Quiet Grace: Capturing the Beauty of Intimate Maternity Portraits

Taylor and Brian’s maternity session was truly one of my favorite maternity sessions of 2024. I loved this studio session, and I felt so creatively inspired working with this couple. Taylor wanted a more intimate maternity session to embrace the beauty of her changing body as they awaited the arrival of their baby girl. We planned a more bare-bones style session with simpler outfits and flowy fabrics. Taylor and I love how it turned out!

When mamas-to-be go through pregnancy, there are so many changes in their bodies that can unearth many emotions. From feeling amazing, confused, inspired, awesome, jarred, and even exhausted - the experience can be overwhelming and so special. One of the things I love about maternity sessions is being able to embrace all of those feelings in their portraits. My goal with every session is to help mamas feel incredible and inspired by what their bodies are building and to embrace the beautiful changes as they get ready to welcome their babies. I know it can be so much, but I love when mamas like Taylor aim to document and showcase what’s so special about this journey. 

Before their ordering appointment, Taylor told me she was a little nervous to view her portraits. I was thrilled to be able to help her turn those nerves into excitement and awe.She later shared with me how grateful she was and how beautiful the session made her feel as an expecting mother. I’m so happy I got to work with you, Taylor and Brian. Thank you for trusting me with this special experience!

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Maternity Portrait Session with Toddler Big Sister

My wonderful neighbors Lauren and Tim are expecting their second baby. When they reached out to me about maternity portraits to celebrate this special waiting period, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. Their daughter Anna is 5 months younger than our daughter, so we’ve been going through phases of parenthood together - and have been celebrating their second baby girl’s arrival with so much happiness, too. 

Lauren and Tim decided to keep their portrait session simple - with maternity portraits in my studio (super convenient in the neighborhood, ha!). Anna got to be a huge part of their session, too, which I always love to see. She was absolutely adorable - wanting to hold and kiss her mama’s belly. Lauren and Tim asked to recreate some moments from their first maternity session with me, and I couldn’t wait. I love when families think about how their images will all mix together over the years. 

Some of my favorite portraits turned out to be the backlit and silhouette portraits. They’re elegant, yet simple. I know they will be treasured for years to come! It’s always fun to find new ways to capture similar moments for my couples - like posing with her cardigan and updating a similar photo with their daughter now. Lauren and Tim, congratulations and thank you for trusting me again to capture your maternity portraits. I can’t wait to share your newborn session soon!  

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Dreamy sunlit maternity portrait session in Saratoga springs

This beautiful mama and dad-to-be are the sweetest people and they’re so excited to meet their second baby girl this summer (who will be their first baby Earth side). We first connected a few years ago when this mama reached out to schedule a maternity session, but sadly we had to cancel when they lost their baby girl. As a mama to an angel baby, too, my heart ached for them. They had been on my mind all this time, and I was so touched when she reached out to me to schedule her new maternity session this spring, and excited for them when she told me that they were expecting their rainbow baby. Being along for the journey of any family - but especially those who have experienced this deep sense of loss - is incredibly special to me. I’m so thankful that I had the chance to work with this sweet couple! 

We celebrated their daughter’s upcoming arrival with maternity portraits at one of my favorite spots in Saratoga Springs, and we lucked out with the most beautiful sun-drenched skies that evening. This couple was amazing, and I love the connection and excitement that shines in their portraits! We also incorporated special mementos in jewelry to honor their first daughter, and I know that their new baby is going to be so lucky to have her big sister watching over her from up above. I thought it was so beautiful that we were able to document and celebrate both their baby girls in these maternity portraits. 

No matter what your journey to parenthood is, I am so honored to celebrate alongside your family as you welcome your little ones. Thank you to all of the families that invite me into their lives to document this special time for them. An extra congratulations to this sweet family as they finish their preparations for their baby girl to arrive!

