Maternity photo sessions: When, where and who?
The beautiful glow of a mother-to-be is undeniable! She carries in her the Miracle of Life; the expectancy (excuse the pun!) of a family on the verge of growing!
All that stunning, natural beauty aside, there are a few things that you and your maternity photographer should discuss to make sure that the experience of documenting your pregnancy is the best it can possibly be:
WHEN to book your maternity shoot:
As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to schedule your maternity shoot for around the 28-36 week mark of your pregnancy. Your baby bump will have a gorgeous round shape at this stage, while you will still feel comfortable enough for a portrait session. Every mommy is different, so make sure to listen to your body!
Set two dates with your photographer. One as your ideal, and the second as your back-up plan in the event of bad weather. Remember, in the world of specialised Birth Photography, the unpredictability of labour also makes the need for a Plan B really important! Should your photographer get called out to a birth, you can rest assured that you’ve already discussed another date for your session.
In the case of an outdoor maternity photo session, the best time to capture your memories is at the "golden hours" - sunrise or sunset. Trust me on this - the quality of the photos will make the effort of rising early worth it! If you’re based in Cape Town and thinking of a dreamy beach session, keep in mind that the lighting will be influenced by which side of the mountain the location is. Your photographer should be able to advise you on this.
WHERE to have your maternity photo session:
As Capetonians, we are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to outdoor locations for photo shoots: Pristine beaches, idyllic forests, lush botanical gardens and parks, sun-kissed wine farms, modern and funky urban surrounds, to name but a few of my favourites.
Outdoors is where we find magic light (at the golden hours!). When considering the perfect spot, don’t try too hard to think outside the box. Where do love hanging out? Any spots where you and your partner have really happy memories? This location should be your proverbial “happy place”. If you never, ever go to the beach, would you feel natural and comfortable having your maternity photos taken on the beach?
Then again, don’t be to quick to dismiss an in-home option: Having a maternity photo session in the comfort of your own home is not only super convenient, but it affords the opportunity to document your family’s incredible now, mere months before your baby’s arrival. Show off your baby nursery (or the process of putting together the finishing touches!) and capture real, natural moments shared with your partner in your home and garden.
Who should be at your maternity photo session?
Your partner and children are encouraged to come. These will become your last family images before the baby arrives. For single mothers - invite a trusted friend or family member to help you feel more relaxed.
And yes - pets are family members too!
Ever though of combining your baby shower with your maternity session? It can really add to celebrating and documenting this time in your life. Not only do you get your couple photographs, but you can also include all your closest friends and family in your memories too. Hint-hint: This is a thoughtful and unique gift idea, for those of you planning a baby shower for a close friend!
Whatever you decide about the WHEN, WHERE and WHO of your maternity session, make sure that it is an authentic documentation of you. Your journey from pregnant to parent is unique, and should be captured in a way that is not only enjoyable and comfortable for you in the moment, but can be cherished for a really long time to come.
Make sure to check out this blog post where we get into what to wear and some ideas for accessories or props that may work for you!
