Kerry Payne Stailey's 'The Children (I Never Had)' Confronts Infertility Grief

Kerry Payne Stailey, a photographer from Australia now living in Maine, has created a series called 'The Children (I Never Had),' which delves into the emotional struggles of infertility. This collection captures a year filled with both hope and heartbreak through powerful images and personal narratives. Although she initially kept her experiences private, encouragement from photographer Duane Michals during a workshop led her to enhance the work's poetic aspects, including striking high-speed shots of menstrual fluid in water. The series has resonated globally, receiving tens of thousands of responses. Stailey’s work has been featured in major outlets like Time Lightbox and The New York Times Lens Blog, and she was named 'Photographer of the Year' by the Lucie Foundation in 2015. She studied at various prestigious institutions and founded Blenheim Park Maine for photography workshops. Alongside this series, she also works on projects like 'My Father’s Daughter' and 'Dear Ethanol.' After twelve years, Stailey and her husband feel content in their life together, while she continues to explore new creative endeavors.