creating and growing life is the greatest thing our body was designed to do.
Imagine that little soul in the ultrasound, but all grown up and looking at these photos of you absolutely glowing as you grow them.
Your body's greatest feat.
I think it is so amazing that you have booked a maternity session. Being pregnant is not always easy! For some, it is the hardest thing you will ever do.
Our body changes in insane and intense ways, which is magical and beautiful but also can be painful, and emotional.
I have worked with pregnant women and their families for over five years, as well as experiencing my own two pregnancies.
You may feel every emotion under the sun right during this process, but you will never look back and regret getting these photos.
This session is YOURS.
It will be completely tailored to you and what you are comfortable with.
Styling Advice
Ultimately how you dress should reflect how you want your images to look and feel. The style of the clothes will single handedly mould the style of our session.
Cosy and relaxed? Elegant and put together? Raw and earthy? Colourful and bright?
I welcome alllll forms of self expression.
Start by thinking where our session will be, and what mood you want the photos to hold.
What feels like YOU? What reflects your family?
Then, choosing something that you're going to feel confident and comfortable in is important.
If your partner is involved, build their outfit around yours. Make their's fit with you.
Another note on partners, if he (or she) isn't keen on photos - like some aren't - guide or suggest what you would like them to wear but be understanding that they also need to feel comfortable within themselves so wearing something is entirely different to their style may be a back breaker.
My biggest tip if you have no idea where to begin - type "Maternity Photography session" or similar into Pinterest and start exploring what jumps out at you. You can get inspo on the vibe of the shoot, location ideas, and outfit ideas.
You can always reach out to me as well so that we can collaboratively dream up the session of your dreams - send me any inspo pics you find!
Colours and Patterns
I welcome all colour. While the trends are really moving towards bold colours you can also never go wrong with a neutral.
Again, it all depends how you want your images to look.
Are you hanging them in your house? What colours will compliment your home?
The safest, different shades of browns, creams, whites... these tones usually compliment the environment we shoot in and my editing style.
If you're a colour lover and want to get creative or embrace your natural style, aboslutely go for it! We can chat personally about your outfits too if you would like!
Texture
Adding clothing that has texture brings more depth to your images.
Think knitted items, corduroy, lace.
Denim and linen.
bare the bump or cover up
This session is your own, it is entirely your decision if you wish to bare the bump for some photos, have the waves at the beach wash up upon it, be raw and intimate or choose to cradle the bump within clothing. This is your session tailored to you and how you want to remember this time.
Accessories
Adding 'props' or accessories to our session can help change the feel of our final images and tie your story together. The best and most obvious for Maternity sessions is your ultrasound photo. You may also want to include a name plaque, or a sentimental family heriloom like a passed down blanket or toy.
Thinking outside the box, you may include an umbrella on a drissily rugged up day, a blanket or throw to wrap around the family or cuddle in the grass on, having a drink from a coffee mug
Things to Avoid
- Remove any chunky smart watches like Garmens, Apple watches, Fitbits...
- Take any hair ties and scruntchies off your wrists
- Remove your sunglasses
- No bulky items in your pockets
- Avoid busy clashing or conflicting outfit choices and colours
- Avoid obvious logo's and print on clothing
LOCATION OPTIONS
The location is a big player, it has a big impact on not only the overall feel of your images, but the experience of your session as well. If you hate the beach and you never go there, let's not do our session there.
Your input in the location is vital. If you have a place that is special, a family farm, your own home, a public space you visit often, please let's do it there! I love special places.
If you don't lets pick a place that just feels right from the choices below.
In-home
Your own home is a beautiful, sentimental and comfortable space to capture this moment and hold it still.
The most common misconception is that your home has to be aesthetically pleasing. No. It just has to have enough natural light.
Our homes are like characters in our lives and often over time the possessions we keep in them, the style and decor choices we make change along with us - capturing you at home, the way your home is now adds a unique and personal layer of nostalgia and reminiscing when you look back on these images.
beach
The beach is a timeless and beautiful choice. The beach we use is dependant on where you live and our chosen date. Often I try to use beaches where there are a range of backdrops - the water, the sand, grasslands, rocks/cliffs.
My East Gippsland clients, I am loving exploring everywhere, for my South & West Gippsland clients I commonly use San Remo and Kilcunda.
I am always keen and excited to go somewhere new. If you have a beach that you love or visit often around the area, or further away please let me know.
bush/parkland
If you love the outdoors, but you aren't much of a beach lover there are lots of leafy parklands and 'bush' type settings in the local area I use often, and of course if you know of somewhere you like let me know.
studio
My Studio is a natural lit intimate home studio located in Drouin, Victoria.
It's a small ever-changing space that consists mainly of browns, creams and whites.
*My Studio availability is limited and we cannot always use this space.*
