Milk Tales
A Journey of Motherhood and Breastfeeding
Are you breastfeeding your new baby and feeling in pain, broken, and misunderstood?
I see you. And I’m so sorry.
Thirteen years ago, I was there too. Sitting in the dark, thinking I wasn’t a good enough mum.
Crying through feeds because the pain was too sharp, and the guilt was even sharper. I didn’t know what was wrong or why it felt so hard.
If you're in that place right now, please hear this: you are not alone, and you are not broken.
You are simply trying to breastfeed in a society that doesn’t prioritise it.
A world where mothers are too often unsupported, unheard, and made to feel like they're failing, when in truth, it’s the system that’s failing you.
What Is Milk Tales?
Milk Tales is a photography and storytelling book about the unseen side of breastfeeding, the part that lives behind closed doors, beneath whispered questions, and in the hearts of mothers who were never told how hard it could be.
This book brings together portraits and personal stories from over 20 mothers. Some breastfed for years. Others struggled and looked desperately for help. Some grieved. Some healed. All of them were honest.
Through their voices and faces, Milk Tales gives shape to the tough, powerful, emotional reality of breastfeeding. The guilt, the pride. The tears, the closeness. The self-doubt, and the strength that rises quietly beneath it all.
Whether you’re in the middle of it, holding the memory of it, or supporting someone else through it, this book is for you.
What’s Inside the Book
Inside Milk Tales, you’ll find more than just stories, you’ll find reflections of yourself, your friends, your sister, your clients, or the mother you once were.
✦ Over 20 real stories of breastfeeding, from first latch to last feed, from determination to surrender
✦ Black and white portraits that capture the quiet power and vulnerability of each mother
✦ Honest words about pain, guilt, connection, identity, and the journey of becoming
✦ Creative images woven with symbolism from mirrors to plasters, milk drops to shadows
✦ QR codes throughout the book linking to behind-the-scenes videos and blog posts
You can read this book from start to finish or open it on a random page and find truth waiting for you there.
Milk Tales isn’t a guide. It’s not a how-to.
It’s a space to feel seen. To pause. To remember you’re not alone.
Why I Created This Project
Milk Tales began with my own story, 13 years ago, as a new mum in pain, convinced I was failing.
I didn’t expect breastfeeding to be easy. But I didn’t expect it to break me either.
I cried through feeds, felt guilt I couldn’t name, and longed for someone, anyone, to say, “Me too.”
That moment never came.
So I created this book. For my old self and for self-healing. For other women.
What started with one photo became a wave of stories, each one adding truth, tenderness, and strength to a narrative that’s so often left in the dark.
These mothers didn’t just sit for a portrait, they opened their hearts. They trusted me with their pain, their pride, their power.
This book is our shared space. A soft place to land. A record of what’s real.
Milk Tales will be available to order soon in paperback and ebook.
Printed in the UK. Ships worldwide.
Want to be the first to know when it launches?
Join the Launch List!
Valentina Rebeschini is an Italian-born, London-based photographer, mentor, and mother.
For over 15 years, she has captured motherhood through a simple, heartfelt lens, specialising in maternity, newborn, and women's portraiture.
Milk Tales is her first book and most personal project to date.
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NEWBORN MODEL CALL - Don`t miss it and please share it!
I’m looking for a newborn (born after 1st July) to model for a 1:1 training session in my studio on Wednesday 16th July – morning only.
Both parents need to be available at the session and comfortable signing a model release, as the images will be used for portfolio and promotional purposes. (No siblings, pets or extended family on this occasion, it`s just baby and parents)
This is a lovely opportunity to enjoy a complimentary professional newborn session (value £290) and receive some beautiful photographs of your new baby.
The session will take place at my cosy studio in Twickenham (SW London), designed to offer a calm and relaxed experience for you and your baby.
If you or someone you know has recently welcomed a little one and might be interested, please DM me or email vale@photographybyvalentina.com – I’d love to share more details with you!
#londonnewbornphotographer #londonmums #londonmumsnetwork #londonnewbornshoot
Not all breastfeeding stories start with ease.
And some carry more than we can see.
This wasn’t just a photoshoot, it was a moment to honour a deeper journey.
One that mixed pain and joy. Loss and healing.
Feeding her baby… and feeding her soul.
The plasters were symbolic. So was the baby’s breath.
But the emotion? That was all her.
And honestly, it stayed with me.
If this speaks to you, know you’re not alone.
We carry so much. And sometimes, we need someone to see it.
My book will hold this story and many others like it.
If it speaks to your heart, save it. Or share it with someone who needs to feel seen. 🤍
#breastfeedingjourney #breastfeedingsupport #breastfeedingproject
Natalie and Sara aren’t just sisters-in-law, they’ve walked side by side through the early days of motherhood, holding space for each other’s struggles and joys.
This session was a reminder that we don’t have to do it alone. In motherhood, as in business. That when stories are shared, healing begins.
That sometimes, the most powerful thing we can offer… is simply to be there.
And that’s the heart of my book: sharing stories, truths and experiences that make us feel less alone.
If you’ve ever felt supported by another mum, tag them below. Let them know they mattered.
And if you’re curious to read more stories like this one… keep your eyes peeled for news about the book release coming very soon!
#sisterhoodinmotherhood #motherhoodunfiltered #breastfeedingjourney #postpartumtruths #storytellingthroughphotography #londonmaternityphotographer
This photo? It’s actually two images merged into one.
The eye you see? Hers.
The reflection?
A moment of feeding, held in her memory and now in this frame.
It’s not just editing. It’s storytelling.
Inspired by her journey. Created from emotion.
Because photography isn’t just about what you see, it’s about what you feel.
And this? This one feels like truth.
Working from a new spot because staring at the same screen in the same room wasn’t doing me any favours.
Sometimes all it takes is a shift in perspective (and some cloud therapy)
Do you have a go-to place when your brain needs a reboot?
Drop your favourite focus spot in the comments: your garden? a café? kitchen table? I’m all ears.
Not my first time at the House of Lords… I know, I know. You’re probably thinking “Her again?!” 😅
But I promise, it never gets old.
Today was all about creativity (of course—hello, we’re talking about Adobe!), and how refreshing it is to chat with other small businesses in the creative world.
Huge thanks to the fab @adobeexpress team and @britainsmallbiz for putting together such a great course and for filling the room with so many lovely, inspiring people.
(And yes… I still take photos every single time I go!🙈)
What’s your favourite ‘pinch me’ work moment so far?
