Maternity Session Guide

congratulations! DEAR MAMA

You're having a baby! This is such an incredibly important time in your life and

I am truly honored to be capturing these fleeting moments for you. Throughout this guide, I will be giving you tips and tricks for a successful maternity session. If I have not answered all the questions that might be in your mind, please do not hesitate to contact me to ask. I don't want you to feel nervous or unsure throughout this process

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME

to schedule a maternity session?

Plan to have your maternity portrait session scheduled when you are 28 - 32 weeks along The beginning of your third trimester is the ideal time This way we have time to reschedule due to weather or sickness if you ' re having a rough pregnancy Your belly will also be showing beautifully and you haven't quite hit the uncomfortable stage yet, or hopefully haven't! Schedulin maternity portrait session is not as difficult or time-sensitive a is for newborn sessions, booking ahead will help ensure availability during the best time frame for showing off you pregnancy.

Preparation

Your maternity session is an opportunity to capture your growing baby bump at this most magical time. You are welcome to bring along a partner and children to take part in your session Please dress in loose clothing before your session to avoid marks on your skin and try to get a good night’s sleep and drink plenty of water the day before your session to hydrate your skin and eyes. Clean & tidy nails or a manicure are recommended for those close-up bump shots.

WHAT TO wear

Your clothing should both reflect your personality and also be something you feel comfortable in! You are welcome to bring an outfit change of your own clothing to add more variety to your session, but please bear in mind that changing will eat into our session time. My personal style preference for sessions is neutral colors such as white, cream, earth tones, beige, grays, blues, etc.

If your husband and kids are joining, I love complimentary outfits! Try putting one person in a non busy pattern and keeping everyone else in complimentary colors. Wear clothes that will show your beautiful bump and feel comfortable. In the warmer months, fitted tops, skirts, and dresses are fantastic. An open shirt with a crop top underneath is also a lovely look.

If you are looking for a maternity dress, my clients have found theirs on Amazon, Shein, and my personal favorite: Baltic Born. You're also welcome to have naked or partially naked images taken if you ' re comfortable doing so.

Here is a gallery of outfit ideas and color choices that might help when trying to choose!

CLIENT WARDROBE

I have a growing collection of clothing for moms, children, and newborns. Most are flexible in sizing, one fit and one size fit all. Different types of fabrics. Unique pieces.

I want you to feel amazing and worry-free. Go wild, get sandy, and play in the water. The cleaning is on me. My goal is for you to enjoy the fullest of the moment.

HOW LONG WILL THE SESSION LAST? yoursession

Most maternity sessions are around 30-90 minutes Each session time will vary slightly depending on the package you ' ve selected Some parks require more walking to get to different spots

Sessions always take place in the few hours approaching sunset when the light is soft and there are no harsh shadows, the sun is low in the sky which makes the surroundings look rich, golden, and vibrant. The time of your session will therefore depend on the time of year.

TIPS BEFORE thesession

Moisturize your belly before the session to avoid any dry-looking

Especially if you ' re looking to get a few bare-belly shots. Nude panties and bras are best if you choose any of the maternity my collection. You'll have a better idea of what will be needed on things on if you ' re choosing to use a dress from my client closet. Try to avoid wearing tight panties and bras. A looser fit will ensu lines will form through tighter-fitting gowns

Pay attention to your nails! A lot of images will be focused aroun hands and having them on your tummy and cradling your bump lots of images of you holding your partner ' s hands, your children' and all those little details. Hands are a huge part of any session.

I highly recommend professional makeup and hair. Not only will your photographer’s work easier, but you will also feel beautiful a confident during your session.

ThingstoBring

Anything you have bought for the baby and would like to include, for example, a pair of shoes or a name plaque

Any sentimental items (e g baby ultrasound image)

A shirt to wear open & show off your bump (doesn't have to do up!)

Snacks & drinks for yourself

A towel or wash cloth to blot sweat (summer is brutal!)

AFTER YOUR session

Your private proof gallery will be sent out to you within a week of your session. This gallery contains around 35 images as unedited proofs, with a selection of edited examples, so that you can see how your images look when finished. The gallery will remain open for 1 week for you to choose your package-inclusive images and add any additional images.

Each of your chosen images is lovingly hand-edited; first processed from its Raw file, before skin touch-up, color cast removal, natural teeth whitening, detail enhancement, natural eye enhancement, shadow & highlight correction, removal of any background or foreground distractions, sunset sky editing (if the sky is visible in images) and beautiful, natural color enhancements.

Hand editing is the only way to get the best results for your portraits. I don't batch-edit or cut corners, so it is a timeconsuming process; I advise clients to allow a month to receive their orders, although this will often be sooner. I'll let you know when your order is ready to download, depending on your package.

WHERE ARE YOU BASED?

I'm based in Cedar Park, Texas which is just north of Austin.. I have a list of locations available at your disposal once you have booked your session. Each location is described and has images attached to it. Please let me know if you want me to travel further as there is a small $50.00/hr travel fee.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW THAT WE HAVE A DATE?

The fun can start! I will send you a questionnaire that will help me to shape your session and vision. I'll also send an invoice with all payment and deposit info along with a contract. We will also book a free consultation for you to pick your outfits.

CAN MY FAMILY JOIN ME FOR MY MATERNITY SESSION?

Yes absolutely!

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?

I love dark moody clouds and wind for a session! I do reschedule if it is actively raining two hours prior to your session. I know it takes a lot of effort to get ready especially if you have kiddos so I'll make sure we call it at a decent time before.

Thankyou!

I am so excited for you and your family to have these images to look back on. Whether this is your first child or second or third, it is your legacy. Pregnancy is a chapter of a new beginning at any stage in your life and documenting it is something you will never regret doing. Maternity sessions are one of my favorite sessions to photograph because there is a natural excitement and love in everyone ' s faces which shines through in every image.

I can ' t wait to give you the gift you can ' t give yourself. I so look forward to our session.