How-To Maternity Photography: Getting the Timing Just Right
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Maternity photography perhaps gets lost a little bit amongst other types of portraiture. Often, it’s family portraits or portraits of the newborn that get the most attention. Yet, pregnancy is a wonderful time to document mom’s journey and begin to tell the story of the little one that’s about to arrive.
Of course, like any other type of photography, there are plenty of things you can do to either help or hinder your efforts. To make your maternity photography more successful, we’ve put together a 10-part series on things you should (and shouldn’t) do when photographing a mom-to-be.
Let’s kick things off with a discussion of the first thing to consider when tackling maternity photography: timing of the photo shoot.
Wait for It…
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Pregnancy is an incredibly exciting time for mom and her partner, and the chances are good that they will contact you well before the prime time to take maternity photos. There is certainly nothing wrong with having periodic photo shoots throughout the pregnancy to document the changes mom is undergoing. However, the ideal time for maternity photos is typically at around 7-8 months.
But why?
It’s pretty simple, really. At 7-8 months, mom’s belly has achieved a good size and is big and beautiful. That plays well in photos because you’ll be able to highlight the size of the belly and the bundle of joy inside. It’s also not so late that the baby has started to move downward, which isn’t nearly as good of a look for mom as a high, tall belly that’s common with 6-8 weeks to go before the due date.
But Don’t Wait Too Long…
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Every mom will be different. Some will gain more weight and need to schedule their appointment a bit earlier. Others won’t carry much weight at all and can come in just a couple of weeks before the baby is due. However, what you need to be aware of is not scheduling the shoot too late for that particular individual. The last thing you want is to capture photos of mom as she’s retaining water, has stretch marks, and showing signs of exhaustion after carrying her baby for so long. That’s not to mention that the later in the pregnancy the session, the more difficult it will be for mom to get up and down, and even hold poses for very long.
The problem is that you can’t possibly know the optimal time for a maternity session for each and every client you have. In fact, the ideal timing will change for the same mom from child to child! With that in mind, simply give prospective clients a few pointers to help them determine the best time to come in. If morning sickness is a problem, it’s too soon to schedule a photo shoot. If bloating or swelling is causing discomfort, it isn’t the best time. However, if she’s got a nice, round belly, has good energy, and is comfortable like the gorgeous mom above, it’s a great time to suggest they come in for a session!
Timing Isn’t Everything
Nikki Lenae Photography
In addition to scheduling your moms-to-be at the right time, you also need to equip yourself with the best possible accessories to make mom shine in the images you create. But, let’s face it - though pregnancy is a beautiful process, mom doesn’t always feel that beautiful.
Sew Trendy Accessories specializes in making pregnant women look and feel their absolute best. With a wide variety of handmade maternity gowns, the mom-to-be can be outfitted in something that gorgeously accentuates her body and is comfortable at the same time. Just look at the moms wearing Sew Trendy’s gowns in the images throughout this article - they’re stunning!
Sew Trendy Accessories even offers maternity separates, gender reveal gowns, mommy and me sets, crowns and newborn props, just to name a few. That gives you tons of fodder for your maternity shoots to make them something unique, exciting, and beautiful for your clients. So, get your timing right with your client, set her up with some gorgeous accessories, and you’ll have the makings of a successful maternity photo shoot!