Hi Everyone! Kristi here… this time with tips for your Maternity Photography session! Being pregnant is such an amazing time in a woman’s life and more and more mommies-to-be want professional images of their beautiful baby bump.
As with any scheduled photography session, there are things to think about ahead of time. Here are just a few tips to remember when choosing a photographer, booking your maternity shoot and considering clothing. We hope it helps!
Plan ahead! Some photographers might be booking anywhere from 2 to 6 months out. Angel Gray Photography is currently booked 2-3 months ahead and up to 5 months out during popular seasons. Unfortunately we often cannot accept late requests for maternity and newborn due to the time sensitive nature of those sessions.
Third Trimester! For most pregnancies we recommend around 33 weeks for maternity photography. This way you have time to reschedule in the case of unforeseen circumstances (weather, sickness, etc.) and it is typically a perfect time frame for your baby bump.
Book your Style! Chose a photographer with a professional website and plenty of online maternity portfolio that matches your style. Do you love photojournalism, lifestyle photography, traditional or fine art? Are you classic, modern or quirky? Do you prefer indoor or outdoors? Ask yourself how you’ll feel about this choice years down the road. One of the greatest benefits of photography is it’s ability to help you relive your favorite moments even when they are distant memories… So it’s ideal to stick with a style you’ll always love.
Read Reviews! Look for reviews and check out how long the photographer has been in business. Is he/she a member of any professional organizations such as the PPA or the local Chamber of Commerce? This adds credibility. Since you might like to use this photographer for baby and family one day, it’s worth the effort to be confident in your choice.
Be informed! Your photographer should supply you with all the information you need – you’ll want to see pricing, tips and advice for your session. Ask is there is an offer for scheduling newborn as well and check to be sure you like his or her newborn and family portfolio.
Additional Services! At this stage in your life, time for DIY projects will be decreasing and you want to be sure your maternity (and newborn) photography will last and be available to pass down to your children. You might prefer a full-service photographer who offers quality albums, canvas and prints as well as professional and creative advice for wall display. If you’re only interested in digital product (or if the photographer only offers digital) just be sure to ask if the images will be fully retouched and exactly how large they can be printed in high resolution. Hopefully the disk will come with printing and display advice. Just be sure that you follow through with printing those images and backing up the files! After all, the last thing you want to do is invest in photography but not have it available to enjoy.
Connect! Communicate well with your photographer; it’s important to have clear expectations and a personal connection. At AGP, we like to think we’re telling a story. The more we connect and the more communication we have, the easier it becomes to capture the true story of who you are and this amazing time in your life. This just gets better and better as our clients stick with us throughout all their life milestones. Whoever your photographer is, if you are happy with them -stick together! There is a such a benefit to having that solid relationship.
Clothing -Feel Great! It’s simple really… the better you feel about how you look, the better your images will be. Choosing clothing for your maternity session is similar to choosing fashion for other types of photography in the sense that you’ll want to think through every element of your outfit including color, texture, accessories, etc. In addition, think about how much skin you plan to show. If you have a problem area that you don’t want highlighted, plan to have it covered even if just slightly. For example: if you don’t like your arms, wear sleeves or bring along a shawl/cardigan. Layers look great in pictures! You might want to bring a second outfit in order to have a covered option as well as a bare belly option. Just be aware of anything that would leave marks on your belly; if you cannot eliminate that item, wear it last. Once you’ve got a outfit or two planned, ask yourself these questions: Can I sit on the ground in this? (Bring at least one choice that answers yes to that.) How do I look from the side in this? Do I feel good wearing this? Some clients have hair and makeup done professionally. It gives a nice added boost of confidence and looks great too (just be sure to keep your look similar to your everyday style.) Read more basic clothing tips here.
Personalize it! You might like to bring a few items as props – of course Pinterest offers tons of ideas. We suggest keeping them personal and bringing only your favorites, allowing time for natural shots as well.
Prep Time! Remember to reserve plenty of time for getting ready. Enjoy the process without feeling rushed or stressed. If you’re driving to the session with your loved one, talk about happy baby thoughts on the way there. This is a special time for reflection; if you’re in that mood it will come through naturally in your images.
Make Memories! One of the best things about maternity photography is the chance to enjoy it with your child one day. Children are fascinated with the time they spent in my mommy’s belly so having pictures to show them is a lot of fun. Maternity photos in the nursery are precious to share with your baby, especially when they communicate the love of a mother or family.
Belly bumps are beautiful and capturing this time in a woman’s life is a wonderful thing. I still have a picture of my big ole belly in my five year old daughters room. Each day she looks at it, she knows just where she came from… and when she finally starts reading more than her kindergarten site words, she’ll know the frame says “loved right from the very start.”
