“A grand adventure is about to begin.” — Winnie the Pooh
Pregnancy! Crazy special, crazy beautiful, crazy! Congratulations! I realize that you probably have many things on your mind as you navigate this special time in your life – especially if this is your first child. Having said that, let me also remind you to not allow the minutiae of daily life as an expectant mother distract you from the joy and emotion of sitting for a maternity/baby bump photoshoot with a professional photographer. Trust me; you’ll be so, so glad you did years later as you look back on the radiance and beauty that was you and your unborn child. Women are never as beautiful as when they are pregnant. (This is a fact. I looked it up.) Because of that, you DESERVE to have this incredible moment in your life captured and to it celebrate with your growing family now and forever.
Chances are that you’ve never sat for a maternity session before, so you may not know how to prepare or what to expect. Fear not. Here’s the scoop!
Schedule Your Photographer Now
The earlier you book your session, the better. In fact, book now. Smithsonian Magazine writes that most births happen between June and November (I’m writing this in July 2022), so peak “having a baby” season is upon us. Your best bet is to book your maternity session is just after you learn the sex of your baby. That way, the sex of your baby can help inform the clothes and the overall “look” of your session.
Conventional wisdom among maternity photographers is that best time to schedule your session is in your third trimester, between 28 and 32 weeks. Back that up to around 26-30 weeks if you’re expecting twins (or triplets), since twins and triples tend to arrive earlier than singletons. At this point in your pregnancy, your baby bump will be prominent, you’ll have that maternal glow, will most likely be well past the discomfort that can come early in pregnancy, and you’ll still be able to move and pose comfortably. You can do your maternity session later in your pregnancy, but you’ll likely experience more trouble posing and standing for long periods of time.
Discuss your Vision and Expectations Early with your Photographer
This is important. You and your partner should meet – in person if at all possible – with your photographer in order to get to know him/her a little and to understand what kind of person he/she is. Notice I didn’t say what kind of “photographer he/she is.” Before you ever meet in person, you should study his/her body of published work to see if those images fit your vision of your session. Once you’ve found a style you like, meet with that person to understand (to the extent possible) what kind of person he/she is. Trust your instinct. No one wants to endure a photo session with a jerk or a creep – even if the photos turn out to be awesome. You will let this person into your life – however briefly – and you will be exposed, both physically and emotionally, if the session goes well. You want to “be in the moment,” think about the life you’re carrying, and allow that emotion to inform the photographs that are taken. You want a photographer who understands that, who is discreet and respectful, and one who holds women (pregnant women especially) in high regard. That can be both men and women, so choose well. Specifically, talk to your photographer about what kinds images you want and whether you’re interested in doing partial or implied nudes. It’s important to let your photographer know what you’re comfortable with before your session so they can better plan out what shots and poses to do.
“If I had my life to live over, instead of wishing away nine months of
pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the
wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist
God in a miracle.” (Erma Bombeck)
Get a Contract
At the end of the day, a portrait session of any kind is a business transaction. Business transactions rely on well written contracts that clearly define both the customer’s and the service providers expectations. Don’t enter into a portrait session arrangement without signing a contract. The contract should detail logistical specifics such as meeting date and time, length of session, delivery schedules, and costs and fees (plus much more). Get a contract!
Take Care of Yourself
You may have many years of experience doing your own makeup, but I recommend a professional makeup artist for your photo session. A pro will know how to contour your makeup so it works best in photos.
Your hands will appear prominently in many of your images, so take the time to get a professional manicure.
Visit your hair stylist. Before you do, consider the approach that you and your photographer have agreed upon. Casual? Loose and carefree will probably work great. If you want something more formal, get your hair styled to match that approach.
I’m told that it can be difficult to get any decent sleep during pregnancy, but if you’re able to, go to bed early and try to get a full night’s sleep on the two or three nights prior to your session. Drink lots of water. Both approaches will help you be as refreshed and relaxed as you can during your session. Bring water (and perhaps some light snacks) to your session.
If you’re prone to dry elbow and knees, moisturize them a few hours prior to your session in order to avoid “hot spots” from the lights as your photos are taken
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” (Anais Nin)
Clothing
Maternity gowns can be pricey, so consider renting one. Some photographers who specialize in maternity portraiture work will have gowns that you can us during your session. Don’t rely on this without discussing it with the photographer first. If you take this approach, expect the cost of your session to increase to include rental fees and the cost of cleaning.
Regardless of where you get your gown, discuss the color, style, and fabric with your photographer so that he/she can include that information in his/her planning for the environment in which the photos will be taken.
Give some thought to the underwear you’ll wear also. For example, if you’re wearing a white dress, don’t wear dark underwear that will show through the fabric. And if you plan on doing partially nude images, make sure to bring along lacy undergarments that will look good in your photos. I always recommend nude underwear and strapless bras, and some black and white underwear. Avoid any underwear or clothing that features elastic bands. Tight elastic leaves marks on your skin, and you want your skin to look naturally smooth. Avoid tight fitting watches and jewelry as well for this same reason. Photographers and/or their retouchers can “photoshop” these marks out, but “getting it right in camera” is more efficient for everyone involved.
Location
This is yet another important subject to discuss with your photographer. There are a number of things to consider when choosing the location for your session.
Your Home
If you want your photos taken in your home, that comes with a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you’re likely to be more comfortable in familiar surroundings. Your commute time is zero, and you’ll have access to all of your clothing options. Disadvantages include the need to invite the photographer into your home. Also don’t be surprised if the photographer wants to make some small rearrangements in order make the environment “less cluttered.” Lastly, the lighting in your home may not be optimal for high end photography. Your photographer will likely bring flash equipment to compensate for this – as long as you discuss the need prior to the session.
Photography Studio
The advantage here is convenience and lighting control for the photographer. Images shot here will likely be in front of a backdrop or on a set and can (emphasis added) look really similar to many other photos you’ve seen. If this is OK with you, then the studio approach is a good one. You will have a commute and will have to deal with everything that entails.
On Location (Outdoor)
Some of the most beautiful maternity images have been taken outdoors. There are disadvantages however. Location shooting is dependent upon the weather and natural lighting – although off camera flash photography can “over power the sun” outdoors and can give the experienced photographer a considerable amount of control over the ambient light in the environment. Images taken during golden hour (sunrise or sunset) or blue hour (the period of twilight (morning or evening around the nautical stage) when the sun is at a significant depth below the horizon) can be stunning as well, but you and the photographer have to work fast as the best quality of light will only last for around 30-45 minutes during these times.
“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.” – Carl Sandburg
Final Recommendations
If you have some cute baby items such as shoes, hats, toys, blankets or onesies, bring them along to use as props. The same applies to family heirlooms. If you have a special locket or photo that you would like to use, bring that along as well. These items have a twofold purpose: they help you do “something” with your hands if you’re a naturally “fidgety” person. Secondly, family heirlooms help bind your family’s past to it’s future. With any luck, these photos will become part of your family’s history for generations to come. Be your natural, beautiful self, be emotionally present and vulnerable, and allow your photographer to guide and pose you. The best maternity sessions are the result of an active collaboration between subject and photographer.