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Maternity portraits in a hospital room just hours before delivery

Christine and Sondra are expecting their first baby. We planned to have a maternity session in my Saratoga Springs studio to celebrate the upcoming arrival of their little one. But, life had other plans. Christine was hospitalized at 33 weeks for HELLP syndrome, which is a very rare complication in pregnancy affecting less than 1% of women. It’s thought to be a type of severe preeclampsia, and it can cause life-threatening conditions in mothers and their babies. This was a very unexpected surprise for this couple, and they called me the week of their maternity session to let me know that they were in the hospital, the baby would be coming any day now (or really, any hour now with how things were going!), and utterly devastated that they would not be able to do their maternity portraits.

My heart broke for them, and I texted them later that night to see if they might want to find a way to make an in-hospital maternity session work before the baby arrived. Christine was ecstatic! With her doctors' permission, lots of breaks, and nurses on standby in case we needed anything for the mama-to-be, I went to the hospital the very next morning and we did their maternity portraits. This was such a special experience for all of us and I’m thrilled that we found a way to document Christine and Sondra’s journey into parenthood. 

I brought a simple white backdrop, gowns from my studio, and lighting because I didn’t know what the lighting situation would be at the hospital. We lucked out and didn’t have to cram into the tiny corner of her shared room, but found a huge open space in the hallway that was private and filled with huge windows to let in lots of natural light. It truly couldn’t have worked out any better! We worked with what we had available, using painters tape to hang the fabric on the wall, and trusting Photoshop to extend the backdrop and edit out her “hospital jewelry” (IVs and medical bracelets) in a few of her photos.

The end result? Two happy mamas and a beautifully documented pregnancy. All I could think when I was driving home from the hospital was that THIS is what my job is all about: finding a way to document something important, no matter what is going on for my families. 

Oh, and perhaps the very best part? Adorable baby Thomas was safely delivered by c-section only 8 hours after we finished their session. He spent two weeks in the NICU and made amazing progress every day, and then he got to head home early and enjoy bonus time with his mamas.

This hospital maternity session truly filled my heart and I enjoyed getting to capture these portraits in what was otherwise an incredibly stressful situation for this family. I love that we were able to safely spend an hour together, bringing a little levity to their week, and helping them ground themselves and celebrate their relationship and their pregnancy before their son’s arrival. It truly was an unforgettable session.

For more information about HELLP syndrome, visit https://www.preeclampsia.org/hellp-syndrome!

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Saratoga Springs Maternity Portraits with Traditional Indian Dresses

Shreya and Alvin are expecting again! This sweet family chose to do a maternity session as part of their Collective Membership. It’s hard to believe this was actually our first session together! Shreya, Alvin, and Ariya are naturals in front of the camera! While we included maternity portraits, it was also important to me that we captured what life is like as a family of three (soon-to-be four) right now. The result was some truly sweet portraits of Shreya, Alvin, and Ariya. 

We did their session right before the holidays, and we started off with some holiday portraits for their Christmas cards. Ariya was so adorable, and I love these family portraits and her individual poses! This little girl has so much personality, and we had a lot of fun with her in the studio. She was not shy at all and loved being the center of attention with her parents. 

After we were done with the holiday portraits, it was time to move into Shreya’s maternity portraits. Shreya brought this handmade white anarkali, a traditional Indian dress that she also wore when pregnant with her firstborn. It was stunning in person and photographed so beautifully on her, and I love the simplicity of these portraits in our all white studio. Including Shreya and Alvin’s traditional Indian outfits was so special to me. I always want my families’ portraits to feel like them - including what’s important to you. 

Shreya and Alvin, thank you for trusting me with this special moment in your family’s story. I can’t wait to see you all again for our next session together! 

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Saratoga Springs Maternity Portrait Session at Sunset

Lindsay, Steve, and their son Julian are welcoming a baby girl to the family! We planned a beautiful spring maternity session at sunset in Saratoga Springs at one of my new favorite locations to document this growing family. Lindsay is absolutely glowing, so it was fun to plan portraits to celebrate her and the baby girl she’s carrying! 

When Julian was born two years ago, we did maternity and newborn portraits for him, so it was wonderful to see this beautiful family again. I love getting to be a part of all of the changes my NSP families experience - and I love that I help preserve those special moments for years to come. 

