What Shooting My Own Maternity Announcement Taught Me About These Sessions
- Darren McGee
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
I photograph couples at many stages of their life for a living. I know what it feels like to be on the other side of a camera during one of the biggest moments of your life, because I was there once too. Photographing my own proposal on film is actually how Nostalgia Nomad started. I even had my own film camera during our entire wedding day - capturing photos from my POV.
So when my wife and I found out we were expecting, I was excited to have the opportunity to experiment with ideas I had wanted to try with other couples.
Here's what I learned.
A theme or prop gives the whole session something to organize around
We bought a pair of duck boots that matched ours. Little ones. The kind you see and immediately understand the whole story without anyone saying a word. At the time we didn't know we were having a little girl - so we tried to keep it to something relatively neutral.
Having that one prop changed the session. It gave us something to do with our hands, something to look at together, something that was ours. Without it we were just two people standing in a field trying to look natural, which is the least natural thing you can do.
A lot of people have a bit of the 'I don't know what to do with my hands' conundrum when it comes to photo sessions - and having a focal point beyond yourselves can help to alleviate some of that.
It doesn't have to be duck boots. It just has to mean something to you. I am not a huge fan of the generic sign board - detailed flat lay for these announcements. This is about the two - well three of you. Why not find a way to bring your specific personality and story into this shoot?
A book you've both read. Something you've already bought for the nursery. A dog who has no idea what's coming. One specific thing that belongs to your story and nobody else's.
Bring a couple of outfit changes or outer layers
We got a lot more variety out of our session than we expected because we thought about layers before we showed up. Same location, same light, completely different feeling between frames. A heavier jacket versus a lighter one. A scarf versus nothing. Small changes that make the gallery feel fuller without having to move anywhere. Maybe you have an idea that you want matching flannels for a few frames - but don't want an album of 40 pictures like that.
You don't need three full outfit changes. You need a couple of options and the willingness to switch between them. This is a time where your body is changing and you might have an idea that you want something draped - but you really can't know how that will look on camera until you get in front of the photographer. A good photographer should give you the flexibility to adjust your wardrobe to feel most comfortable in your body.
Bring something organic
I talk about this with couples all the time and then almost forgot to do it myself. Florals, a branch, some dried stems, anything that introduces a natural element into the frame. It gives the photos a softness that's hard to manufacture any other way.
Most maternity photos are a couple holding a black and white sonogram. Which is sweet. But there's something about a real bloom or a handful of wildflowers that makes the image feel less posed and more like the incredible work of nature it is.
On film especially. Portra renders these blooms as a pop of color that feels warm and honest against the glow of pregnancy. One simple bunch of whatever is in season is all you need. This probably isn't a moment for roses - think sunflowers, tulips, baby's breath - depending on your season.
Pick a location that feels like you
We went to the beach in Irondequoit on Lake Ontario. Late February, overcast, a little cold. We loved the contrast of the light snow on the beach - it felt very Rochester. Not the obvious choice for maternity photos but it was ours. It felt comfortable in a way that a park we'd never been to wouldn't have.
And then at around 10am a group of teenage girls walked by, noticed what we were doing, and appointed themselves our personal hype squad. We were a little shaky on camera at first, and dreading some jeering - but they ended up cheering and complimenting my wife.
That would not have happened in a studio.
If you can, pick somewhere you already belong. The comfort shows in the photos in a way that a beautiful-but-unfamiliar backdrop never quite does.
You don't have to wait until the bump is obvious
Some people hold off until there's something substantial to photograph. I get it. But you might want more than one set of photos during this season of your life, and the earlier ones have their own quality to them. We did these at 10 weeks - and we were still fresh and new to this whole experience.
The bump at sixteen weeks looks different than the bump at thirty. Both are worth having. The people who wait until they feel "ready" sometimes run out of time as the to do list piles up of things to accomplish before greeting their little one.
As soon as you feel like yourself again after the first trimester, that's early enough. You don't need to wait for the bump to announce itself.
My wife and I are expecting our first this year. If you're pregnant and thinking about maternity photos, I'd love to capture your vision for a similar shoot. I can relate to exactly how you're feeling! Reach out here and let's talk about what your session could look like.
Comments