Let’s be honest here… Pregnancy is an exciting time in any woman’s life, and the idea of maternity photography can be thrilling too!
The family maternity session is one of the must-have pregnancy shoots. After all, the moments you experience while waiting for the little bundle of joy are precious and will only last for a short time. It is time that we take those special memories into our hands and make them last forever.
It’s true. Pregnancy is so special that many women feel the need to capture this process and show it to others.
We can already see that the trends in maternity photography have changed during the recent years.
What you’ll discover:
- Planning The Perfect Maternity Session
- Why Timing Matters More Than You Think
- Creating Authentic Family Connections
- Making Your Photos Tell a Story
Planning The Perfect Maternity Session
If you have plans to get pregnant and give birth to a baby, you should take your maternity photography session seriously. That is how you will get the most beautiful memories of your pregnancy. It is very simple, and the best sessions are those in which everyone feels natural and relaxed.
Let’s start with the most popular question.
Where should the session take place? The trend for the past year and now in maternity photography has been to take the photos outside. In fact, 50% of families prefer outdoor photography for maternity sessions instead of more traditional portraits in the studios.
Is your favorite place not a local park or a beach? It is not a problem! You can make the perfect family portraits in your backyard as well! No matter what location you choose, it will help you feel more at home and make your photography session even more special.
The secret to the perfect photos is that you should not over-plan your maternity photography session. Trust us, the top photographers are not looking for the so-called “perfect” place for the photoshoot. They know that simple locations like a favorite spot in the backyard or a park nearby your house create the most emotional family pictures.
Also, a popular misconception is to over-plan an outfit for the maternity session. You need to remember that a photography session can last about 1 to 2 hours and that the most attractive photos are those in which a woman feels comfortable and at ease. Maternity gowns can look stunning in the photos, but it also means that you need to constantly fix your clothes.
When you plan a maternity session, you should also think about the activities that your family can do. We have a lot of clients that include a kitchen session when they document a woman preparing a meal for her family, or outdoor walks for families that prefer having sessions at the golden hour. This is how you can make your maternity photography look like it is a part of your life.
Planning for the complete baby portrait experience means considering how your maternity photos will connect with future newborn and family sessions to tell your complete story.
Why Timing Matters More Than You Think
The average time when most families book their maternity session is between 28th and 34th weeks of the pregnancy. This is probably the best time as your bump will be in the best shape, but you will still be comfortable.
The average time can vary for each family. In fact, some clients decide to have a few sessions throughout their whole pregnancy process. Some women start to plan a maternity session around the 20th week when they are really happy about their first bump. Later on, they choose to get more photos with their round and full bump.
Keep in mind that the weather and season also have a great impact on when to book your maternity session. During the spring and summer, the golden hours are longer and the temperature is more comfortable for outdoor photography. Autumn is great for natural scenery and colors of fall leaves. Winter can also be a great option for maternity photography, but indoor sessions are more likely during this time of the year.
Also, many clients forget to plan ahead and try to book their maternity session at the last minute. It is essential to make a plan in advance as the best maternity photographers are usually booked weeks before.
Creating Authentic Family Connections
The top trend in modern maternity photography is to create authentic relationships between family members.
We can notice a high increase in clients that want photos that show real emotions and are not the so-called fake posed photos.
Photographers have to make their clients feel comfortable and help them to find real connections between the people in the pictures. Emotions like the love in partners’ eyes, natural touching, real smiles, and simple moments of just waiting are very popular in maternity photography.
Today we see that maternity photography is not just about the mother-to-be. The most trending shoot type is a family session which includes the whole family: partners, children, pets. There are a lot of families that want to include their first children into the maternity sessions.
We have many clients that were afraid that their little children would not behave or have tantrums, but it is not true. All you need is to choose the right time and photographer that knows what he or she is doing.
Plan the session at the time when your kids are most likely to be full of energy, like after a good sleep in the morning. Bring some candies, favorite toys or books to entertain your little ones during the photography session.
Making Your Photos Tell a Story
Maternity photos can create the best stories that will continue even after the baby’s birth. One of the top trends in maternity photography is that women want to show and tell the story about their pregnancy journey.
In addition, you can include some props into the shoot which will tell the story as well. Some clients choose to put some baby shoes, ultrasound, or items from the nursery.
The top trend is the lifestyle maternity photography which is all about real family life. Photography sessions can include activities such as nursery preparations, eating breakfast in bed, looking at pregnancy books.
You can include one or two story ideas into the maternity session, but not more. The best and most popular are three, for example, nursery preparations, walking on your favorite trail and a calm moment together.
Environmental storytelling is also very important. We have observed in recent years that families often prefer natural settings in their photos as they match their lifestyle and preference rather than a studio.
Maternity photos should be the start of the whole photo story, as it will match well with newborn, first birthday, and future family sessions.
Bringing Everything Together
Maternity photography has gone through many changes and is not like those of 50 years ago. Modern families want to show their real emotions and relationships and create the perfect memories from their maternity journey.
The best maternity sessions are those in which everyone feels natural and relaxed. Choose a location that will show your family in the best light, and that will not take much time to prepare. Include family members and pets that mean a lot for you and plan the session around your comfort and energy.
The most important is to cooperate with photographers that can help you create authentic moments and feel comfortable during the whole maternity session.
Your pregnancy journey is unique, and you want it to be shown like a unique story. Spend some time on thoughtful planning, and create the most precious memories of your maternity journey.