I love helping pregnant women capture the natural beauty of one of the most exciting times in their life. Your maternity lifestyle session is done in the comfort of your own home or in an outdoor spot. My style is timeless, natural and relaxed, which means that I will capture this precious time in your life as it truly looks. This guide explains how to prepare for a maternity photography session. When to have your photos taken I recommend you schedule your session between 32 and 37 weeks of your pregnancy. This is when your bump has a lovely round shape. After the 37th week some women start to feel uncomfortable. Pre session phone consultation Before the session we can have a chat on the phone to discuss your needs and to get to know each other. It’s a good idea to let me know any ideas you have, visual examples via Pinterest can also be really helpful. Where to have your photos taken You can choose to have your photos taken in the comfort of your own home (if there is enough available natural light) or in the beautiful outdoors. Outdoor sessions normally take place in or around Epping Forest in one of my favourite spots where there are a variety of backgrounds and perfect lighting. A few days before we meet I will check the weather. If heavy rain is forecast we can either reschedule or plan for an at home lifestyle session instead.
What to wear Wear whatever you feel comfortable and confident in. A maxi dress is a good option and creates movement in a still photo. If you want to show off your gorgeous pregnant curves, opt for a body-con dress. Solid colours work well as prints and patterns tend to take attention away from the bump. If shooting outdoors, I suggest bringing 1-2 outfit options and layering up so that we can quickly change. Please visit my PINTEREST board for some ideas on what to wear.
Day of the session So that everyone feels relaxed I ask people to allow for up to 2 hours for the session. In reality it usually takes between 45mins -1.5 hours. When I arrive, I will look for the best lit areas. I often use the front room, master bedroom or nursery for photos. Please don’t feel like you have to clean the house before I arrive. We can easily tidy up an area that we want to use for photos while I’m there. I recommend white or neutral coloured bedding. If you have older children I usually try and get sibling and family photos right at the start because the siblings may lose interest quickly. I have no major expectations of them and will never force them into doing anything they aren't comfortable with. It is best to prepare the sibling for the session by telling them that I’m coming.
Feeling confident I know lots of people feel awkward about having photos taken and worry about being asked to do cheesy posing. My job is to help you feel confident and guide you through relaxed, flattering set up’s. You don't need to be anything but yourself. What happens next? After the session I edit and retouch each individual image. Around 7 days later you will receive access to a personal online gallery where you can view and purchase your photos as high quality downloads to keep and use whenever you want. Also available via the gallery are a variety of beautiful print products for you to start creating stunning printouts for your home. Discounts! If you decide to book a newborn photo session with me after your maternity session, I will give you 25% off all newborn photo download packages. Don’t forget to subscribe to my mailing list for more discounts and freebies. Feel free to email me with any questions you might have. Thank you, and I look forward to meeting you soon!