A Brazilian photographer is shining a spotlight on the magic of pregnancy by transforming expectant mothers into Disney princesses.
Vanessa Firme, 39, is a maternity photographer in Rio de Janeiro, and over the past few years, she’s made a habit of having moms-to-be dress up as glamorous Disney princesses like Belle, Cinderella, and Jasmine.
But these photoshoots catch the princesses after a bit of a fast-forward through time, when they’re heavily pregnant — presumably after marrying the Beast, Prince Charming, and Aladdin.
Magical: A Brazilian photographer is shining a spotlight on the magic of pregnancy by transforming expectant mothers into Disney princesses
Beauty: Vanessa Firme, 39, is a maternity photographer in Rio de Janeiro who stages the shoots
Glass slippers: She’s made a habit of having moms-to-be dress up as glamorous Disney princesses like Belle, Cinderella (pictured), and Jasmine
Lil pumpkin: The moms-to-be dress up in special Disney princess maternity dresses
Whistle while you labor? Most of the images show the mothers cradling their bumps
‘These photos tell mothers that they can all be whoever they want to be,’ she told Good Morning America. ‘It shows what happens after happily ever after.’
Firme told Indian Express that she started shooting moms-to-be as princesses a few years ago, and it wasn’t entirely planned.
The live-action Beauty and the Beast film had just been released, and a maternity designer named Amada Mae had given her a custom-made Belle dress.
Coincidentally, she was also working with a client at the time who was pregnant with a daughter — whom she’d planned to name Bela.
‘These photos tell mothers that they can all be whoever they want to be,’ Firme said
She added: ‘It shows what happens after happily ever after’
Part of that world: Most of the women pose in one version of the outfit that covers their bump, and another that exposes it
Isn’t it neat? This Ariel’s ‘treasures’ include a pacifier (and, of course, a Dinglehopper)
She won’t be sleeping for long! Another mom poses as Aurora from Sleeping Beauty
‘I thought how magical it would be for her when she saw her own mother dressed as the princess,’ Firme told GMA.
Her Belle posed in the yellow off-the-shoulder gown, cradling her bump with one hand and holding a single red rose with the other.
‘People loved it and we decided to make more princesses,’ she said.
She’s gone on to dress expectant mothers up as a bump-baring Cinderella with long gloves and a headband, Snow White holding an apple, and Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora.
The next generation: She’s even introduced the theme into shoots with new moms and their babies
Something there that wasn’t there before: This mother’s little boy makes a very adorable Beast
‘People loved it and we decided to make more princesses,’ Firme said of the process
How it began: She started with a Belle dress for a mom who planned to name her daughter Bela
Other moms-to-be have dressed as Ariel and Jasmine, whose costumes conveniently show off a bare belly.
She even dressed a pregnant woman up as Maleficent — naturally, the Angelina Jolie version.
Firme has branched out to non-Disney characters, too, like Princess Fiona from Shrek and Wonder Woman.
She set up a bunch of shoots with one pregnant woman in particular, posing her as Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, Sandra Bullock’s character from Miss Congeniality, and Julia Roberts’ character from Pretty Woman.
Super mom! Since then, she’s branched out to non-Disney characters like Wonder Woman
Another kind of princess: She also dressed a mother-to-be as Fiona from Shrek
Branching out: Firme staged a photoshoot with one expectant mom dressed in several movie roles, like Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent
Pageant queen: The expectant mom also took on Sandra Bullock’s character in Miss Congeniality
Kicking butt: She was a super tough — and super pregnant — Lara Croft in Tomb Raider
Fun: She even dressed her up as Julia Roberts’ prostitute character in Pretty Woman
In another shot, the mom was Jennifer Beals’ character Alex Owens in Flashdance
Dark: Finally, she dressed as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, from the 1988 film