Styling your maternity session - Paraparaumu Beach, Wellington

Pregnancy is one of the biggest life-changing experiences you will go through. It’s incredible that our bodies can grow and nurture a new life. I loved this relaxed maternity session on Paraparaumu beach with Steph, Anthony and their two dogs. The Kapiti coast always feels special to me, I lived there for three years while I studied at The Photo School.

Couples are deciding to have maternity photos before their baby is born for lots of reasons, one being pregnancy comes with its own challenges and excitement, this is a chance to embrace all of those emotions and document this time with your partner. I’ve put together some tips for couples who are thinking about booking a maternity session and how you can style it in a way that is made easy.

FIND A SPECIAL LOCATION

Let’s make the most of our shoot by choosing a location that’s going to inspire you (and your photographer) and make you feel good. Turn the session into a memory, somewhere you think you will enjoy the scenery. Light is everything, so talk to your photographer about the best time of day at a particular location. Steph and Anthony’s pet dogs loved the beach because it meant they could run around while we took photos.

WHAT COLOURS WILL BE IN THE BACKGROUND

Think about what will the colours be in the background, from here you can start to think about clothing and how these will blend or contrast with the background. The colours could be seasonal but most importantly, try to pick colours from the same pallet or similar in tones (bright vs. earthy).

HAVE OUTFIT OPTIONS

While you and your partner don’t want to look too matchy-matchy, pick outfits that will complement each other. Neutral colour pallets tend to work best, or fabrics with some texture but not overly patterned. Flowy dresses look stunning but keep in mind the length if it’s going to be windy at your location. Don’t be afraid to wear white, this looks great during sunset. If you’re not sure, bring along some options and we can pick together. If you’ve booked a 1 hour session there may be time for an outfit change.

Wellington maternity photographer - Reasons to have a maternity session

If you’re counting down the weeks until your little one arrives this could be the perfect time to book in your maternity session. From 30 weeks is usually a good time for photos depending on your pregnancy, you want your bump to be visible but still be feeling comfortable enough to enjoy your session. There are so many reasons to book in a maternity session, take a read!

YOUR PREGNANCY JOURNEY

Pregnancy is different for everyone and you may feel self-conscious about having your photos taken at this time. Your body is changing in the most incredible way and having a photo session is a way of shifting your focus towards celebrating the new life you are creating, instead of worrying about your appearance.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Your pregnancy may feel as if it’s taking a toll on your body and if we are being real… you can’t wait for your baby to arrive just so you can start to feel normal again. Once baby is here and in the years to come, you’ll be so focused on raising a child that your pregnancy will feel like a very distant memory! Having photos to look back on will allow you to relive some of those moments you had together during pregnancy and remember that feeling of being so eager to meet your little one.

YOUR FAMILY IS GROWING!

When your little one is older you can show them photos from when they were in Mum’s tummy! If you are someone who likes to look back at old family photos, your maternity session is the best place to start your own family album. You can document your family’s growth by following up with a newborn session.

DISPLAY YOUR IMAGES

Wedding photos are often put on display throughout homes and a maternity session signifies another milestone in your life together. Professional photos are worth putting on display. You can also use your photos for your gender reveal, there are lots of ways to get creative with this.

Outdoor lifestyle maternity shoot - Wellington Eastbourne, New Zealand

Pregnancy is a special time for expecting mothers and their family. If you already have children, this is the perfect time to have a maternity shoot combined with family photos. These photos will be a momento of the ‘time before baby arrived’ and as your children grow you can look back at this time of your life together.

If you have a toddler and you’re worried about how they will find the photoshoot, look for a photographer who has experience working with children. You may only have a short period of time to get key photos and your photographer may need some tricks to get children on their side. A lifestyle session is perfect for capturing real moments and interactions between family, this works well if children aren’t interested in posing or are too young for directions.

Finding a photographer who has a style that speaks to you is important! When Claudia and Steph contacted me about their vision for this shoot they were looking for a lifestyle session near the beach where they live. Claudia put together a Pinterest board of inspiration. I knew straight away that we were a great match and I could bring their vision to life.

I recommend following a few different photographers on social media and over time you will start to see who connects with you best!

Claudia is extremely photogenic! I think I said ‘gorgeous’ about 100 times during our session. I love the way their outfits were styled and the use of adding in a denim jacket for Coco because it was extremely windy/cold and the shawl around Claudia’s shoulders.

Being on location can be really hit and miss if the weather isn’t great. It took 5 days of scheduling and rescheduling to get the weather right for us. We originally planned for a nice, sunny evening with a sunset, but decided to go with an overcast evening last minute which actually worked out really well. The cloudy sky adds a dramatic quality. Finding a photographer who can be flexible around weather definitely helps for an outdoor maternity session.

Reasons to have a Maternity Session - Whitireia Park Wellington

If you’re expecting a baby there are a few reasons why you should consider booking a maternity session! For some couples, photos can feel awkward and being pregnant sometimes you don’t feel flattering for photos. It definitely doesn’t need to feel this way and here’s why…

You may start off with good intentions to document your pregnancy each week with a bump shoot but life gets busy and often these special shots will be missed. A lifestyle maternity session allows you to book in a specific time that is dedicated to you and your partner celebrating your little bundle of joy. It’s actually a great chance to hang out at an epic location and enjoy some quiet moments together.

To the Mums, this is a moment to shine and appreciate how amazing and beautiful your body is. Usually, around 30 weeks is a good time to have photos taken as this is when your bump is showing but it’s not too uncomfortable. Your photographer should be able to direct you and give you some tips on how to pose for a bump shot. For photos with your partner, I will often ask couples to cuddle as they would normally or hang out and walk towards me, these shots are more candid and relaxed - great if your partner isn’t too keen on the idea of having photos taken!

If you’re planning a gender reveal, ask your photographer if you can add in a creative shot which shows if you are having a boy or a girl. This is a great way to surprise your family!

My maternity sessions are usually around 45mins-1 hour long and my pricing starts at $400. This can with or without other children (doggos included). You’ll receive a bunch of beautiful photos like in this blog post, delivered to you in an online gallery ready for you to use them as you please. Get in touch for more details!