When you photograph an expecting mother, most of the photos you take will highlight her on her own with her baby bump.
But there are many different advantages to including her family in the shot, be that her significant other, her children, her extended family, or all of the above.
By including other people in your pregnancy photography, you have an opportunity to create a meaningful image that shows the mom-to-be's relationships with her loved ones.
In that regard, family pregnancy photos become about more than just the mom and her forthcoming child, and more about the whole of the family, their love for one another, and their excitement about the new addition that will arrive soon.
The question, though, is how to do you take beautiful family pregnancy portraits?
After all, the more people in the shot, the more bodies that need to be posed, the more eyes you have to worry about looking at the camera, and the more smiles you have to generate, right?
Though that's all true on some level, composing family pregnancy portraits really comes down to a few fundamentals.
With these pregnancy photography tips, you can learn some of those fundamentals.
Editor's Tip: Quality photos need quality accessories. Ramp up the visual interest of your maternity photos by giving your clients gorgeous gowns, crowns, and other maternity photography accessories.
Bring Them in Close
A key to creating a solid family maternity photo is to bring the family members physically closer to the expecting mother.
By showing physical closeness in the photo, you can emulate the emotional connection between the mom-to-be and her family.
In the example above, you can see how having the couple engaged in a kiss as well as sharing an embrace ramps up the representation of that connection.
However, you don't have to have couples kissing, holding hands, and the like.
Instead, simply having them standing close to one another and looking into each other's eyes will result in a more emotionally-charged, romantic shot.
Learn More:
- 3 Things You Need to Know as a New Maternity Photographer
- Do's and Don'ts for Beautiful Maternity Photography
Emphasize Eye Contact
As mentioned above, having a couple engage in eye contact is a great way to provide viewers with a visual cue of the couple's love for one another.
But this trick works well for whole families, too.
Rather than having the family pose and look at the camera, having them look at one another gives you the opportunity to create a photo like the one above in which the relationship between the family members is highlighted more effectively.
Where eye contact with the camera can sometimes feel impersonal and even forced, looking at one another can instead help you create a photo that demonstrates the bond between an expecting mom and her family.
Editor's Tip: Making money as a photographer comes in ebbs and flows. Learn how to earn additional income by joining our #1 affiliate program.
Strive for Candid Shots
One of my favorite family maternity photography tips is to ditch the heavily posed, more traditional portraits and strive for something more on the candid side.
Candid photos not only allow you to capture the interaction between family members, thus giving viewers a more authentic examination of the relationships they see in the photo, but candid shots also are more relaxed and laid back.
All of that can be a very powerful tool for creating a meaningful photo.
As you can see above, this pregnancy photo is less about the expecting mom and her baby bump - though both are still center stage thanks to that gorgeous gown - and more about the family unit as a whole, enjoying a day at the beach.
If you want beautiful family pregnancy portraits, remember that the most beautiful thing about a family is the love and bond that's shared.
These easy pregnancy photography tips will help you highlight those features for more successful portraits.
Learn More:
- How to Use Natural Light for Stunning Outdoor Portraits
- 4 Tips for Gorgeous Maternity and Newborn Photography
About Sew Trendy
This is a company that photographers absolutely need to be in touch with. Their gowns, crowns, and other high-quality accessories are just what you need for maternity photos, photos of newborns, and mommy and me sessions. These accessories not only make your clients look and feel great, but they also add a depth of detail and interest to your photos that elevate the images to an entirely other level. What started out with just a few people manufacturing these eye-catching items is a growing business that provides accessories to photographers worldwide. Help your clients look and feel their best by partnering with Sew Trendy Accessories.