Pregnancy is a special time of your life and for many women, (although you may not feel like it) are at your most natural, feminine and beautiful self. The best way to remember your pregnancy is to photograph the journey to motherhood, so book a professional maternity photo shoot!
Here are a few tips to help you look and feel your best in a maternity photo session.
Tips when planning a maternity photo session
Pregnancy is a chapter of a new beginning in your life and documenting it is something you will never regret doing. The most important element of looking beautiful in your photos is the photographer. A professional maternity photographer will know how to light, pose and photograph you in angles that flatter your face and body.
The best time to take maternity photos is in the third trimester, between 28 and 34 weeks. At this point, the bump will be showing well and look so nice in photographs, and you should still be able to move around and pose comfortably.
I highly recommend professional makeup and hair. Not only will this make your photographer’s work easier, you will feel beautiful and confident at your session. Pay attention to your nails! A lot of images will be focused around your hands and having them on your tummy and cradling your bump.
What to wear? Wear whatever you feel comfortable and pretty in. Most importantly is to dress yourself and your family in something they would wear again but is a bit more dressed up than you would usually wear. You want to look back on these images and look like yourself. As a maternity photographer I have a client wardrobe of maternity dresses, wraps and accessories available to use. Please let me know if you would like to use them. It can be nice to have outfit changes throughout your session for a wide variety of images.
Location: consider the location of your shoot and the advantages/disadvantages of them.
Outdoor photo session: I am a natural light photographer. I love nature in the background of images. A pregnant woman in a beautiful outdoor backdrop is simply breathtaking!
The best time to do an outdoor photo session is golden hour, this is two hours before sunset. However, if you book a photo shoot and it ends up being completely cloudy and overcast with no chance of sun, then anytime of the day is a good time to shoot. There will be no bright sun and harsh shadows.
I always watch the weather forecast for a few days before the photo shoot. If it doesn’t rain but is overcast, we can still do the shoot, in fact, some of the best light is overcast light. If it looks like a 60% or greater chance of rain, we will make the call together to reschedule based on both our schedules.
Studio photo session is convenient and in control. It can be photographed at any time regardless of weather. Inside the studio you should have access to everything you need, including an area to relax in and toilets. You’ll also be able to change your clothes easily and keep warm. In a studio setting a photographer has complete control of lighting.
Maternity sessions are one of my favourite sessions to photograph because there is natural excitement and love in everyone’s faces which shines through in every image.
