HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER
Style
Choose a photographer whose style most resonates with you. There are so many styles out there—do you like studio maternity? Soft palette, light and airy? Modern fashionista with vibrant colors? Boho chic? Belly boudoir? By choosing your photographer by style, you can be assured that you will get images you want.
Quality
Explore their portfolio as well as their recent sessions. Are the mamas posed and photographed beautifully? Are there flattering poses or good angles in their work? Are there a variety of mamas with different body types and do they look great? Are the images sharp, properly exposed with good lighting and framed well?
Experience
While years of experience may not necessarily equate to quality, very often the photographer with years of experience has had the time to iron out amateur mistakes. If you hire an amateur to shoot your session, you accept the risk that there may only be one or two good images from your session vs. the 20-30 great images that a professional will provide in your gallery. When you hire with quality in mind, you buy the assurance and the peace of mind that your special moment is captured perfectly before it is lost in time.
Price
While price is an important factor, it should not be the most important one. Like any quality products or services out there, good photography is expensive. Why? Because it is not easy to create quality images. Bad photography is even more expensive. If you don’t like your photos, you have wasted your time and money. If there is a chance to do the maternity shoot again, you end up spending more money for the re-shoot or a better photographer. It’s often less expensive to get it right the first time.
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR SESSION
For expecting mamas with singletons, a good time to do your maternity photos when you are 28 – 36 weeks along. Your belly is full but you are still comfortable to pose. For expecting mamas with twins (or more), come in earlier around 26 – 32 weeks as twins tend to arrive much earlier.
PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP AND HAIR
I highly recommend professional makeup and hair. Not only will this make your photographer’s work easier, you will feel beautiful and confident at your session. However if it’s not in the budget, your going-out-on-a-hot-date makeup and hair is great too!
I work with many hair and makeup artist and have plenty of recommendations!
WHAT TO WEAR
Neutral strapless bra and seamless underwear
For Studio Sessions if desired
Black bra and panty set (for those black background belly shots)
White/ivory bra and panty set (for those white background belly shots)
Lingerie sets
Coordinating outfits (for significant other/husband and/or children)
Any favorite scarves, accessories, jewelries, etc.
Any sentimental items (e.g. baby ultrasound image)
I do have maternity dresses, hats, headpieces and kimonos available to use. The benefit is you don’t have to go and buy maternity dresses that you only wear a few times—one dress can run anywhere from $100 – $1000 each!
LOCATIONS
I use many locations in and around the Richmond area. Depending on the style (rustic, wooded, floral, beachy, etc.) I will provide numerous options for you to decide on. Each location has multiple areas within walking distance to give a variety of different backgrounds to photograph on.
Style
Choose a photographer whose style most resonates with you. There are so many styles out there—do you like studio maternity? Soft palette, light and airy? Modern fashionista with vibrant colors? Boho chic? Belly boudoir? By choosing your photographer by style, you can be assured that you will get images you want.
Quality
Explore their portfolio as well as their recent sessions. Are the mamas posed and photographed beautifully? Are there flattering poses or good angles in their work? Are there a variety of mamas with different body types and do they look great? Are the images sharp, properly exposed with good lighting and framed well?
Experience
While years of experience may not necessarily equate to quality, very often the photographer with years of experience has had the time to iron out amateur mistakes. If you hire an amateur to shoot your session, you accept the risk that there may only be one or two good images from your session vs. the 20-30 great images that a professional will provide in your gallery. When you hire with quality in mind, you buy the assurance and the peace of mind that your special moment is captured perfectly before it is lost in time.
Price
While price is an important factor, it should not be the most important one. Like any quality products or services out there, good photography is expensive. Why? Because it is not easy to create quality images. Bad photography is even more expensive. If you don’t like your photos, you have wasted your time and money. If there is a chance to do the maternity shoot again, you end up spending more money for the re-shoot or a better photographer. It’s often less expensive to get it right the first time.
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR SESSION
For expecting mamas with singletons, a good time to do your maternity photos when you are 28 – 36 weeks along. Your belly is full but you are still comfortable to pose. For expecting mamas with twins (or more), come in earlier around 26 – 32 weeks as twins tend to arrive much earlier.
PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP AND HAIR
I highly recommend professional makeup and hair. Not only will this make your photographer’s work easier, you will feel beautiful and confident at your session. However if it’s not in the budget, your going-out-on-a-hot-date makeup and hair is great too!
I work with many hair and makeup artist and have plenty of recommendations!
WHAT TO WEAR
Neutral strapless bra and seamless underwear
For Studio Sessions if desired
Black bra and panty set (for those black background belly shots)
White/ivory bra and panty set (for those white background belly shots)
Lingerie sets
Coordinating outfits (for significant other/husband and/or children)
Any favorite scarves, accessories, jewelries, etc.
Any sentimental items (e.g. baby ultrasound image)
I do have maternity dresses, hats, headpieces and kimonos available to use. The benefit is you don’t have to go and buy maternity dresses that you only wear a few times—one dress can run anywhere from $100 – $1000 each!
LOCATIONS
I use many locations in and around the Richmond area. Depending on the style (rustic, wooded, floral, beachy, etc.) I will provide numerous options for you to decide on. Each location has multiple areas within walking distance to give a variety of different backgrounds to photograph on.