Pregnancy is a special time of a woman's life and for many women, (although you may not feel like it) you are at your most natural, feminine and beautiful self. During your pregnancy, your hair is rich and thicker, your breasts are fuller, your skin is glowing and your body has more curves.
For many expecting mothers, there’s no better way to remember their pregnancy
and chronicle their journey to motherhood than a professional maternity photo shoot.
Here are a few tips to help you look and feel your best in your maternity photo shoot.
When is the best time for your maternity photo shoot?
There is a recommendation to have it between 31-36 weeks. However, if you feel your
belly is fairly visible, your are ready for your session. Do not schedule a shoot in the last weeks of the pregnancy as sometimes your
baby has a rapid growth spurt and you may feel out of your comfort zone.
How do I prepare for the session?
I recommend you remove all elastic straps or waistbands, tight shirt, pants, underwear or a
bra that could leave a mark on your skin approximately two hours before the photography session.
You should be well rested and relaxed and to feel and look at your best, consider
pampering yourself with a visit to the hair and makeup salon before your session. A good
professional make up and hair artist will give you the self confidence to look your best. Choose light and natural
makeup colours or if you wish to use bright colours, make sure it is suitable to the outfit.
Clothes. What should I wear?
Many women ask me if I can provide them maternity clothing for the shoot, but I do not, and I always suggest to wear something that you feel most feminine in and yet be able to show of your pregnancy body. The main reason for that is that every woman is unique, so personal clothes, style and charisma is fundamental to express yourself.
However, I am always happy to discuss outfit and accessory ideas that will look good in on you and for the photos. A great idea is to have two have two outfits to wear for your maternity shoot, such as a casual outfit and a dressy outfit. This will not only give you options when choosing which photos you want to hang in your home, but it will also give you some variety in the photos as well. My aim is to make every picture individual and express the woman‘s inner world.
Place. Where photo shoot will be taken?
I can always hire a studio if you wish but I prefer interesting, natural backdrops like the seaside,
forest or a park. There are so many beautiful places we can find together. Or maybe there is a
special place for you which tells a personal story? In winter usually, I advise to have a
photo shoot in a hotel or at the clients home, combined with a few outdoor pictures. Nature
always brings out a special aura.
Can you retouch the images to make me look really good?
We all wish to look perfect in photographs, but every person is different when photographed. Skin, unwanted spots, redness, colour balance are all important factors of how the final image will look. If you have any special requirements to remove or change something you don‘t like on your body, please inform me before the shoot or straight after the photoshoot.
Usually you would find my pictures published in wedding blogs and magazines. However, one of the pregnancy shoots I recently did was snapped up for print by INTRA magazine. Few key things to achieve are- self confidence, right preparation and a good vibe between me, the lense and you.