First of all, let me say that though the maternity photography composition tips I outline below are easy, there is little else that's easy about maternity photography.
Not every pregnant woman you photograph will feel awesome on the day of the shoot. Not every pregnant woman will be able to contort herself into whatever pose you want her to be in, either.
There will be aches and pains, swollen feet, and tired faces, too.
But your job is to help your client forget all those things even if for a few moments, and in those few moments, help her feel beautiful and take gorgeous photos of her.
Here's a few things that will help you do just that.
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Portrait Photography Tip: Consider the Angle of View
Some women love how they look when they're pregnant and wear the extra weight very well.
In those situations, a good maternity photography tip is to compose the portrait straight on at her eye level.
As is the case in the image above, this composition puts the model's face and body front and center in the shot.
Notice how the camera level is right at the eye level of the model so she can look right down the barrel of the lens for a confident and beautiful photo.
But not all expecting mothers jump for joy with how they look when they're pregnant.
Some women are self-conscious about their body and weight gain. Others are bothered by having added weight to their face.
In these situations, shooting from an angle that's above the model will help slim down those features and get you more flattering results, as seen above.
Generally speaking, shooting from one or two feet above the model is a good distance for composition this kind of shot that looks down toward her.
Learn More:
- 3 Things You Need to Know as a New Maternity Photographer
- The Secrets to Flattering Maternity Photography
Get Input From Your Model
You can discuss the types of poses and compositions your client wants in your pre-consultation meeting all you want, but when it comes down to brass tacks, if your model is uncomfortable in a pose she really wanted to try, you need to listen to her and switch gears.
We've all been in portrait situations in which we were in an uncomfortable position. It makes it hard to look relaxed and smile naturally if you have shooting pain in your knee, back or other body part.
Now imagine how difficult that would be while pregnant...
The point is that you need to constantly check in with your client, asking her how she feels, if she's comfortable, and more to the point, what she's comfortable doing.
You might find that she's good to go with all the different poses and compositions you discussed, but more often than not, she'll need to make adjustments during the shoot. You just need to learn to roll with it!
Also be sure to discuss wardrobe for the photo shoot well in advance. You want your model to be comfortable and beautiful at the same time, so getting the wardrobe right is vitally important.
Editor's Tip: How you accessorize your maternity photo shoots is key. Find clothing, props, and other accessories for your maternity photography shoots.
Beware of Clutter
One thing that will immediately make your composition suffer is if there's clutter in the background (or the foreground, I suppose) of the shot.
This is a particular problem when shooting at a model's home as there can be items on countertops or tables in the background that you might not notice at first, but that cause all sorts of distractions later on in the images you've taken.
Typically, living rooms and bedrooms are the best places to compose a maternity photo, simply because there's big furniture (i.e., a couch or a bed) where you can position your model and have her be comfortable.
But before you start snapping away, be sure to give the room a once-over to keep the area clutter free.
It's also advantageous to have a window or door nearby to allow natural light into the room. That will give you a much softer look that your client is sure to love!
These are very simple portrait photography composition tips, but they can each have a profound impact on the results you get.
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