Maternity Photography Session at Lafayette Reservoir

Outdoor Maternity Session

When parents-to-be choose to do a maternity session with me, I have them decide between doing their session outdoors or at home. A small minority opt for the a home session, preferring to create a more intimate mood and feel to the photos while the majority opt for an outdoor session. Luckily, we have so many beautiful outdoor locations in the Bay Area and I’m never wanting for a lovely spot to shoot. I always time my outdoor sessions to happen when the light is most flattering so these outdoor maternity sessions happen either early in the morning or in the late afternoon as we approach the “magic hour” before sunset.

Shooting at Lafayette Reservoir

For the session featured below, we chose to shoot at the Lafayette Reservoir.. This is a favorite East Bay spot of mine. It offers a great mix of grassy fields, big oaks, boating docks, and of course the waterline of the reservoir. I often don’t get to cover all these areas in one session unless I’m doing an extended session here.. In other words, there’s a lot of potential at this location. Springtime is an especially nice time to shoot there when the wildflowers are out, but the Lafayette Reservoir is nice any time of year. The only warning about this location is that it’s big so a fair amount of walking is required.

Couples Expecting Their First Baby

As much as I love the wild energy of a photo session with multiple kids running around, it’s also a big treat to meet couples expecting their first baby. We get to go slow, no one needs a snack, and my photo subjects typically do what I ask them to do. 😜 Seriously, it almost feels like a vacation.

Thank you to this adorable couple, who are expecting a baby boy in July. I get to photograph them again once baby arrives and I can’t wait. Photographing families just before a baby comes and then a few weeks after feels like being witness to the most sacred time in a family’s life. The joy and uncertainty of anticipation and the joy and uncertainty of having your dream arrive. I love the drama of it!