Maternity photography is a perfect time to keep the memories of the crucial pregnancy period, especially for mothers to be for the first time. It is also the best time you can have with a pregnant woman to make her feel worthy and give her happiness to help her reduce pregnancy stress. Hence, as a photographer, you have to make a pregnant mother feel beautiful and comfortable.
So, as a photographer, you have a role to play in making the pregnancy photoshoot interesting and worth remembering. This article will amour you with all the skills needed to succeed in maternity photography.
1. Come up with creative angles.
Sometimes, pregnant mothers suffer from water retention, especially in the last three months of pregnancy. Water retention makes the legs, arms, and face to be bloated. If she is suffering from water retention, take pregnancy photos of her face directly or from a low angle. Also, she should not cross her legs, for they will appear even more bloated; avoid putting a lot of emphasis on the bloated appearance.
2. Be clear and precise in your instructions.
Maternity photos are so sensitive; a simple mistake can ruin everything and the whole picture. That is why it is important to give the mom clear instructions. The body's curvature is the main focus to provide the real revelation of the pregnancy belly; a simple omission in the angles will be a huge miss. Give her clear instructions like turning a little bit to your right and moving your hands closer to your belly. Remember that it is better to shoot maternity photos from the side, other than directly in front. The side view creates a balance due to the curve of the belly and the curve from the back.
3. Be prepared with stunning pregnancy poses.
Poses are everything in maternity photography; they carry the picture's meaning and mood. For maternity photography, you want the belly to be exposed. Get the mom to behold her belly in her hands and with her legs slightly bent while standing. Although some prefer seating, it hides the belly. But don't make an assumption that it is not possible; you can try it out.
4. Always consider her safety and comfort.
Be careful with how you handle the pregnant mother. The pregnancy period is one of the challenging times that they have. Some have back pains, while others have swollen ankles. Try to understand her. Do not engage her in complicated poses that are not safe for her. Also, handle them with care, and let them feel appreciated and beautiful.
5. Advise her on what to wear
You can choose normal and simple clothing for the start of the pregnancy photoshoot. To warm her up and to create the mood and experiment. However, the best dresses are the solid-colored clothes, with deep cuts and soft texture.
For the color, soft colors such as white or beige will be the perfect colors for maternity photography.
6. What about a crazy milk bath?
There are two types of milk baths in pregnancy photoshoot: floral and underwater shots. But, combining the two will give the greatest impression. Milk birth creates aesthetics and a stunning pregnancy glow. The amount of milk you use depends on the size of the bathtub the mom-to-be will be in. But most preferably, use at least three litres of cow milk. If she enters the tub, you can let some water out if it covers her belly. However, sometimes you can find it expensive and wasteful for just a single meternity photoshoot. Use the powdered creamer, and it will give the same effect.
You should ensure that the water in the tub is warm. After adding the powdered clean, leave the mixture for about 10 minutes to settle. Splash real petals of flowers to the tab at a relative distance of 3cm. Dress her in a lace robe and get in the tab.
7. Apply the silhouettes
The silhouette pregnancy photos are most applicable during the sunrise or the sunset. They are meant to show the outline of the body. For maternity photography, the belly is the main focus. Take the photo against the light and on the pregnant woman's side. For indoors, she can stand near the window and shoot in the direction of light.
8. A family photo
The baby is going to be born to the whole family. A photo of the whole family will be a great memory. Here you will have to possess group photography skills to arrange the participants. The family members can show love and appreciation to the unborn family member and the mother-to-be.
9. Have props with you
This is your best chance to give humour to your maternity photos. You can get your client's hands busy by making them hold props, especially those that express readiness for the baby. A pair of baby boots can do better. The client can also bite their craziest cravings during pregnancy shoot.
10. Belly shots
The main focus in maternity photography is the belly. It carries the whole meaning of maternity photos. Taking the belly shot from the right angle can have an artistic and beautiful appearance. Shooting the belly from a low angle will emphasize the size of the belly, which is the main focus of pregnancy photo shoot.
11. Be time conscious
The best period to have a maternity photo is in the thirtieth week. At this time, pregnancy is usually at its optimum. However, it is hard to know the week of the pregnancy as a photographer; you have to ask the mom to be. A mother who has had complications with the previous pregnancies cannot be willing to wait for these weeks and will prefer maternity photos earlier.
12. Posing next to a window or a door.
Maternity photos were taken next to a door or a window while the mother was standing or sitting, carrying a deep meaning. They give the picture the reflective feeling of the mother-to-be. The window creates shadows that give depth to the picture. The natural light from outside adds color to the photo, adding an artistic appearance.
13. Capture portrait poses that display great emotions.
Know your participants, know their limits. Let them have fun in front of the camera and capture the moments. The dad can kiss the belly and engage them to get their emotions about the baby to come.
14. Plan on where you will have your pregnancy photo sessions.
It will help if you avoid places that will involve a lot of travelling or walking. Having a wide range of locations where they mom to be will be comfortable and safe. Take advantage of the landmarks around you, natural features, and terrain.
16. Give her some breaks.
Do not rush her around; posing and walking around can be exhausting for pregnant women. Give her some breaks to rest and continue later.
17. An arched back
Let her do it if the mother-to-be is flexible enough to arch her back. Get a good place where she can lie down in semi-nude. Curve her back against the floor as she raises her belly high.
18. Using glitters
This pregnancy pose is only possible in a nude or semi-nude pose. You cover the belly of the mom-to-be with glitters to demonstrate the joy of almost having a baby. You can also cover all her body parts to create the party mood.
19. Show hobbies
If the woman has something that she enjoys doing, especially a sport, take a pregnancy photo of her doing it. Sometimes, mothers develop certain hobbies and get obsessed with them during pregnancy. That is why it is good to picture them doing their hobby as a remembrance.
20. Compare bellies
Line up the whole family, including the kids, if there are there. Please take a photo of them comparing the size of their bellies to create contrast. To bring out the contrast clearly, dress the whole family in the same clothing, in terms of type and color. The only difference that the mother to be will have from the others will be the size of the bump, which is the main focus.