The first nine months is a project inspired by my becoming a father in 2021.   For many people, the global pandemic brought a period of self-reflection, re-evaluation of what is important in life, and offered opportunities for change. My wife and I had put off having a family for several years to allow us to travel. We decided the time to have a family was now or never, because being in our late thirties, the biological clock was ticking. We were lucky to be blessed with a baby girl.

This documentary project aims to capture how my life has changed as a result of becoming a father. Much photographic work quite rightly centres around the struggles of the mother, but there is a strange lack of material from the father’s perspective. The physical demands of childbirth and caring for a new-born baby result in women’s adaptations to normal life being much harder. Biology and culture dictate that the mother tends to have a significant period of time off work to recover from childbirth, and care for the baby, whilst the father is expected to return to normal work. 

A statutory 2 week paternity leave was first introduced in the UK in 2003. This is a relatively recent change, and reflects a shift in society’s view of the importance of the father. In addition, it is now possible, with agreement of employers, to share maternity leave. Many other countries offer a period of paternity leave. When compared to most European countries, where leave extends up to 10 weeks, the UK’s 2 weeks of leave is poor. Iceland offers up to 6 months paternity leave and Japan offers an entire year. On the other end of the spectrum, there is no legal requirement for paternity leave in America. Personally, I feel some paternity leave is important to support the mother in her recovery from childbirth! In addition, businesses that are flexible for parents might help make staff more committed and dedicated.

In recent years the traditional family dynamic of one working parent and a fulltime mum have changed. There are likely multiple factors in this shift, but the two that immediately spiring to mind are a change in attitudes and the rising cost of housing. As a father I certainly want to have an active role in bringing up my child! 

My photographic work documents a personal journey of being a father during a global pandemic.