Oh, how I love a maternity session with couples expecting their first baby. It’s a breeze compared to maternity sessions with wild toddler(s) running amok. Plus the parents-to-be are so fresh-faced and full of excitement. I feel like it’s such an important time to document and of which to have photographic memories. When I look at photos taken of me before I had my first baby, it brings up so many feelings. So what does a maternity session with me look like?

Photo Session Location

When expectant folks are deciding where to have their session, I recommend picking a place that is special to them. This is usually somewhere outdoors, though sometimes home feels like the right place. When this sweet couple suggested meeting at Muir Beach (a place that has significance for them), I was stoked. I LOVE this location. It has dramatic cliffs, seaweed encrusted boulders, and that expansive blue horizon. At this shoot, we even got some morning coastal fog to break up the sunshine. Perfection! 📷✨

Shooting with a Lifestyle Approach

My approach to maternity sessions is the same as my approach to family sessions, or engagement sessions, or brand sessions. By that I mean, we’re moving around and interacting with the environment and having real exchanges. That is how I define Lifestyle Photography. It’s not overly-posed or contrived. It’s also not pure documentary. I lightly direct folks to make sure we’re getting the best light and strongest compositions. But you’ll never see me pose someone’s hands in a heart shape on their pregnant belly. 😉

When to Do Maternity Photos

I often get asked about when the best time is for doing maternity photos. While there are some extenuating circumstances that are exceptions to this, I generally tell mamas to have their session between their 34th and 37th week. Why is this? Because doing your session too early can make for photos that showcase an obvious bump (that bump really pops after about week 32) and doing your session too late can make for a shoot that feels too tiresome or unwieldy. I’ve found that those weeks in the mid-30s seem to be the sweet spot. 😍

Thank you to this fantastic duo, Sara and Mark, for trusting me to capture you (and your gentle furry giant) during this sacred chapter of your lives. I can’t wait to meet your new boo later this year!