For Lindsay’s maternity portraits, we actually started in my Saratoga Springs studio. These portraits are always so simple and elegant. She chose one of my favorite white dresses from our Mama Wardrobe - with beautiful lace sleeves and textures. When we were done there, we headed to the new location I found in Saratoga Springs. It’s got a tree lined path and at golden hour, the light hits it just right to create some truly dreamy portraits! Lindsay wore one of my pink maternity gowns to the outdoor location and it was the perfect nod to their little girl. 

Julian wasn’t so keen on joining us for family portraits, but we still captured some great ones with this soon-to-be big brother. I have a million tricks and games up my sleeve, and we always manage to capture some great smiles from even the trickiest little ones. If you’ve been putting off portraits because you’re worried about your little one not cooperating, don’t be worried! I’ve been doing this for over 11 years, and I was an elementary teacher for years before that. I’ve seen everything. Literally. I fully expect kids to act like kids, and toddlers have independent little minds and they like to call the shots. We work with that, we have fun, and we capture them as they are while still getting their vibrant personalities to shine through. As you can see, it all pays off in the end! 

Congratulations again to Lindsay, Steve, and Julian! I can’t wait to meet your sweet little girl so soon! 

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Casual Maternity Portraits with Jeans and a White Tee

Stephanie and Matt are welcoming their first baby soon and reached out about studio maternity portraits. I loved the idea, especially after they began telling me about their vision. Stephanie and Matt wanted a more casual look and a dressier option, but everything would be photographed in the studio. I think their maternity session turned out so, so classic! 

Much of Stephanie and Matt’s portraits centered around their outfits. For their more casual look, they decided on jeans and a white t-shirt. I think it’s a great classic look that will stand the test of time. They both looked super relaxed, which I’m always striving for. After that look, Stephanie wanted a dressier option. She chose one of my gowns from my studio’s Mama Wardrobe and looked incredible! Both looks were stunning on my new hand-painted canvas backdrop. I love this option for a more fine art look for portraits here in the studio. I’m so happy I got to use it for Stephanie and Matt! It really added a stunning vibe to their portraits. 

After their session, I have to admit I LOVED going through their gallery with both Stephanie and Matt.They’re both so excited about this season of life and were thrilled to see their portraits come to life. I’m so happy I could help them document this special time for their growing family. 

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Autumn maternity portraits with a toddler

Andrea and Robi are expecting their second baby girl and reached out to me about family portraits in Congress Park this fall to celebrate their pregnancy! I love these two and their sweet daughter, Giuliana so much. It was a joy to see them all and hear about how things have been going for Andrea through her pregnancy.

The day that we planned to meet in Congress Park turned out to be stunning. We had the most beautiful fall colors all around us and I was just obsessed with capturing this family of three (almost four!) in them. Their little girl, Giuliana, had a great time playing in the leaves too. She looked so sweet in her little blue dress and boots. Her parents had a great time hugging and snuggling up on her, making her laugh!

Andrea brought two looks to the session - a dressier maternity gown and a casual fall ensemble. I think the mix was perfect! She picked a beautiful pink gown to start the session and it popped against the yellow trees. I always love a good maternity gown! Afterwards, she changed into a more casual outfit for the rest of her portraits. The black shirt and leggings were a great option for the fall colors around us.

I’m so excited for this sweet family and hope to meet their second little girl soon!

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Classic White Gown Maternity Portraits for One of My Dearest Friends

This was such a special portrait session for both of us. Katie is a long-time friend of mine from Massachusetts, and she’s that special kind of friend that can brighten any day with a text or a call. I really treasure our friendship, and I love how fate brought us together as friends. When she told me that she and her husband were expecting, I was soooooo excited for them! They waited a long time for this news, and we talked about it a lot over the years while wishing and waiting and hoping. Their little baby is proof that miracles really do happen.

Of course I told her that I would love to document all of their milestones for them, and the very first one was with maternity portraits here in the studio when she was visiting for a few days! Katie looked so gorgeous and radiant in a few of the white gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she was the very first mama to wear this beautiful new gown with the crocheted sleeves.

