Justine Michelle Films

Justine Michelle Films When we understand our bodies, are loved and supported, and are unafraid, beautiful births happen.

It's been weeks since my last post!! I'm having a sort of identity crisis on ig since relaunching in TN. Posting on IG u...
11/12/2024

It's been weeks since my last post!! I'm having a sort of identity crisis on ig since relaunching in TN. Posting on IG used to be second nature to me, just a part of my daily routine. I loved sharing about births, engaging in discussions about birth, teaching new moms they had choices, making new friends and more. But now, it all feels so awkward like I'm trying to fit s square peg in a round hole. I don't know if it's because I'm in a new area, my daily life is just different than it was years ago. I was homeschooling then too but only had 3 students and now I have 5 and this year in particular they don't have many shared lessons so school takes longer. Or because im running my husband's business now as well. I don't know but when it comes to writing a new post, I just dread it. I tried getting help with prompts but it feels weird and I end up changing so much of the prompt that it becomes now very helpful in the end. So I'm not really sure why I'm saying all this, I guess I just want to post something so that it doesn't appear like I'm not doing anything! I have new birth photos to share, even a new film. But I'm posting from my phone so I can stop nagging at myself to create a post and I don't have any of that content on my phone...am I even making sense? So I'm not sure if I can keep up with IG anymore. I'm thinking ill have to rely solely on word of mouth, direct sharing with families in my community. Actually saying this is quite freeing really. Okay well, that's all for now.

Teaching children to read is one of the most difficult things as a mother, in my opinion. My first taught herself. I pat...
10/10/2024

Teaching children to read is one of the most difficult things as a mother, in my opinion. My first taught herself. I patted myself on the back for teaching her the alphabet by 2, pridefully thinking it was my wise mothering tactics that caused her to read so early and easily.

Then came the next one and I was instantly humbled and realized that my first child's reading ability had nothing to do with me. We tired and cried. I gave time and pushed hard. It was so laborious. Then one day, like magic, she just began reading. It felt like a miracle! The clouds parted and angels sang Hallelujah ...okay maybe I imagined all that, but that's how it felt!
Then came the next kids turn and I was back to square one.

Oh man, sitting through "C-A-T spells...?", as they slowly enunciate the sounds only to say clay or sit or cut!!! 🤦‍♀️ Every fiber of being wants to shout CAT it says CAT!!! And then we move to the next word in the same exact way.

Even though in the moment it feels like we will never progress and my child will be doomed to never read, I know now from experience that the magic will happen. At some point all the seeds I've patiently, or not so patiently, planted will bear fruit and one day they WILL read!

I am 4 down, 3 to go, and I am currently in the painfully early stage with my 5th where I have to bite my tongue from shouting CAT while I pray that the next 2 will be like my first and teach themselves. So if you think of me or any other homeschooling mamas out there, pray for our tongues...they probably have tooth marks in them.

I love when sons are involved in the births of their siblings. I hear so many stories of women who desire to have a home...
10/09/2024

I love when sons are involved in the births of their siblings. I hear so many stories of women who desire to have a home birth but they can't get their husbands on board because of fear. It makes sense, if its your role to be the protector of your family, you want to be sure that your wife and child are in the best of hands for something that you feel like you can't personally control. The issue is that they are believing that the hospital is the safest place, which in some cases in might be, but for the majority of births, being at home is just as safe if not safer than birthing in the hospital. And if you consider that birth is more than just safety; that the experience for mom and baby are incredibly important for both physical and mental health, breastfeeding, bonding, and so much more. All that to say that, its equally important for young boys to see that birth is a natural life event. They don't have to be afraid of it or give over their families to providers for them to control. They can take an active role in the birth of their children while standing guard and protecting them to the best of their ability. Its time we change the story about birth so the next generation feels confident and excited to face this life event like all the rest.

When you that crazy rush of oxytocin hits and you just can't believe that this moment is finally here!
10/08/2024

When you that crazy rush of oxytocin hits and you just can't believe that this moment is finally here!

My heart is to capture real moments. Real memories that bring back the feelings, sights, smells, sounds of the moment. T...
10/03/2024

My heart is to capture real moments. Real memories that bring back the feelings, sights, smells, sounds of the moment. The way their skin felt, the way their hair smelled, the way their warm body felt pressed against your soft womb that was once their home, they they fit so perfectly in the crook of your arm, the gentle (or not so gentle) tug at your breast they took comfort in the one who nourished them for 9 months and would continue.



P**p Happens! Ah the dreaded first p**p. Dark, thick and sticky and feels near impossible to get off! If you can catch i...
10/02/2024

P**p Happens!
Ah the dreaded first p**p. Dark, thick and sticky and feels near impossible to get off!
If you can catch it before it catches you, you can save yourself a lot of trouble if you rub a bit of oil in your baby's bum. Then when you go to change them it'll rub off so easy. Maybe we should just rub the mamas in oil too to prevent the stick on them!
Do you have a funny poo story to share?



