I feel like maternity photography is one of the most undervalued session types. It gets glazed over as an unnecessary stop on the way to the next goal – baby! By the time you’re very pregnant, you will likely have become far more money conscious – and body conscious. It’s hard to take the focus off of baby preparation and turn it back toward yourself. But that’s precisely why you should consider it! Or rather, it’s one of several reasons why maternity photography matters.
- Honor Yourself– Babies tend to command a whole lot of attention upon their arrival. Take time while you are pregnant to honor the part that you play in the creation of another human. My grandpa used to tell his wife, “There is nothing more beautiful than a pregnant woman.” (It might have been his defense for the number of kids they had, but I’m inclined to agree regardless.)
- Family Time – A maternity session can be used as an opportunity to showcase those last days as a smaller family before it grows again. Sometimes expectant moms feel that their pregnancy isn’t worth documenting because it isn’t their first or they didn’t do maternity photos with previous pregnancies. I would argue that the opposite is true. Slow down and appreciate your spouse, partner, and/or kid(s) before the chaos of a newborn changes things once more. It means a lot to family members to include them in something pregnancy related because they often feel left out of this part.
- A More Complete Story – Maternity is the prelude to birth that showcases the love and anticipation we feel about our children before they even arrive. I am happy when clients choose the “Bundle of Joy” option because the combination of maternity, birth, and newborn photography tells more of the birth story. Getting to see the change in dynamic as the child in their minds becomes the child in their arms is incredible. I love getting to tell that story so completely and I’m sure you will too when you look back on the images.
- Birth Ice Breaker – If you are choosing to have your birth documented, a maternity session eases tension. That’s the same reason that photographers encourage engagement sessions before a wedding. It’s far easier to bond with someone who isn’t currently immersed in one of the biggest moments of their life. Going further, birth is a very intimate event that already has strangers involved in most cases. Getting to know your birth photographer ahead of time will provide one more friendly face in the room.
- Hang Loose – My personal justification was, “This is the only photo session of my life where I’m literally supposed to have a big belly.” Score!
If you’re ready to book a maternity session, drop me a line. I would love to talk about the ways we can create a custom shoot just for you and your pregnancy.
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