My personal maternity story
I'm so glad I have these photos to look back on...
I love absolutely any reason to celebrate life & celebrate us as women. And, what better time than when we're creating LIFE. Being pregnant with my son was one of the most beautiful, incredible things I've ever experienced. And at the same time, it was tiring and hard and emotional.
But, if I hadn't paused and taken an afternoon to capture these photos, I wouldn't be able to look back on my pregnancy with the same amount of admiration. That's the magic of maternity portraits, it's an opportunity to capture the beauty amongst everything else.
Because YOU are beautiful and this pregnancy is beautiful. And that, to me, is worth remembering.
What is a maternity session?
A maternity session is a session focused on portraits of mama-to-be during her pregnancy and are meant to capture the beauty of the woman's body while she creates and carries life. The photos typically feature a combination of mama-to-be on her own portraits with her partner and any other kiddos.
When should I schedule my maternity session?
The typical timeframe to book your maternity session is between 28-36 weeks. This ensures we have a cute bump to photograph! We also don't necessarily want to shoot too close to your delivery as you could be less comfortable moving around as baby gets bigger.
Another option that differs slightly from maternity is a pregnancy announcement session. This is typically scheduled on or around the 3 month mark and can be a great way to capture the excitement and share the news with family and friends!
What should I wear to my maternity session?
The first rule is it has to be comfortable! That means, if needed, this is your permission slip to go out and buy the bigger pair of jeans or the dress thats a size or two larger. Your body is creating a human, give yourself grace (and a hug) and get a special new outfit just for the occasion!
The second, is that I want it to represent you and your style. After that, it's up to you! It can be casual (ie: jeans and a t-shirt) or a classic maxi dress, it can be a soft neutral color (think greens, light blues, etc.) or just white. You can also plan to bring a couple options! I'm here to help with outfit selection as well, during your design consultation we can plan your outfits together!
In-Studio or Outdoor Photos?
In-studio maternity portraits feel more classic and elevated while outdoor portraits tend to feel more relaxed and natural. Both options can be whatever we make them, though, so I'd start by asking yourself a few of the following questions and then see where you land.
- Where will I put these photos? An album, hanging on the wall, baby shower cards?
- What represents ME? Am I more classy and minimalist or am I more outdoorsy and casual?
- What season will it be when I'm 28 - 36 weeks pregnant?
- What clothes do I want to wear/where will that look best?
- If you're not sure on any of the above, I'm here to help! Bring all your questions to your design consultation and feel free to text me with outfit ideas & questions!
How to Pose for Maternity Photos?
I've got you covered! It is my job to make sure you're comfortable and also my job to tell you where to put your hands, and provide prompts for lifestyle/candid photos as well. I won't leave you hanging, I promise!
This is also a great opportunity to bring in props! I've included a few of my favorites below:
- Flowers (make it personal, pick your favorites or choose a color that represents the gender)
- Your ultrasound photos
- Kiddos (bring your other child(ren) along if you'd like to incorporate some family photos)
- Custom signs ("welcome baby," "Buddy is getting a human," etc.)
- Blanket/Baby Clothes/Baby Shoes
- Furry Friend (in this case, be sure to bring a designated furry friend wrangler)
How many photos are included?
If you're booking a full portrait session with me (vs. a Mini Session) this is completely up to you! My session fee is $99 and covers your time shooting with me. All images are purchased after your session and my bundles start at six images. But, you can take home as many favorites as you'd like!
How much does it cost?
My session fee is $99 and covers your time shooting with me. All images are purchased after your session. Image bundles start at $499. But, my clients typically spend around $1,500.
When will I get the photos?
I work as diligently as possible, especially when it comes to maternity photos, as I want you to get your photos back before your baby arrives. Within a week after your session, I'll reach out to schedule your Reveal Session. This is where we sit down together (over video chat) and you get to see your images for the first time! Then, we select your favorites and I can start working on master retouching those and ordering any prints that come with them. Typical turnaround after the reveal session is 1 week for digital images and 3-4 weeks for prints and albums.
Capturing Every Little Detail
Newborn Lifestyle Portraits
After having my son in 2024, newborn portraits have taken on a whole new meaning. I have such a depth of understanding and compassion, not only for making sure we capture every little detail of your brand new little one but, for you as brand new parents going through one of the most extraordinary and life changing periods of your life. This newborn window can fly by, which makes capturing it that much more important. I'm here to help you do just that.
I'm a lifestyle maternity & newborn photographer serving Hudson, Somerset, New Richmond, and River Falls, as well as Stillwater, Lake Elmo, and the broader St. Croix Valley area. My sessions are easy going, carefree and meant to capture moments that feel authentically you. I can't wait to document this season for you!
