-to-be? That’s exactly what photographer Cassie Clayshulte got after Mother Nature delivered Hurricane Matthew last fall, leaving thousands of folks stranded in their homes for days.

Clayshulte posted the gorgeous pictures on her Facebook page, saying “In October of 2016, Hurricane Matthew struck the Lowcountry and forced a mandatory evacuation. Residents fled and some sheltered in place while trees, homes, and property was destroyed.” (Hint: these women sheltered in place.)

Because, really, what’s left to do when you are stuck inside, your home lit only by candlelight and your significant other within arm’s reach? Rearrange the closets? Pay bills? Force your husband to finally put together the shelf in the garage that he’s promised he will put together for the last six months but keeps thinking of excuses so you end up walking by the shelf every morning cursing his name and you know you should really just do it yourself but now you really want to see just how GODDAMN LONG IT WILL TAKE HIM?

Also you could have sex.

Clayshulte said she thought of the idea and posted on her page that she was looking for “hurricane moms.” She told Scary Mommy, “I got a great response! The hard part was scheduling the two shoots and finding a time when everyone was free.” We’re thinking her original post went something like, “Um, hi. Um, did you…well, you know. During the storm, did you have sex like rabbits , errr, are you now finding yourself with child as a result of the hurricane?” Or something like that.

Clayshulte continued, “As our area cleared the damages, it became clear that though much was destroyed, 8 beautiful miracles were created. I planned and styled two special photo shoots for these beautiful mommies to be who are carrying little miracles made during Hurricane Matthew!”

For those that don’t remember, Hurricane Matthew was a powerful and devastating tropical cyclone which became the first Category Five hurricane in the Atlantic since 2007. Widespread evacuations were ordered for large areas of the coast because of predicted high wind speeds and flooding. In South Carolina alone, over half a million people lost power as the storm swept through the state.

“A few of them were acquaintances prior to the shoot but most did not know each other. It was great to see them get to know each other during the shoots,” Clayshulte told Scary Mommy. “I created a group for the moms to plan the shoots and they now use that group to support each other through their pregnancies! I am so glad I could help them meet each other!” With all the women living in South Carolina’s surrounding areas (and all of them having girls but one), the shoot may prove the beginning of beautiful lifelong friendships for these women and their children.

This, of course, begs the question – will there be a follow up shoot once all these bambinos make their way into the world. “Yes,” Clayshulte told Scary Mommy. “I would LOVE to plan a follow up shoot when all the hurricane babies are born!”

Let’s make it happen, ladies.