Preparing For Your Maternity Session

We're so excited about your upcoming maternity session, and we hope you are too!!  We totally understand that it may seem a little intimidating, maybe a little bit unsure about what to expect, especially if this is the first time. Without exception, every one of our maternity moms has admitted that they walked in thinking, "Oh my, do I really want to do this??" And without exception, every one of them later said, "That wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.....I'm SO glad I did it!"  

We've all been there. I remember feeling apprehensive about my own maternity session years ago. Our goal is to make you feel beautiful and comfortable at this wonderful time of your life. Hopefully these few tips might help:

To begin with, the color and fit of what's underneath can be just as important as the color and fit of the outer layer. Most maternity gowns are made of stretchy and/or sheer fabrics. That stretchiness and sheerness is what contributes to a gorgeous maternity image....to accentuate your belly and the connection and bond between you and your baby.  We don't know a woman alive, no matter how physically fit they may be, that isn't self-conscious about at least one part of their body. The good thing is, there are things that can help us with that.  

Without spending a fortune, we would encourage you to take advantage of some type of "Spanx"-like undergarment, any brand. There are several maternity-friendly variations, from high waist to mid thigh. Not too tight....the purpose is not to squeeze, just to smooth. The lines from regular underwear will invariably show through clingy/sheer material, which can make the end result a bit of a challenge. Also, when choosing any undergarment for your session, spanx or otherwise, please, no colors (even white can be an issue) or patterns....completely smooth, lace-free, nude color is best. This also applies to a well-fitted bra, strapless if possible, or perhaps a supportive bandeau bra.  

Jewelry, etc.: A lot of the focus will include your hands on and around your baby, and full length shots will be barefooted. You may want to consider a fresh manicure/pedicure with either clear or pale polish for a soft effect. Bright or dark colors visually "shorten" the fingers and will also be a distracting element of the image. When it comes to jewelry, less is definitely more. If you have a wedding band or set, please do wear it....preferably, no other jewelry on the hand/wrist area.  For the head/neck area, either no jewelry or simple delicate gold/silver earrings/necklace, not clunky or colored.

Because of the different angles for a variety of images, a hairstyle that allows you to lower/tilt your head without your hair falling into and covering your face is very helpful. 

Speaking of angles.... the posing instructions we'll give you, like these other tips, are designed to give you the best look for this kind of session. Some of the details may seem a little awkward or unnatural, so there is a "trust factor" involved in portrait photography. We won't make you look weird, we promise. What it looks like to the camera is not what it feels like to you. Consciously thinking about your posture, standing or sitting tall and straight with shoulders pulled back, is a very helpful start to a pretty pose. Slight adjustments as minor as an inch can make all the difference. The leg line is also important for that beautiful feminine curve we're looking for, so you'll probably hear several reminders about balancing your weight more on the leg that is farther from the camera and foot placement to lift the "front" knee. You will have a chance to relax your body after each set of a few shots, before making tweaks and adjustments for another set. 

We hope these tips are useful in your preparation for the session. Come....we'll have lots of fun and plenty of laughter.....no stress.