A fun little side note for you: Were you a loyal fan of the TV show This is Us? I was, and the moment I saw Katie in this dress I couldn’t help but tell her that she reminded me of Sally, Uncle Nicky’s hippie girlfriend in the 60s. Maybe this came to mind because I happened to be rewatching the entire series while on my maternity leave, which is when I did Katie’s portraits, but either way, this became known as The Sally Dress and I think it’s so fitting.

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Maternity portraits for a yoga instructor

I’m so excited for Lauren and Tim to be welcoming their first baby, a little girl named Anna Marie. This family is extra special to me because they’re actually our neighbors! They moved to Saratoga Springs from Boston last winter, and we are thrilled to be two doors down from them with their little girl on the way. We can’t wait to watch their daughter and Adelaide cross our lawns and knock on each other’s door for play dates when they get older. It was definitely emotional when Lauren reached out asking about a maternity session!

When we began to plan their session, Lauren mentioned she wanted to incorporate her daily yoga practice into the portraits. She’s a yoga instructor so it was something meaningful to her. She had this colorful pillow in her yoga studio and it was perfect for her portraits. We planned her outfit to coordinate, and I love the brilliant pop of color! We used the same yoga pillow in her newborn session (which will be on the blog soon!). It was really fun to see the continuity between the two sessions.

Another wishlist item for her maternity session was a silhouette portrait. This was so fun to capture for her, and so beautifully classic as a black and white portrait. I love when my clients help me to lay out what they want in their portriats. Finally, Lauren and Tim wanted a more casual vibe for their couples portraits and I love how this turned out with the chunky knit sweater and jeans. The lace bralette is officially one of my new favorite items to recommend for maternity portraits, and I love the look of it with the cardigan in these images! Lauren - you are absolutely glowing and I’m honored that I was able to document this special moment for you and Tim!!

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Why you should add on a maternity session when scheduling newborn portraits

Most couples and families come to me with the plan to schedule newborn portraits to celebrate the arrival of their new baby. But, not many mamas think about a maternity session for themselves. Pregnancy is a journey - and one that should be documented and captured. While it’s fun and exciting to think about the day your little one arrives, there’s still so much that happens before they ever make their appearance earthside. That’s why I want to share why you should add on a maternity session when scheduling your newborn portraits!

Pretty soon, everything will be about the baby.

It's important to celebrate this stage where it's just the two of you as a couple, too. It's the last time it'll ever be just the two of you again!

You will positively glow in front of the camera.

Pregnancy hormones may not always be fun to deal with, but your skin & hair has never looked more amazing. Why not take advantage of that extra glow with some portraits celebrating the journey you’re on?

Mamas, your body, your mind, and your heart have gone through so much to carry this baby.

Pregnancy is not easy, but it is beautiful. Honor this moment and capture portraits that you can look back on to remember just how incredibly strong your body is!

These moments are part of your family’s story and history.

If you're having a little girl, one day she may have children of her own and she will want to look back on these portraits of you carrying her in your belly. She's going to look at her beautiful mother and identify so much with the woman in the photographs. This is a gift you can give your baby 30 years from now.

Document all of life’s milestones.

Your walls tell your family's story, and framing your wedding, maternity, and newborn portraits is such a beautiful way to document all of life's most important milestones for you to look back on daily.

My own journey with pregnancy + maternity portraits…

I’m ending this blog post on a personal note… My #1 regret with my first pregnancy was not documenting it with anything more than cell phone selfies every couple of weeks. I had planned to take some portraits right at the end, but then we wound up delivering a few weeks early and I never got the chance to. Me, a photographer, barely had any photos of my first baby bump.

So when we were expecting our next and last little one, I made sure to capture photographs to remember this season of our lives. I am so glad that I slowed down and made it a priority to step in front of the camera this time around, and I know I will treasure those photographs (and my little girl will, too!) for the rest of my life.

Finally, did you know that adding a maternity session on to your newborn session is only $100? We usually schedule maternity portraits for 28-36 weeks.

