Session Planner - Maternity

Let's talk about when to have your session.

Why? This is when you will have a gorgeous full belly but not leaving it too close to your estimated due date. This is a time to embrace your body and all that it is doing! You may not feel amazing but you're literally growing a beautiful baby you inside your belly. These photos will be a reminder of this incredible journey.

Trust me it will be worth it.

Next thing to think about is where you would like your shoot to take place?

Outdoors

Lighting and location will have a massive impact on the look of your images. I highly recommend choosing an outdoor location and having your session during sunset known as golden hour.

I do have a location guide to help you choose a location suited to you and what you're are dreaming of. Beach, hills, field?

Please feel free to ask me about locations and timing if you're not quite sure, I'm here to help. If you're brave enough for a sunrise the lighting would also be stunning! Or perhaps you would like a solo mid morning or an afternoon session with the kids?

The options are endless for a maternity session.

At the studio

New studio space in Blenheim opening from Jan 2025

In home

If you have a beautiful home with great natural lighting you can absolutely have a session in your own home. Generally the best time for an in home session is mid morning. This is a great opportunity to have some really natural relaxed images, sitting on the couch, laying on your bed and if you want to bare a little more skin in the comfort of your own space to be in your underwear. Plus you can involve pets and if you have kids they will be comfortable in their own environment. We can also get more creative with lighting and potentially get some outdoors too if you have a cute front door or garden area.

Once you have decided where you would like the session that will help deterime what time of day/day of the week suits best. We can always reschedule if you want to change your original booking for example from an outdoor sunset session to an in home mid morning session. Also know that you are welcome to have the session on a location that is not on the guide.

Location guide

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What to wear for your session?

For mum-to-be I suggest having something that is beautiful and comfortable for you. It is an opportunity for you to dress up or keep it more casual. Honestly these are your photos I want you to feel good for you. I have a client wardrobe that you are welcome to use, a lot of the dresses fit a range of sizes and are quite neutral colours. Some of the dresses button down so that you can have your bump out too. You can also mix and match and wear some of your own pieces. Open jeans, a nice matching underwear set, a blazer or shirt are all popular at the moment. I personally love the idea of flowers as a pop of colour and texture.

If you are having a session with your partner or just yourself you could have up to 3 looks. I don't want to over complication the session with lots of changing you know as some time less is more.

For your family the general rule for photos is to wear neutral or earthy colours. I suggest avoiding colours like blue, red, yellow, black and crisp white or anything that has large words/logos across the top.

I recommend having your family stick to 1 outfit and you having 2 looks maximum if you would like to have 1 change half way through. When there are kids involved we don't want to waste time or momentum by having them changing too.

If you would like any advice or to request a try on please let me know.

Client wardrobe

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What does a maternity session look like?

my workflow

I have a few simple poses that are super easy and flattering to show off your bump. Just remember soft movement is great, you don't even need to look at the camera. I will give you lots of gentle direction. I would recommend having up to 3x looks maximum. You can use the client wardrobe, your own clothes or a mix. You might like to start with a dress, then have a change into a robe over your underwear or open jeans to have your bump out. If feeling open to it at the end is an opportunity to show more skin.

This session is about you and it is entirely up to you and what you are comfortable with.

Keen to know more about having family/partner at the session or going solo?

Absolute perfect if you want to have the whole family or even just the kids involved! A great way to update family photos and document this new chapter. We will always start the session with the kids as this is our best window of opportunity for their interest and attention. We will make our way through each combination each child with mum, all together, mum and partner etc. Next we will have some more play based prompts and just allow the kids to be kids. The second half of the session is when mum can have an outfit change and I really focus on her and her bump. If your partner is there they are welcome to take the kids off for a play or towards the car if they have had enough, this allows mum some space and quite to enjoy her moment.

You are welcome to have your partner there! If they are anything like mine they probably don't want to be in the photos but will absolutely LOVE the results. Make it like a date, enjoy quality time together because it's an opportunity to get cosy and just have some banter with each other. Throughout the session I will have them join you and then I'll ask them to step out of the frame for a couple (give them a break) and get some nice solos of you too. At the end of the session if you would like to bare a little more skin and not have your partner there you can send them away. I often find that working one on one is really lovely and less eyes on you might feel more relaxed too.

If you are keen to have the session to yourself then this is a really beautiful experience to honour your motherhood journey. We have a lot more time to focus on you. If you would like to have more variety of outfit changes or an opportunity to get a little more creative I always have ideas if you want me to take some creative control. I love solo maternity sessions.

How to make the session feel like you?

Include something special to you? Flowers, a print of your ultrasound, little booties. Anything you fancy.
Seek inspiration - have a look on Pinterest and if you see an image that speaks to you and want to put your own spin on let me know in the questionnaire.
Enjoy the session, you're allowed to laugh and move your body make each prompt I suggest your own.