In January I was honored to capture this lovely family of three before they welcomed their new baby girl into the world. Today I want to discuss maternity session preparation and what I have learned makes the difference between a good session and a great session. Maternity sessions should be natural, candid and all about mom. They are a perfect opportunity to capture your unique family before welcoming that sweet newborn into the mix.
I get a lot of questions about how to prepare for a maternity session. Here are a few tips + tricks I have compiled to help you rock your next session.
- Wear whatever you are comfortable in. Mom must feel confident and relaxed in her style or it will show in your images. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful. Long, flowy skirts, maxi dresses or a nice tunic + pair of jeans. Mom to be is the most important part of the session and I want her to feel simply amazing.
- Don’t over accessorize. Keep it simple and classic.
- Solid colors or soft floral prints are best. I don’t recommend busy loud patterns or logos as they will draw attention away from you and put the focus on the clothing. Textures and layers always look nice and add depth to the photo. Plus you can take layers off to give you a variety of looks in the session.
- Avoid clothes with fine, repetitive lines typically found on men’s dress shirts or suits. These detailed lines can be difficult for the camera to register and may appear as wavy lines in your photos.
- Wear the appropriate undergarments and hide those bra straps. This is the number one issue that I run into are bra straps that don’t hide well under clothing.
- Iron your clothing and have it ready to go a couple of days before the session
- I always recommend getting a blow out and having your make-up done. Professional hair and make-up will make a huge difference to the camera.
- If you wear eye-glasses all the time, feel free to bring them, but if you can do without your lenses or have contacts, this is a better option. Eyeglasses can cause a reflection of the flash or nearby objects.
- Don’t forget the details. Manicures, pedicures, eyebrows and haircuts. All of those little things that seem to slip our minds. If you are scheduling a hair cut or highlight I recommend doing it at least two weeks before to give the style some time to relax and look natural.
- Finally make the session yours! Bring your significant other, kids, or a family pet. Anything that is important to you and tells the story of this beautiful season on your life.
I hope these tips help you prepare for your maternity session! All of this hard work in advance will allow you to sit back, relax and enjoy the shoot. These images will be with your family for generations to come. They are worth the time and investment up front.
Contact me to book your session!
