Maternity Photography
An increasingly popular area of photography is maternity photography. Many expectant parents now as a matter of course book a photographic session towards the end of their pregnancy as a way of commemorating a very special time in their lives together. Is using a professional photographer a good idea? This depends on what type of photographs you want taken. If you want a high key white background with subtle studio lighting whilst being draped with diaphanous floaty material then a professional studio is probably the best way forward. A good professional photographer will put you at your ease straight away with the session usually taking the form of a ‘fashion’ type shoot.
It is obviously an emotional time for the parents to be and best advice is always to do some homework before booking a studio, research all available photographers. If possible meet them for a few minutes at least, before making a booking. It is important to have a rapport with the photographer. This rapport will help the session flow and the results will show in timelessly beautiful images, memories that can be cherished for years.
Unlike other forms of portraiture there is a time limit on when these images can be taken, as in a nine month window, after that the baby is born and the new parents are on a different phase in their lives and that particular maternity portrait can never be taken again. This highlights not only the need to get the portrait made but to get it taken exactly as you want it to be.
If the professional studio is not going to be right for you there is always a do it yourself approach. This doesn’t just mean a ‘snap’ taken in the park. By do it yourself I mean the partner or close family member takes the pictures this can add to the experience make it all the more memorable.
First you must decide where it is to be taken; it could indeed be in the park, or in a garden, by a window or in a bedroom. It has to be a place where you feel comfortable and if it is outside the next decision is about the lighting it might be that early morning or late afternoon light will be the best for a maternity portrait. What could be more beautiful than having a portrait taken showing mum to be in full bloom with the sun setting or rising in the background, or walking along a beach with the waves crashing gently on the shore behind, these would be cherished images for anyone that would be loved for years to come.
Window light is another fantastic lighting technique for natural maternity photography, soft light falling through the window will enhance the beauty of mum to be, perhaps she would be draped on a couch by the window with the light gently illuminating the ‘bump’. This is a classic portrait technique that works for all types of portraiture but particularly well for maternity photography, the lighting is very soft and gentle, if the shadows are a little dark then a white reflector close by will easily lighten them and you again have a fabulous portrait that will be loved for years.
One other thing to consider, colour images are normal and very familiar so perhaps black and white maternity photography may look a little ‘edgier’ making the resultant portrait stand out from other family portraits, with digital photography this is easy to achieve you could have the wall portrait in black and white yet still have the a colour version for family and friends making everybody happy!
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