The Magic Before Baby: Creative Maternity Portraits | HD Family Photographer
In and around the High Desert, I’ve noticed baby bumps popping up everywhere! And, I love it!!
Every little bump holds a secret story waiting to be told. Will there be lots of giggles and daydreams from this tiny human?
Maternity photos don’t have to be scary or stressful; they can be filled with laughter and a bit of magic.
Think flowing gowns or an enchanting yard. The glowing mom-to-be who wants to feel like she stepped out of a storybook. After all, this chapter of motherhood goes by quickly, so why not celebrate it however you want?
This is a recent maternity session that felt like a storybook dream. The client arrived with a bunch of ideas, and I had lots of ideas in mind, too. My assistant really helped with bringing everything together.
It’s been a hot minute since my last pregnancy; my last baby just entered high school. But I do remember getting tired quickly. So, I went into this keeping her energy level in mind. It was going to be a busy day!
With a little (or a lot) of prep work done ahead of time, we were able to spend time on what mattered the most, the soon-to-be mama. I set up a few “stations” beforehand, which kept things simple and ensured a smooth flow between each portrait style and theme.
In this post, I will break down each area, pose, and style. This can be useful for moms and photographers alike. It leads both parties in the right direction.
Okay, let’s dive in! Pun intended, there’s a milk bath at the end.
Baby’s breath and a pair of jeans. Simply sweet.
Denim and Florals
I’m sure you’ve seen this style all over the internet: A pair of jeans, a precious baby bump, and some fresh flowers.
We aren’t talking about maternity jeans either; these are regular jeans where the fly stays open to show off the growing belly.
Add some baby’s breath, and you’ve got an ethereal portrait.
The client arrived with hair and makeup done, and a bag full of clothing in hand. She also brought a change of dry clothes, because we planned on doing a milk bath. Squeeee!!
What you’ll need:
Regular pair of denim jeans, not maternity
Fresh flowers, we chose baby’s breath
Neutral or skin colored bra if nudity isn’t an option
Sonagram/ultrasound images
Timing played a huge part; everything was set up before she arrived. She changed into outfit number one, and we got started. I provided her with a rundown of the session and informed her ahead of time how long it would take— about 3 hours. Gasp! I know.
To begin, we started with simple poses, such as standing. Then, rotated poses and positions from there.
I began with simple posing because it helped the model get comfortable with me and being in front of the camera. Some people love being in front of the camera, while others are more hesitant and shy.
Start with simple posing.
Mama and baby images.
Then, we moved on to sitting poses, and I couldn’t believe how beautiful they were turning out. We were just getting started, and I was in love!
After we exhausted this set, she changed out of her jeans and threw a pair of leggings on.
We met by the window.
Maternity silhouette.
Silhouette
Nothing is more fun than remembering your baby bump. Well, maybe Disneyland, but we’re not here for that.
Silhouette portraits are all about the body, shape, and curves.
A silhouette isn’t for everyone. I think it’s one of those “you love it, or you hate it” situations. I’m team Love It! I told her this one was for me.
The focus is on the belly and the changing body. Without colorful outfits, facial expressions, or makeup, it’s just the amazing body in its natural form.
What You’ll Need:
Large window or doorway
Sheer fabric or a sheer curtain
Bra and leggings or undies, you want form-fitting clothing
Hair up in a bun to show the curve of the neck
I had the backdrop with sheer curtains set up and ready before she arrived. I knew what I wanted, and this is a simple pose.
Depending on how comfortable your model feels about nudity, she could go bare or wear a pair of undies/ leggings. You don’t want baggy clothing for this.
You want her hair up to show the shape of the neck and shoulders.
Enchanting maternity portrait.
Swooshy Fabric Portraits
This is another popular style. It’s ethereal and magical, and I love it!
Nothing screams motherhood quite like fabric that is flowing wildly on its own. Kind of like a child. Newborns can’t thrash around and throw tantrums, quite yet.
This style might look fancy, but I assure you, it’s not. It takes quite a few tries to capture the exact look, so a little patience is needed.
And, it’s totally worth it, wouldn’t you agree?
What You’ll Need:
5 yards minimum, sheer fabric. More if you want extra drama
Skin colored undies and a strapless bra
Large backdrop
Assistant (enlist a friend who came to the session with mama)
Patience. Lots of patience
I didn’t have the ideal color fabric, so I played with color in Photoshop.
Which is your favorite?
I love the simplicity of the black and white.
After the fun, flowy set, we got ready to dive into the tub.
I saved the bath for last in case her hair got wet.
Milk bath set up.
Milk Bath
Prepping ahead of time is a must for this one, and the results are magical! I’m sure you’ve also seen this style before.
The milk bath goes far, as far back as Cleopatra, who used to indulge in them along with the Roman empresses (according to Google).
What You’ll Need:
Bathtub or blow-up pool if you’re outdoors
Large window and/or lighting
Powdered milk and measuring cup
Fresh flowers in assorted sizes. Flat flowers work best because they float
Faux flowers (optional)
Large bath towels for mama after she gets out
Small towels to clean up splashes
Scissors and a large bowl of water to keep fresh flowers in
I grabbed fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s the day before the session. The baby is due in the fall, and the shower is a pumpkin theme, so I opted for orange and yellow florals.
I looked through my box of faux flowers and pulled greenery, orange florals, some white, and any yellow ones I had, too.
I cleaned my tub in the morning and put all the normal bathroom stuff away. I had a few towels ready for her, for when she got out.
I laid out the faux florals and greenery around the tub ahead of time.
I waited to cut the heads of the fresh flowers until it was bath time. I have noticed in the past that when you cut flower heads off hours earlier, they get waterlogged and can look soggy.
Not the look I wanted.
When it was time, she changed while I filled the tub with warm water. I added 1/2 cup of powdered milk and mixed it until the water got the desired look I wanted. *I would add much more milk powder next time.
I added a drop of lavender oil because I didn’t want her to smell like milk. Yuck! Beware of this, though. Ask your client ahead of time, and only use quality essential oils. She may be allergic or dislike the smell altogether.
She got in, and I tested the lighting while my assistant cut flower heads and placed them in the tub. The client helped put the tiny chamomile buds in the water.
Dahlias, chamomile, and gerbera daisies. Oh my!
The trick is sizing. You want large, medium, and small flowers. Odd numbers are your friend as well. It’s more pleasing to the eye.
I wish I had a little more room to squeeze myself in, to get different angles, but I was at the mercy of the hole my bathtub lives in. Ha!
Looking back at the photos, I wish I’d filled the tub with more water, too. Now I know for next time. Other than that, I’m pleased with the images.
I am not sharing the ones with her belly and almost nude body out of respect. I wouldn’t want my whole body on the internet, so you’ll have to use your imagination.
Dreamy milk bath maternity photo.
Ethereal vibes.
Thanks for reading The Magic Before Baby: Creative Maternity Portraits | HD Family Photographer. I hope you love the creative styles, and you walk away with fun ideas on what your pregnancy photos could be.
If you’d love to include me in your family photos, I offer different styles, and I’d be delighted to create something magical for you!
Read more information on maternity sessions here.
Which theme or style was your favorite? Tell me in the comments.
Cheers,
Annette