Isabelle, Judah, Jasmin... These were our "almost" baby names for our kids. What were your "almost" baby names for you k...
09/25/2024

Isabelle, Judah, Jasmin...
These were our "almost" baby names for our kids.
What were your "almost" baby names for you kiddos?



09/24/2024

Maybe its because I have given birth so many times or that I am practically obsessed with birth that its like I have a birth lens that I see the world through, but I notice analogies to birth all the time!! Like every hard season I go through I think about contractions, how they ebb and flow. I remind myself that I can do anything for time, the struggle will go away, there will be a break. And then in an easy season, when I fear that something hard is likely to be around the corner, I remind myself to enjoy the break, the rest, the beautiful connection to what is around me.

When I am hoping for something but it feels like it'll never happen, I remember how labor feels to hope for the end, the reward, that sweet little baby you've dreamed about for months! And how at the end, when you are holding your reward, all the work you went through to get to that moment seems so unimportant now despite how just moments ago it felt colossal!

This is one reason I love photographing and filming births, so that we can be transported to those moments of thoughts when you felt like giving up but you didn't. When you felt like you had no more strength to give, but you did! When you just knew you were going to split apart and be ruined, but you didn't, in fact you were made stronger. Those moments are so encouraging to me when I face various trials in my mothering or just in my life in general. They are like little stone monuments like in the Old Testament, something to mark a magnificent, miraculous event so that you can look back and remember and tell future generations all about in order to give them hope and faith in their trials that they most certainly face as well.

It is amazing how many things there are to do in a day. It is incredibly overwhelming at times, especially in this seaso...
09/19/2024

It is amazing how many things there are to do in a day. It is incredibly overwhelming at times, especially in this season I am in currently. My husband was laid off from his job suddenly at the beginning of this year, just weeks after I had my 7th baby. It through us for a huge loop...that's an understatement. Our whole way of living was turned upside down and I struggled in so many ways for a while. Well to be honest, I still do! My husband ended up starting his own business which was exciting and terrifying at the same time. He always wanted to start one but we always thought it would be slowly and on the side until it was profitable. But we were out of time and options! So we jumped in with both feet and I saw we because it was an absolute team effort! And I found myself wearing so many different hats and becoming so overwhelmed with all the things...and that is where I still am today. It feels like I have sort of found a groove in the midst of the crazy. I don't quite feel like I am panicking so much anymore while treading water constantly and trying to keep myself and my family afloat. I say it is a season because I have to believe that it is. I am at a point now where I can take a breath and enjoy little mundane moments in my day. Like the way my son crinkles his nose when he is being silly, or the way the light hits my daughters curls in the sunlight, or the sound our ducklings make when they drink. Day by day I am slowly finding little bits of joy and taking time to smile about them even if the next moment in shrouded in more chaos with a phone call, a p**py baby who is leaking on the carpet, a toddler yelling at me from the bathroom that he went potty, my older children arguing in the kitchen, another child upset that I had to stop in the middle of their lesson and all the while what seems like millions of thoughts of all the things I need to do today rush through my mind.

Some moments are timeless...Two years, two births, and two beautiful reminders that the strength of love and support nev...
09/05/2024

Some moments are timeless...

Two years, two births, and two beautiful reminders that the strength of love and support never fades.

In both of these photos, taken during the births of their 3rd and 4th child, you can feel the quiet power of their connection. Same position, same love, same unwavering support.

It’s moments like these that remind us that no matter how many years or children pass, the bond between two people during one of life’s most incredible moments remains constant.

Thank you for letting me capture your journey – it’s been an honor to witness these sacred moments.

I love this time at births. When baby is finally here! Her support team is wiped out and you would think mom is too but ...
08/28/2024

I love this time at births. When baby is finally here! Her support team is wiped out and you would think mom is too but no, now that her treasure is in her arms, nothing could keep her from getting to know this knew little person. She cozies up in bed and all is quiet. Food is nearby when she is ready. But she is on an oxytocin high! The greatest in her life!!

Sometimes dads are at a loss for what to do when their lady is in labor. They want to fix things, to take away the strug...
08/26/2024

Sometimes dads are at a loss for what to do when their lady is in labor. They want to fix things, to take away the struggle. But in labor, the mother has to go through it. It is hers to carry. However, you can carry her. Helping a woman through labor is more about witnessing her, encouraging her, sitting with her and acknowledging the journey she is on. I love capturing this in action. Seeing the steadiness in a father allowing his lady to melt on him. He holds her firm so she can squirm and she can feel and know that the world is still there because she feels his presence and senses his strength. When she peeks her eyes and sees his face looking back, expressing gratitude for the journey she is on; she knows she can continue on even if just for one more wave.

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Maryville, TN
37737

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Monday 4pm - 8pm
Tuesday 1pm - 8pm
Wednesday 4pm - 8pm
Thursday 12pm - 8pm
Friday 4pm - 8pm

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