Five Things to Consider When Planning Your Maternity Photography Session
If you’ve landed on this page, then it probably means that you’re in the process of planning a maternity photography shoot and I need to offer you two huge congratulations. First! Congratulations on your pregnancy! I hope it has been a joyful experience and that you’re preparing for an empowering birth experience. Second, congratulations on celebrating yourself and your growing body! So often the baby becomes the focus of a pregnancy, but I’m a strong believe that the parent(s) deserves to be center stage too. I’m thrilled that you’re gifting yourself visual memories and documenting this incredible stage of life.
Not unlike the other parts of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood, planning a photography session can start to feel overwhelming. That’s where my list comes in! Use the following points to help envision your dream session and guide you to the ideal photographer (none of which are a one size fits all person).
1. The Focus of the Session
This point is mainly for couples or for people who already have a child or other children. Consider what you want the focus of the session to be. Do you want yourself and your glorious belly to be in the spotlight? Perhaps, you’d prefer a sensual solo session designed to highlight your body. Or does that spotlight include a significant other and/or other family members? Should your session be more like a couple’s shoot that just happens to include a growing belly? Or is your ideal session more geared towards a family style shoot?
2. The Location
You generally have three broad options when considering the location for a photography session: in your home, outdoors, or in a studio. Each option has its own perks and lends itself to particular styles of photography. Having your photos taken in your own home may make you feel more comfortable and relaxed. There’s also a sentimental aspect to this location as it visually preserves baby’s first home. Being photographed outdoors often guarantees gorgeous light and, depending where you go, the surroundings may create pretty epic images. A studio photographer is able to control more aspects of the shoot (background, lighting, weather ;) ) and can achieve a specific look for those who desire it. I personally shoot in homes and outdoors.
3. Meaningful accessories
If you’ve followed me for a while now, you know that I’m huge on sentimentality and personalizing your photographs with meaningful items. Consider incorporating meaningful trinkets into your maternity session. Is there a piece of jewelry that came from a loved one or an heirloom baby blanket you can use as a shawl? Get creative and think about how you can put more of your story into your photos! And be sure to tell your photographer about the items so that they get a special feature.
4. Your growing body
A discussion I have with my maternity clients is whether or not they would like to show skin during their session. Some of my clients prefer to remain fully clothed. Others want their belly poking out in a few shots, while some strip down to skivvies or less. You can tell by my portfolio that I love the human body and all the unique intricacies of flesh. I adore documenting protruding belly buttons, linea nigras, and, best of all, voluptuous bellies. What a monumental change the body goes through during pregnancy! I love when clients choose to celebrate the details of their transforming body through photographs. However, the most important aspect in deciding whether or not to bear skin during your session is your comfort level and your trust in your photographer. I’ve personally had several clients share that they were only comfortable showing skin with me because they knew I would photograph them thoughtfully, artistically, and respectfully. I’m a big believer in relationships, so make sure you feel good about your relationship with your photographer! Even if you don’t plan on showing any skin, if you’re unsure about how your photographer is treating you, find someone who suits you better!
5. Your photographer’s editing style
The way in which photographers edit their images will vary greatly. While you definitely want to choose someone whose overall aesthetic is appealing to you, you should also consider how much “adjusting” a photographer does to an image. Simply put, do you prefer a more highly edited look from a Photoshop wizard? Or do you want someone who captures you just as you are? I tend towards the latter, removing only blemishes and ouchies that will heal after the session. I personally love stretchmarks and markings that hint towards that body’s story. My clients hire me because they value a more natural approach to editing.
There you have it! While this list is not completely comprehensive, whoever you hire should be able to walk you through all the other little details that need considering. Exploring these five topics should help you determine your style of maternity session and prepare you for a wonderful experience!
I serve Charlottesville, Scottsville, & much of central Virginia.