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Sunlight Maternity Portraits in Downtown Saratoga Springs

Heather and Lee are expecting their first baby, a little girl, and I had the honor of photographing their Downtown Saratoga Springs maternity session! As with all of my outdoor sessions, we scheduled a rain date in the hopes that we wouldn’t need it. But, we wound up having to switch to that date after all! The night of our original session, we had torrential downpour. Instead, we truly lucked out with our second date. We even got the most beautiful gorgeous golden light peeking through the trees and buildings during their session.

One of the best parts of Heather and Lee’s session was getting to explore Downtown Saratoga Springs with them. I found a few new spots I loved along Broadway and North Broadway. They turned out to be gorgeous for these new parents! Heather chose three outfits for her maternity session. This is very common with my mothers! It’s nice to switch up the fancier and casual looks, especially when doing an on-location session like this one. Honestly, I love Heather’s yellow dress that we started with! It popped perfectly against the buildings downtown.

Congratulations, Heather and Lee! I’m so excited for you and your new little girl!

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Celebrating Baby #2 - Maternity Portraits in Congress Park with Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

How beautiful is Katie?! This is my second time capturing a maternity session for her and Zach, and I’m so thrilled I was able to document another milestone for their family! Katie and Zach are one of the sweetest couples I know and their older son, Carter, is always a joy to see, too! I’ve been working with them since Katie was pregnant with Carter - for her maternity session and milestone sessions for him, too!

Now they’re expecting another little boy and Katie reached out to me about her maternity portraits. I couldn’t wait to get them on the schedule! We decided to split her session between Congress Park and the studio. It allowed us to capture a few different looks for her - and I think it worked out perfectly!! She used some of my gowns from the Mama wardrobe for the studio, which I loved. That green and white lace dress is one of my favorites and Katie looked amazing in it. Carter was all about being a brother already - hugging his mom’s belly and smiling nice and big for us.

I can’t wait to meet their newest addition. Katie and I are actually due the same week - so I’ll be thinking of her as we welcome Baby #2, too! Congratulations again, Katie, Zach, and Carter! I’m so excited for your new baby boy to enter the world!!! He is already so loved.

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Golden Sunset Maternity Portraits in a Field, Saratoga Springs Maternity Photographer

Alexandra, Dan, and Baby Lincoln are welcoming a little girl to their family this year! I was so excited when they contacted me about maternity portraits this fall. This sweet family just moved here from Hawaii and they were so excited to document this season of anticipation. I know they’re all so excited for their baby girl to make her arrival!!

Alexandra’s one request from the start was that her portraits felt candid and had a nice bohemian feel to them. She chose the perfect gowns from our studio’s Mama Wardrobe to bring her vision to life! She decided on sweet little suspenders for Lincoln, who just turned one this summer. The entire session, he was having blast with his parents playing and running through the field. He’s going to be the best big brother!

I can’t wait to meet their little girl soon for her lifestyle newborn session. They have a beautiful nursery all ready for her arrival, and it will be so perfect in her lifestyle portraits. After her newborn session, we’ll be creating a stunning heirloom album with both sets of portraits to preserve their memories. I’m so excited to design it for them!

See more from our mama wardrobe!

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Maternity portraits in a meadow with Saratoga Springs photographer

Patty just has the glow every woman dreams of when they find out they’re pregnant! This beautiful mama and her husband, Jared, came to my Saratoga Springs studio to capture this incredible milestone in their family. For her maternity portraits, we were able to head to a field about a mile from the studio and then come back inside to do a few more looks in the studio!

Doesn’t this mama look absolutely radiant in this beautiful peach gown in the field?! If you happen to love the gown, too, you’ll be pleased to know I’ve now added it to my Mama Wardrobe! Patty looked incredible and the peach color was the perfect pop against the green grass around her and Jared. Despite some pesky (and persistent!) mosquitos, they were both champs and put up with them for the sake of gorgeous portraits!

