When You Work with a Professional, Maternity Photography will Capture How You Look and Feel During One of the Most Special Moments of Your Life

My recent accreditation in maternity photography from the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) has got me thinking about my role as a maternity photographer. I feel very fortunate to have helped so many pregnant women capture images that will continue to remind them of the excitement and anticipation they felt at what is inarguably one of the most incredible moments in a woman’s life.

Like newborn photography, maternity photography is a beautiful way to document a special family milestone. Nobody ever regrets their decision to have maternity portraits taken, but only that they didn’t take more pictures of how round their belly was, the way their belly button had ‘popped’ to make room for their wee one growing inside, or their glowing complexion.

Maternity Photography with a True Professional

As a maternity photographer who has photographed more than one hundred pregnant women in the past, I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to make a maternity photography session memorable. It’s this experience and training that makes the difference between a session that’s disappointing or uncomfortable and one that was the perfect way to begin your last few weeks as a pregnant momma-to-be. Working with a professional maternity photographer will make a meaningful difference in your level of comfort during the session, as well as in the quality of your portraits.

While all pregnant women are beautiful, there is an art and science to capturing their images in a way that best highlights their maternal features. Creative lighting and images taken against a white background, for instance, give way to stunning photos that perfectly highlight round bellies. Silhouette images are often some of the most striking portraits taken in a maternity photography session and have certainly been a favourite style for many of the women I’ve photographed in the past.

A maternity photographer who is experienced and properly trained will also know what types of clothing look best in portraits. Flowing fabrics and gowns, like those I provide for my clients, drape beautifully around pregnant bellies, while some other cuts or types of clothing hang poorly and produce an undesirable parachute look.

For every maternity photography session, I encourage my clients to bring some of their own clothing but I also provide a variety of gowns and fabrics that I know will photograph well. Before the session begins, I go through the items my clients bring to help them choose the ones that will highlight their figure, not mask it. Without this type of consultation or advice, women would likely be very disappointed by their portraits because what looks good at home, in front of the closet mirror, won’t necessarily look flattering in maternity photos.

Personalize Your Maternity Photography Portraits

There are many ways you can personalize your maternity photography to make your portraits just that much more meaningful. Including your partner or other children is a great way to capture the excitement your family shares for the arrival of their newest member. Off location photo sessions and intimate portraits are also some of the ways my clients have personalized their portraits in the past. But getting creative with locations, adding additional subjects or photographing pregnant women in intimate poses is only done successfully with a properly trained maternity photographer. Without an experienced photographer who’s willing and able to accommodate, portraits can look unnatural and the overall experience can be uncomfortable.

As a photographer and a mother, I encourage every pregnant woman to document their pregnancies through maternity portraits. No matter how many pregnancies you have, each one will be unique, and even though your baby’s kicks and somersaulting will one day become distant memories, your pregnancy portraits will be a lasting memento.

For more information on the maternity photography experience at my studio, or if you would like to book a session, call me at (905) 449-2200.