Just before a gestational surrogate gave birth to their son in Kingston, Ontario, a midwife screamed “shirts off” so new dads Frank Nelson and BJ Barone would be ready to hold their baby against their bare chests for skin-to-skin bonding. Photographer Lindsay Foster was shooting the birth as a gift to her friend, Kathy Frenette, the couple’s surrogate. Foster captured the moment Milo was held by his fathers for the first time, even before the umbilical cord was cut.

In the photos, a shirtless Nelson, 44, holds Milo to his chest, and Barone, 34, has an arm around each of them as the new dads shed tears of happiness. The raw emotion Foster captured, he said, “represents unconditional love for us and pure happiness.”

The photo has already received more than nine thousand shares and 50 thousand likes. Most of the comments are positive, with wishes of health and happiness for the new family. “Words cannot tell you how wonderful it was to witness this incredible moment. But I am very hopeful that these images can make you feel the deep love and admiration everyone felt for this surrogate and the baby’s new parents. These dads will certainly be two amazing parents,” wrote the photographer on the social network.

Frankie also shared the image on her Facebook page with an emotional text. “This is our favorite photo! It includes everyone who made our son’s birth so special. The two midwives are on the right; our surrogate mother and her husband are on the left. The baby had just come out of Kathy, and the umbilical cord was still intact! Truly a day I will never forget!”

On the photographer’s Facebook, the teacher thanked the comments and declared that he and her husband, BJ, respect opposing opinions but praise the special moment they are going through. Politely, he also stated that Milo will learn to respect everyone, including those with opposing opinions.

“Thanks to everyone who took the time to like, comment, and share our picture! This truly was an amazing time in our lives that has been captured forever by Lindsay Foster’s lovely photography. We were so lucky to have a beautiful, healthy baby boy! All comments posted are respected, and although we may not agree with the negatives, the positives outweigh the negatives. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This is a moment of pure love and acceptance. Milo is surrounded by unconditional love, and he will grow up knowing that there are many different types of families and will learn to accept everyone (including intolerant people). Milo was born during World LGBT Pride Week. The image represents everything about pride. Love has no color, no gender, and no sexual preference. Love is unconditional. Thanks again, from the bottom of our hearts!”