Then we headed back to the studio for two more beautiful looks. This gorgeous mama brought a sweet striped dress that she wore in the studio - and actually brought back to wear again in her little girl’s newborn portraits a few weeks later. And their newborn session really was just a few weeks later. Their sweet baby arrived 3 weeks early, before we even had a chance to finish the ordering appointment for her maternity session! We had a great time recreating portraits from their maternity session during their second session in the studio.

After both sessions, these new parents chose all of their favorite portraits for a stunning heirloom album that I know they’re going to enjoy looking through with their baby girl for many years to come!

TIPS FOR LOOKING & FEELING YOUR BEST DURING MATERNITY PORTRAITS!

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Saratoga Springs Maternity Portraits with a Horse

I can’t believe I’m finally getting to share Jillian’s maternity portraits with you! When she reached out to book her portraits, she mentioned the idea of having her session at Rolling Oaks Stable with her horse. I was absolutely excited for that! What’s more classic Saratoga than portraits with a horse?!

Jillian, her husband, and I all met up at the stable for their maternity session. I couldn’t wait to meet Jillian’s horse, Zita. Zita was an absolute dream for us - even wearing a sweet floral garland while Jillian cozied up next to her. I know these two (well, three with Zita!) are excited to welcome their baby girl Gianna to the family. This sweet mama can’t wait to bring her little one out here and introduce her to the stables. What a special moment it will be for Gianna and Zita to meet one day soon!

For her session, Jillian chose to wear two of the maternity gowns I have in my mama’s wardrobe. Both looked amazing against the backdrop of the stable. I can’t wait to see which portraits they choose to display in their home as they await Gianna’s arrival. I’m so excited for this sweet family! Enjoy this absolutely dreamy Saratoga Springs maternity session featuring Zita!!

TIPS TO FEEL YOUR BEST AT YOUR MATERNITY SESSION!

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Summertime Maternity Portraits - Saratoga Springs Maternity Photographer

I love celebrating new babies’ arrivals with their families, but one of the stages that I also really enjoy is the maternity session! There is so much anticipation and excitement as couples await their little one’s arrival, counting down the days until they become new parents.

These parents-to-be joined me for some classic portraits in our white, light-filled studio. This glowing mama borrowed a few dresses from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and she looked absolutely amazing in them!

Did you know I have a client closet filled with dresses for mamas to wear during their portrait sessions? This takes all of the work out of planning outfits and wondering what to wear and how it will fit you — these dresses are neutral colors in flowy fabrics with gorgeous lace details that photograph beautifully. Just look at how perfect they are on this stunning mama!

Then we went to downtown Saratoga Springs for some outdoor portraits at sunset. This mama is having a baby boy, and she chose a blue infinity wrap dress from the client closet for her outdoor portraits. I love how this color pops in the summer sun! And check out the beautiful bokeh with the sun streaming through the trees!

Can’t wait to celebrate their sweet baby boy’s arrival with them soon!

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Stunning maternity portraits in downtown Saratoga Springs

More and more mamas have been choosing gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe for their portrait sessions, and I absolutely adore how beautifully they wear these dresses! Just look at how gorgeous Lindsay was during her maternity session — she truly GLOWS and you can’t help but feel excited for her and her husband as they get ready to welcome their little baby this summer!

Check out the dresses in the Mama Wardrobe here!

This tight crop showcasing her beautiful baby bump is one of my favorite studio shots to capture, and I love how clean and classic it is with the light streaming through the white curtains behind this gorgeous mama!

After her studio maternity portraits, we headed to downtown Saratoga Springs for a few more portraits of these parents-to-be. Two outfit changes, lots of “congratulations” and horn-honking from passerby, and a handful of streets sparkling in the sunset later, and these are some of our favorite images that we created together!

I love how these portraits outside of 15 Church look like they are in their own little world as they lean into each other. They are just soooooo excited to welcome their baby this month! You wouldn’t even know that there were a few diners inside that window peeking out at them to congratulate them!

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Tips to Look Your Best in Your Maternity Portraits

Hey, mamas! Pregnancy is such a special season in your life. While there were many things that I did not love about being pregnant with Grayson, I do remember always enjoying the giddy anticipation that comes with waiting for your first baby to arrive. That’s one of the reasons I love working with mamas to capture portraits for them during this season of anticipation!

