Erin Witkowski
As we’ve addressed a few times in this How-To Maternity Photography Series, though pregnancy is a beautiful, natural process, expecting moms don’t always look and feel all that beautiful.
As a maternity photographer, it’s your job to ensure that your clients not only look their absolute best in their photos but that they feel their best as well. After all, half the battle of creating a gorgeous portrait is making sure that the subject is comfortable in front of the camera and has the confidence needed to strike a pose that’s flattering.
In today’s article, we offer up a few tips for helping you bring out the beauty in each and every client. From simply providing positive reinforcement to giving mom suggestions for what to wear, there are plenty of things you can do to make your clients feel like a million bucks!
Positive Reinforcement Works!
Becca Rillo Photography
Sometimes, all we need to feel better about ourselves is a compliment here and there. As a maternity photographer, this kind of positive reinforcement can help bring out the inner beauty in your clients that shines through in the images you create.
This approach doesn’t have to be overt and contrived either. A simple, “Gosh, that’s just beautiful!” after she nails the pose can go a long way in building her confidence. Offer a “Just perfect!” when she turns just so and makes the shot. Tell her that she’s doing a great job. Mention how well the photos are looking. Offer genuine, positive feedback, and you’ll see a difference in the way your client carries herself from the first frame to the last.
Try Different Angles
Susy Martinez
One of the challenges of maternity photography is highlighting the baby bump while minimizing some of the body changes that some expecting moms want to minimize, like weight gain in the face and water weight.
One of the simplest ways of doing this is to play with different shooting angles. Typically, shooting from above at a downward angle helps minimize things like double chins, because mom looks up at the camera, thus stretching out her neck. This type of shot also has a slimming effect, so while you can use it to show off mom’s baby bump, it will minimize other weight gain (and who doesn’t want that?!).
You can also use framing to help accentuate mom’s beauty. Come in closer to frame a tight shot on her baby bump. Step back further than normal for an environmental portrait in which she’s interacting with her surroundings. Add in her partner, a child, or the family pet, and you’ve got the makings for a setting that is fun and relaxing, the result of which will be a more beautiful portrait.
It’s All About the Wardrobe
Carey Hope Photography
We all know how what we wear can give us confidence and feel as though we are looking at our very best. Unfortunately, a lot of maternity wear just doesn’t cut it in the building confidence department. That’s why we’re so excited about Sew Trendy Accessories and the clothing they make for moms-to-be.
As you can see in the images in this article, Sew Trendy’s gowns aren’t your everyday maternity wear. Some of the gowns have trains that flow beautifully in the wind. Others are sheer (and sexy!) and give mom a big boost of confidence in terms of just how great she looks. Others have a more formal look to them while still others are playful and even whimsical.
Maternity gowns like these go a long way when it comes to making an expecting mom feel beautiful. And, the more beautiful mom feels, the better your photos of her will be! If you’re a maternity photographer, consider suggesting Sew Trendy Accessories to your clients. Judging from the images above, we think you’ll agree it’s a suggestion that will pay off for you and your clients!