# International Maternity Photos These Portraits Juxtapose Swedish and Tanzanian Women in Labor By Charlotte Joyce Kidd | Published 2015-09-25 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maternity-photos References: [newyorker](http://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/giving-birth-in-different-worlds?mbid=social_facebook) & [moakarlberg](http://moakarlberg.com/) The maternity photos in Swedish photographer Moa Karlberg's series 'Hundred Times the Difference' are [vulnerable portraits of women](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-powered-portrait-studio) in labor. While half of the women are in Sweden and half in Tanzania, many of the same emotions and expressions pass across all of the women's faces: pain, excitement, fear, concentration and even sometimes a kind of sensual elation. It's in the women's surroundings -- the beds, the rooms and the other people in the maternity photos -- that viewers must look to find differences. The maternity photos taken in Sweden share a common thread of white sheets, sterile-looking environments and hospital gowns. In many of the Swedish maternity photos, husbands, family members and friends stand close by, holding mothers' hands or offering encouragement. In the Tanzanian portraits, the women are alone, or else there are anonymous onlookers in the background. They're wrapped in patterned blankets and there's no indication that they are in a hospital environment. The maternity photos aim to showcase the similarities and differences in the birthing process in a first-world versus a third-world country. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 99% | Activity: 99% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Life](https://www.trendhunter.com/life) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Maternity Photography:** The rise of maternity photography as a way to capture the vulnerability and emotions of women in labor. - **Cross-cultural Perspectives on Birth:** The exploration of the similarities and differences in birthing experiences in different countries and cultures. - **Perception of Motherhood:** The examination of societal views and expectations surrounding motherhood. ### Who This Affects Most - **Photography:** Opportunities for photographers to specialize in maternity photography and capture the raw emotions of women in labor. - **Travel and Tourism:** The development of travel experiences that immerse individuals in cross-cultural birthing rituals and traditions. - **Healthcare:** Innovation in improving the maternity experience, with a focus on creating supportive environments for mothers during labor. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Maternal Mortality-Reducing Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mommas-kit.md) - [Affordable Maternity Care Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/every-pregnancy.md) - [Elevated Maternity Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seraphine-1.md) - [Supportive Maternity Shapewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maternity-shapewear.md) - [AI Baby Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/newborn-photography1.md) - [Faceless Mother Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invisible-mothers.md) - [Black Maternal Health Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-maternal-health-hub.md) - [Maternity-Inspired Lighting Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/noah-lighting.md) - [Postnatal Wellness Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alma-care.md)