Every mama wants to look glowy and gorgeous in her maternity portraits, right? But at the same time, your body is changing every day and sometimes you don’t quite recognize yourself when you look in the mirror — I get it, I’ve been there! ;o) However, let’s look at all the positives hidden in these changes: your hair has never been longer & thicker; your skin has never glowed quite so much; and your body has more beautiful & soft curves than ever before. YOU ARE GORGEOUS, MAMA!

You want to feel beautiful, confident, and feminine in your portraits, but this is your first time doing a maternity portrait session and you’re not quite sure how to achieve that. Here I’m sharing some simple tips to help you look beautiful in your maternity portraits, and I hope you find them helpful!

1. Choose a photographer who has plenty of experience working with new mamas. You want to hire someone who knows the best angles, the best lighting, and the most flattering colors and fabrics for your body. Browse their website, check out their social media, and get a feel for their style and their experience. The more experienced the photographer, the more comfortable they will be able to make you feel when you are in front of the camera.
   

2. Plan your session for between weeks 28-32. Sometimes I work with mamas closer to week 36, so it just depends on how you feel. If you’re expecting multiples, go a little earlier between weeks 26-30. You want to ensure you have the session early enough when you are still comfortable moving around, and also in case you happen to deliver early this will ensure enough time for your gallery reveal before the baby arrives!
   

3. Drink lots of water the week before your session. LOTS. This will help your skin be clear and give you even more of a motherly glow.
   

4. Speaking of skin, pay extra attention to moisturizing and exfoliating your skin in the week or two before the session. Healthy skin is happy skin, and happy skin looks amazing on camera. Pay extra attention to your elbows, baby bump, décolletage, and of course your face. If you’ll be wearing a shorter dress or just panties on the bottom, don’t forget your knees and ankles, which tend to show dry skin more than other areas of your body.
   

5. If you can, invest in professional hair & makeup for your session. Or, if you’re going to do your hair and makeup yourself, here are a few tips! Wear your hair down and give it a good blowout that day for extra volume and shape. Don’t underestimate the power of a little extra mascara, eyeliner, and blush. And for your lips, a lip gloss or lipstick will have a huge impact! Keep your lip product handy during the session to reapply for a fresh look.
   

6. Choose the right fabric for your outfits. You don’t have to wear a dress if it’s really not your style, but I do believe that long flowy dresses are incredibly flattering on pregnant women and they really accentuate your baby bump in the most beautiful way. A few other great options are an oversized sweater, a bathrobe or cardigan with a lace bra & panties, an oversized men’s shirt, or leggings and a flowy tunic top. When choosing fabrics, opt for thin and flowy over thick and bulky. Try it on ahead of time and make sure if flatters across your chest and baby bump.
   Did you know that we have a closet filled with dresses at the studio? We call it our Mama Wardrobe and clients are more than welcome to wear as many as they would like during their portrait session!
   

7. Don’t forget the undergarments! A nude bra is key. If you have a strapless bra that fits, bring that, otherwise we can just tuck your straps into the dress and make it work that way. I recommend seamless panties to avoid any lines showing through the think fabric of the dresses, too, preferably nude or light-colored instead of black or patterned.

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Christmas Maternity Portraits in a Greenhouse with Poinsettias

When Amy reached out to plan a maternity session, she knew she wanted to go back to her family’s nursery where she did her first maternity session a few years ago. This place holds a special meaning for her family, and it’s a place where her children will spend countless hours growing up. Plus, it’s picture perfect!

We had a private greenhouse all to ourselves filled with poinsettias just a few weeks before Christmas. It was truly magical. We captured portraits of Amy in one of the gowns from the studio’s Mama Wardrobe, and her son Willem joined in for a few cuddly photos, too!

I absolutely love the colors and how the red flowers pop against the whites and the neutrals. If only I could find a way to photograph all of my sessions in a greenhouse with perfectly soft light and beautiful plants! Just gorgeous!

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