It’s been a busy spring and summer around here! From welcoming our sweet baby girl, Eva, to photographing some gorgeous spring weddings and lots of soon-to-be mommas and new babies, I’ve had a full plate. As I get back into the swing of things, I’ve had some time to reflect on motherhood. Now, having experienced it myself, I truly believe that every new mom deserves to have this extraordinary time in her life captured in a way that reflects the beauty of this journey. Maternity Sessions are one of my favorite things to photograph. However, I understand it can feel overwhelming to a soon-to-be mom, especially when your body is changing and you may have mixed feelings about how you look and feel. To help, I’ve gathered our Studio’s favorite tips for all of those pregnant mommas-to-be that are looking to have this chapter in their family’s story turned into fine art.

1.) Plan and book your session early.

Striking the right balance between having a good sized bump while still feeling comfortable is SUPER important. If you wait too long into your pregnancy, you’ll feel miserable. For the best baby bump, we typically recommend photographing your maternity session between 30-34 weeks. As photographers’ calendars can fill up, especially around certain times of year, it best to reach out on the early side to ensure you can snag a spot with your preferred photographer. For our Studio, we recommend contacting us towards the end of your 1st trimester to get on our calendar. Plus, the sooner you can have one more thing checked off your massive baby to-do list, the better! And while you’re at it, if you know you want newborn portraits, go ahead and book now as well. Being ahead of the game will make you feel so much more relaxed when you head into the end of your pregnancy.

2.) Wear clothing that highlights your beautiful baby bump.

Every momma has a different style, but in general, we recommend tighter fitting clothes that show off your beautiful baby bump. Some of our favorites for maternity sessions are long, flowing gowns with lots of beautiful fabric to play with and compliment the bump! We also love beautiful, sheer dresses that show just a hint of skin.  We recommend neutral tones for in-Studio maternity sessions and something with a hint of color for outdoor sessions to help make you pop against the background. Making sure the clothes fit you properly and are comfortable is also key, which is why we encourage you to visit our Studio prior to your session where you can try on any of the maternity dresses in our Studio’s wardrobe.

3.) Include your partner.

It took two of you to get to this point, right? So make sure to include your significant other, even if it’s just for a few photos. It will help them feel more included. After all, big things are about to change for both of you! Make sure you coordinate their outfit with yours. We usually recommend they stick to neutral colors as well and stay away from any crazy patterns or distracting clothing.

4.) Decide between a modern, Studio look versus a natural, outdoors look.

Many new spring and summer mamas often wonder if they should be photographed outdoors or in Studio. When considering an outdoor maternity session, there are a few things to take into account. Depending on the location and time of year, safety should always be the first priority. Long hikes in hot weather, bugs, and slippery rocks are all things to take into consideration for your pregnancy shoot. Look for easy access locations and avoid crowded areas to keep things moving smoothly for the session. We typically recommend early morning or right before the sun sets when the light is soft and crowds tend to be lighter in busy areas such as the monuments.

If clean and modern is the look you are going for, OR if you want a more comfortable environment, then a Studio maternity session might fit the bill better. At our Studio, we have a dressing room for outfit changes, quick and easy backdrop changes, and lots of natural light mixed with artificial lighting to give your pregnancy portraits a polished and fine art feel.

5. Splurge and have your hair and make-up done for the session.

With so much going on in those final weeks before baby makes their big appearance, why stress about looking perfect for your session? Instead, leave that in the hands of professionals. At our Studio, we include hair and makeup with every maternity session. All you have to do is show up with dry hair, a bare face, and our wonderful makeup artists will take care of the rest. As a soon-to be mother, you deserve to be kind to yourself with all of the new changes. What better way to do that than with a full makeover to help you feel like the best version of yourself during a photoshoot? It’s something you won’t regret. We promise.

6. Bring your own inspiration and vision to the session.

This is where the fun begins! This is YOUR maternity session and you should feel inspired to put your unique stamp on it. We often have clients come to us with very specific ideas about what they are looking for in their pregnancy portraits. Othertimes, our mommas have zero clue what they want. The good news is that either way, making your session feel like YOU is our speciality. Adding in props like flower crowns, custom-made maternity wear, and working with you to create your vision is something we love doing. You get to show us any inspirational photos you have, any ideas you have floating around in your head, and we take it upon ourselves to do the rest. We’ll design and create your overall look, as well as handle any props that you may want to include. It’s our job to bring your ideas to life.

There you have it mommas! 6 tips for AMAZING (and stress-free) maternity portraits!!