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Successful Maternity Photography
When a pregnant lady wants to be photographed, you never really know what she’s “expecting.” She’s tired and hormonal and she changes her mind like you’ll change camera settings. I have gathered some “big” tips from some of my favorite photographers and I think you’ll find that our recommended techniques will be “painless.” Ok, enough with the pregnancy humor and on to the “anticipated delivery” of great tips…hehehe! Keep it fun and comfortable:
 A backdrop, props or great background. You can purchase a king-sized sheet at your local thrift store and use it as a backdrop. You can also pose your subject in front of a cool building. I’ve been photographed sitting in a fancy dining room chair. A chaise lounge would be cool too. Wen of Wen McNally Photography in Fredericksburg, Virginia recommends this tip: “Wear a big white shirt untucked when shooting; it will serve as a reflector and shed light on your subject for that added ‘pop.’” - Too hot to handle. Pregnant women sweat. Be sure to have your subjects bring a compact to touch up shine on their forehead and/or nose. Paper towels help too. It also helps to keep the room cool and comfortable according to their body temperature. You’ll be freezing, but overheated pregnant women are irritable. If you’re photographing outside, be sure to bring plenty of ice cold drinks and/or an extension cord for a fan. Speaking of makeup, a little blush does wonders to emphasize a pregnant woman’s glow.
- Outfits. I like to be photographed in tight clothes when I’m pregnant. It really shows off my belly. You might also want to bring some fabric remnants to wrap around the chest, leaving the tummy exposed. Be sure to photograph her in her favorite outfit too.
 Carefully composed words: Most people do not like to be photographed. Add about 50 pounds of water weight and you’ve got an uneasy subject. Sure, some women feel beautiful while pregnant, but most women prefer to be smaller. Be sure to praise her continuously on how beautiful she is. Stuff like “Oh, you look lovely” and “That’s a great shot” goes a long way. The more comfortable she is, the more likely she’ll warm up to the camera. Help her look her best: Most of us have those “growing belly” shots where we stand, turned to the side, in front of the same wall every single month. If you don’t have any, you can at least agree that you’ve seen these shots done a lot. I can sit here and tell you about the rule of thirds, “zooming in” and turn off your flash, but we already know about that. That being said, I wanted to give you some non-traditional ideas for pregnancy photos. - ANGLE- If I could pick one tip, here it is.
Do not photograph a pregnant woman who is facing forward. It’s very unflattering. Yep, my husband made that mistake… once! Here are several angles to try:
 HER view - Who says we don’t want to remember OUR view of pregnancy? Instead of showing a growing belly against a pale wall, how about showing the inevitable disappearing feet? Bethany Baird of Bethany Baird Photography in Los Angeles, California took this shot of herself before giving birth to her daughter. Her claim to fame: “I can still see my feet.” She described herself as “ripe” (great title). Are you small up top? How about taking a bird’s eye view of your new pregnancy bonus: full breasts!
 YOUR view - Amy of Amy Bare Photography in Chesapeake, Virginia, took this picture of me when I was expecting baby #3. At first I didn’t really understand the concept, but now I love this shot. Why? Well, it shows my body’s proportions. Too often we cut a pregnant woman’s legs off and photograph only from the belly up. That’s not how the world sees her, so photograph your subject in her full glory! It also shows my little chubby toes.
 HIS view - The father-to-be is a part of the pregnancy too. Sure, he might not carry the baby around, but he had something to do with the pregnancy and he’s most likely helping out around the house too. Be sure to bring him into the photo shoot.
THEIR view - Amy Bare Photography took these precious photos of my oldest daughter and I. I love her excitement and anticipation of her new baby sister. My only regret is not bringing my son into the photos. Be careful not to let the children be present for the entire shoot. They will be a distraction to both you and the pregnant lady.
From the top - Full-figured women are best photographed from above. Wen McNally took the shots in my “Expecting Elsa” layout. One friend of mine commented that my thighs look small in these photos. CHA-CHING! Photograph your subject with the camera looking down on her. Stand above her if she is sitting or stand on a chair if she’s standing.
- DETAILS – Did you notice the photo of my popped-out belly button? How about the wedding rings shown in most photos? Be aware of your surroundings. A big mistake of photography is not being aware of the background, or the details.
 EXPERIMENT – Wen McNally comments, “After I get my regular ‘safety’ shots with a session, I always explore new options. Most of the time, the experiments become the favorite shots of the session.” Speaking of “experimenting,” why not try a shot to two without a shirt on? Some people are not comfortable with it, but for those of us who find it acceptable, go for it. I was brave enough to bare it all in some classy “nothing showing” shots and I love them. I also knew the photographer well! My body was round and beautiful; I just love my silhouette in those photos. Whether you are comfortable photographing nude pregnant women or not, be sure to speak openly about it prior to the photo shoot. There IS pressure when photographing a pregnant woman. It’s not like you can put the baby back in to recreate the missed shot. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time for more photo shoots if need be. Your reward is the joy the mother will know as she looks back on the special photos you captured for years and years to come.
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