What to Consider When Planning Your Outdoor Maternity Photography Session

We’re now approaching several months of the year that are perfect for taking maternity photography sessions outdoors. All maternity photography is beautiful, whether it’s done inside a studio or outside, but when pregnancy portraits are taken outside in natural settings, there’s  a certain uniqueness that studio sessions just can’t match.

If you love the outdoors and are looking for a special way to document your pregnancy as you eagerly await your little one’s arrival, maternity photography that’s taken against stunning, natural backdrops outdoors could be just what you’re looking for.

Of course, there are some things you will want to consider before booking your outdoor photography session, because the experience of having your pregnancy portraits taken outside, as you can guess, is vastly different from a photo session that’s held indoors.

When to Book a Session for Your Pregnancy Portraits

Of course, it makes no difference whether your maternity photography is done indoors or out, the best time to have these types of portraits taken is between 32 and 36 weeks in your pregnancy. In my experience, this is when women’s bellies are beautifully round and full, but they’re not experiencing the swelling and general discomfort that’s often characteristic of the last few weeks of a pregnancy. This is also a good time for maternity photography because babies can and do come early and you don’t want to risk missing out on having your pregnancy portraits taken.

Where your 32 to 36 week window falls in terms of the seasons is something you will want to take into account, when deciding whether or not an outdoor maternity photo session is right for you. If the best time for your pregnancy portraits falls right when summer’s warm temperatures are at their peak, for instance, and you tend to be uncomfortable in the heat even when you’re not pregnant, you might want to keep your session indoors where the temperature can be controlled. But, if you live for summer’s heat and all of the beauty that this season endows, there’s a good chance you will love the outdoor maternity photography experience.

Times of Day for Maternity Photography

There are so many beautiful ways to customize maternity photography when you take your session outside, two popular ways being against brilliant sunrises and sunsets that are just bursting with colour. Choosing the time of day when your session will take place, however, requires some careful consideration.

If you were to have pregnancy portraits taken when the sun is highest in the sky in the late morning or mid-afternoon, for instance, the location you choose should also be capable of diffusing the harsh light, either with surrounding buildings that will block the sun or leafy trees that act as a beautiful, natural diffuser. With a little careful planning and the right equipment, I’m able to work with varying levels of light, so we would discuss the time and location for your maternity photography when you book your session.

Another thing to consider is whether or not you will be including baby’s siblings in your pregnancy portraits. A session that takes place at sunrise or even sunset might not be ideal, if this is the case.

Wardrobe Changes & Outdoor Sessions

As you can well imagine, making as many wardrobe changes as you typically would during a session held indoors, is a little challenging when you’re outside. When you’re pregnant, it can be difficult enough to change your clothes when you’re inside at home, let alone behind a tree or a sheet or in the backseat of a car, as some maternity photography clients have done in the past during their outdoor sessions.

Whether or not you change your outfit during an outdoor pregnancy photo shoot is entirely up to you. Together, before your session takes place, we’ll choose the maternity outfit or outfits you will wear when having your portraits taken. If you feel comfortable changing behind a sheet or in your car, I’ll do whatever I can so that you can do so with some amount of privacy.

Or, sometimes women choose one outfit for all of their pregnancy portraits, and that’s just fine too. Whereas women will often go through a few wardrobe changes for maternity photography that’s done inside, because it’s relatively easy to do so and gives greater variety to the prints, the backdrops of the sessions that are held outdoors will contribute enough variety to your images that you really won’t need to change the maternity wrap or gown you wear for another. Again, this is entirely your choice but something you should consider in advance.

Outdoor Maternity Photography is a Unique, Exciting Experience

Sure, there are a lot of things you will need to consider when planning your outdoor maternity photography session, but it will be well worth it. I work with all my clients to choose locations, times of day and wardrobe options that will come together to create gorgeous pregnancy portraits. With my knowledge and experience, I know how to use specialized equipment–and sometimes a little improvisation–to control whatever variables Mother Nature tosses our way.

Just imagine a collection of maternity photography that’s set against a lush green meadow, within a whimsical tree covered forest, or a series of gorgeous silhouettes taken at sunset. The sky is literally the limit when you choose to take your pregnancy portraits outdoors. Celebrate the upcoming birth of your baby in a unique and memorable way!

For more information on outdoor maternity photography or to book your session, please call 905.449.2200.