“I met Izate a few years ago while sharing our creative space, and I remember how often we talked about her desire to become a mother. When she finally got pregnant, I knew I wanted to photograph her—to freeze that moment in time for her.

She named her child Alai, which means Joy – alegría in Basque, her homeland language. It feels beautiful because, to me, Izate embodies joy. How poetic that she chose that name.

These portraits seek to capture the raw beauty of pregnancy—the strength, freedom, and natural essence of a woman embracing this transformative physical and emotional moment.”