8 Tips to Prepare you for your Maternity Photoshoot
Congratulations. As a father to a sixteen-month old, I can remember all too clearly the months that led up to our little bundle of joy being born. Feelings of excitement, butterflies in our tummies and at times a build up of anxiety hung in the air. Your baby is growing, how exciting is that? So many positive things are happening and it is probably the perfect time to be thinking about being pampered and treating yourself to a maternity photo session.
A maternity photoshoot gives you the opportunity to feel at your best and document a time where life feels more precious than ever before. I have heard many friends look back at their pregnancy journeys and regret not documenting the nine months. Looking back, my phone is full of photos of my wife and baby bump. It’s gotten worse since baby arrived though. These moments bring memories that you don’t want to forget.
Below are eight tips on how to prepare for your maternity photoshoot with me:
1. Plan when you want the photoshoot to take place
2. Share your ideas with me
3. Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident
4. Get a good night’s sleep the night before your photoshoot
5. Hydration and being well-fed are key
6. Pamper yourself prior to the session (OPTIONAL)
7. Who to bring with you
8. Enjoy the moment, you’re in good hands
Let’s look at these eight tips slightly more in-depth.
Plan when you want the photoshoot to take place
Ideally look to schedule your maternity photoshoot for when you’re between 27-33 weeks pregnant. At this point some of the discomfort that you felt in previous weeks may have reduced and your bump will be photo ready. Before 27 weeks you may feel like you have less energy and more discomfort. After 33 weeks and there may be similar problems, but that all depends on the individual and their journey. Don't worry though, if you want to do a pregnancy announcement or fall outside of the 33 weeks, it's not a problem.
Share your ideas with me
Both during the consultation period and throughout the session, if you have any ideas of your own that you wish to try out, let me know. As your photographer I can provide some advice and I love listening to clients’ ideas.
Also for shoots where we are on location, make sure that you bring any baby items that you want incorporating into the session. This could be baby shoes, vests, toys and ultrasound scans.
3. Choose an outfit that makes you feel confident
Take some time to consider what to wear for the photoshoot. Think about how your outfit will make you feel and whether it will suit the ideas we have. Ideally you want to be comfortable but show off your baby bump at the same time. Empire waists and other clothing that wrap around you but aren’t restrictive are best. This also includes clothing with drawstrings, leggings and floaty tops.
4. Get a good night’s sleep the night before your photoshoot
It is always a little nerve-wracking when you’re venturing into new territory and as a result your sleep may suffer (this is excluding the fact that you are also pregnant and sleep may not come easily). Try and have a bath the night before the shoot to relax both your body and mind. If you have a pregnancy pillow, use that to prop yourself into a comfortable position. If possible, aim to get to bed a little earlier than you usually would.
5. Hydration and being well-fed are key
Keep your fluids up and make sure you have enough to eat throughout the day. Bring some snacks with you. I always bring some extra water and snacks with me just in case. Staying hydrated and being well-fed are key to having an amazing photoshoot. A headache whilst posing for a camera isn’t fun.
6. Pamper yourself prior to the session (OPTIONAL)
Both the baby bump and your hands will be on show for 99% of the photos taken on the day. A manicure a couple of days before your shoot will make you feel wonderful and will also dazzle in front of the camera. You may also wish to have a professional do your make up and style your hair for you. Imagine yourself in your outfits and think about whether you want to create more of a casual look or one that is elegant in nature.
7. Who to bring with you
Ultimately I want you to feel as comfortable as possible. If you have a partner/spouse or other children in your family, bring them along. Partners and children are often incorporated into the session. They have gone through the journey with you and will play a huge part in baby bump’s future. This being said, try to keep the number of people present down to a minimum as sometimes too many people can become a distraction and may have the opposite effect to what you wish.
8. Enjoy the moment, you’re in good hands
If you choose me to photograph those special moments, then I believe that the experience begins when you first make contact with me. From the moment I respond, I am providing you with all of my attention. Throughout the consultation we will get to know each other. Ideas will be thrown onto the metaphorical table. Outfit ideas and locations for the shoot will be discussed. Even after the consultation, if you need to contact me for any reason I will reply as soon as I can.
The shoot itself will go by quickly. There will be lots of laughter and many moments for you to be in harmony with baby bump. I want you to feel completely relaxed.
Post-shoot, I will give you a sneak peek of a few of the images 48 hours after the session. The remainder of the images will be with you within two weeks.
—
You can arrange a photoshoot with me either as a standalone session, or if you would like to capture some more milestones such as the newborn phase and your baby turning one, that can also be scheduled.
For more information on packages, please click here.
__
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can contact me via email:
info@seasonsentwinedphotography.com
or mobile: 07847744799
Maternity Session - HAW PARK WOOD
K&T MATERNITY PHOTO SESSION
I only became aware of the beautiful location that is Haw Park Wood a couple of weeks ago and straight away knew it would be the perfect setting for Kerry and Tom’s maternity photo session. All week the weather forecast had suggested that Sunday 14th August would be the hottest day of that week, but on arriving at the location I started to question the calculated predictions. Prior to the shoot a layer of fog cloaked itself around the pines that towered over the woods. This didn’t last for long. The sun rose and the heat slowly inched its way through the many trees that paved a shaded route for us. We were off and with me I carried a massive umbrella, a picnic basket full of cold drinks and food, a camping chair and finally my camera gear and props. I felt ready, we all were.
The session had three different looks for Kerry and honestly she did extremely well to not let the gradual increase in heat get to her.
You could really see the love between them. Here are some of the many photos from that day. Enjoy.
Location: Haw Park Wood / Angler’s Country Park
Featured dresses: Boohoo
