Maternity Portraits have become very popular over the last ten years. The pregnancy of each child is looked on as a special event for the family that should be documented with professional photography - almost as significant as the wedding photographs in terms of the evolution of a family. For the professional photographer and client there are several key elements to consider when creating the maternity portraits.
The timing of the maternity session is very important. You do not want to do the session too early and not have an impressive belly, but you do not want to wait so late so that the woman is swollen in the feet and ankles and miserable. Given these parameters, 32 to 36 weeks is a good, happy medium that usually works well. Of course if the woman is having multiples, then adjust the time accordingly.
Another consideration for the maternity session is who will be in the photos? The pregnant woman will be there of course, but should there be photos done with the partner? Are there already other children eagerly awaiting the birth of their sibling to be included in the session? This is a great time to do some family portraits before the family dynamics change with the new addition. Some shots should also be done of the woman by herself as a more private study of the female form and the beauty of the new life growing inside of her.
Choosing the location for the maternity session is key. Things to think about are whether the woman would be comfortable showing some skin in public places like a beach, city scape or meadow - or would it be better to have more privacy and do the session at a photography studio or at home?
The style of the shot will make a big difference for the overall feeling of the photos. To get ideas of the desired style, look on the internet for other pregnancy portraits and maternity photographs. Styles can range from moody and shadowy to light and airy to modern and funky.
So what should you wear for the maternity session? After having looked into the styles and locations, what to wear should be a little easier to decide. The basic choices are maternity photography with street clothes (usually with belly showing), semi-nudes with clothing, semi-nudes with fabrics, or just plain nude.
After having decided to do the session, another thing to think about is where to put the resulting prints from the session. If they are family portraits that are clothed, they may be able to hang anywhere in the house. If they are more black&white nude pregnancy portraits it may be better to hang these in the bedroom. Another great choice is to consider a fine art maternity album for the images.
After having done the professional maternity session, adding an artistic newborn photography session would be an excellent idea. Framed body parts from the maternity session including close ups of hands and bellies can be combined into a modern wall collage with close-ups of baby feet, hands and face. Creating an album from the pregnancy portraits and newborn portraits is another wonderful way to celebrate the new life in your family.
About the Author:
Anna Myers is a modern lifestyle Bay Area Maternity Photographer who specializes in pregnancy portraits. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
