
Maternity sessions are some of my favorite sessions. It is such a special time for the family-to-be, and I love capturing those moments before their family grows. Pregnancy is a weird, sometimes crazy, but nevertheless memorable time. While you’re in it, it seems like it will never end (especially those last few weeks) but afterwards, it will seem like it was such a distant memory. All the more reason to commemorate this fleeting time. Take my word for it. I am the proud Mommy to a sassy two year old, and it’s hard to even remember what those nine months while we were waiting for her to arrive were like.
I made this post to help answer a lot of the questions moms-to-be have about maternity sessions.
When is the best time to schedule a maternity session?
If you ask Google, it will tell you anywhere between 28-34 weeks. If you were to ask me, I would say anytime after your baby bump starts to show, and you are comfortable moving around. Personally I wasn’t really showing until I was about 32 weeks, and didn't take my pictures until I was about 36 weeks. I’ve had mom’s do their session as early as 20 weeks, and other mom’s do their sessions a week before giving birth. It’s all a matter of comfort! While we won't be doing any type of strenous activity during the session, we will be moving around.
Who can be included in my session?
You can include anyone you like in your session, and there is no additional cost for extra family members. While the focus of maternity photos is primarily on the mom and new baby to be, it's always nice to capture the other family member who are also eagerly awaiting his or her arrival. Significant others, children, parents, best friends, even fur-babies are all welcome! When I did my maternity photos we even included our pup, since he basically was our first child! That being said, you can also have the session of just the mom-to-be. Some of my favorite photos of pictures that capture the excitement of the mom-to-be thinking about holding her baby.
What should I wear to a maternity session?
Whatever is going to make you feel most comfortable. If you’re uncomfortable in what you are wearing, it will show in your photos. Jeans or a dress, boots or flip flops; you will look amazing no matter what you decide.
I know how hard it can be to find the perfect outfit, and a lot of stores don’t carry maternity dresses. To help with this, I have created a maternity client closet that all of my maternity clients have access to at no additional cost. These boutique dresses are designed to be comfortable and flattering, and designed for maternity photography sessions. I have all different styles, and am frequently adding new ones. Here are a few of the dresses currently in my maternity client closet:
Where should I have my session?
When you book a session with me, we will chat and spend some time planning out the perfect session. This includes discussion outfit choices, pictures that are important to you, and the location. If you have a location that’s special to you, and we can shoot a session there, that would always be my first suggestion. If you don’t have a specific location, I can always suggest a location based on the landscapes that you like or the distance you are able to travel. Don’t forget there is always your own home! Some of my favorite photos were done in my client’s backyards and nurseries. In fact, due to a huge snow storm, I ended up doing my own maternity photos in my daughter’s nursery on a snow day.
What if I feel awkward posing in front of the camera?
Don’t worry! One of the things that I do when I’m photographing a session is incorporate prompts to help you loosen up and get natural poses and emotions. Sometimes they may sound silly (like look to your left close your eyes and smell your shoulder) but trust me the results look stunning.
Still on the fence or have questions, feel free to send me a message. I’d love to chat with you and answer any questions you may have!
Comments