How to shoot a Maternity session?
My friend is due in November and had asked me to do a maternity shoot for her. I'm not a professional and I've never went to school for photography. However, I do own a Nikon DSLR. I just like taking pictures for the fun of it and I'm trying to learn from experience. I've never done a maternity shoot before so if anybody has any input they'd like to share, please do!
They prefer to do the pictures in there house instead of outside. Her man might not be home so it would just be pictures of her. What should she wear? What kind of poses and props should I use? I've been looking up maternity photos on google and getting some ideas from on there. I would really appreciate the input!
Try several different poses and change the outfit at least twice. Maybe use natural window light for some with her belly pointed towards the window, in profile. Do not have the window in the shot, just use it as a soft light source.
Maybe some filmy gown and have it open enough so her belly sticks out. Sometimes looking at the camera, other times not. Have fun.
A maternity session is all about the belly, so be sure to always get the right angle to show that off but also make the mom-to-be look good (at this far in the pregnancy, they sometimes think they are too fat). As far as clothing choices, depends on the look you want. If she isn't afraid to show off the bare belly, a casual look is blue jeans with the top button undone and white button down blouse with the bottom buttons undone. Or if she doesn't want to show the bare belly, she can wear a dress or other outfit that at least is snug enough to show off the contours of her belly. Or you can get creative with some fabrics draped around her. Do they know if it will be a boy or girl? Then include either blues or pinks. Some cute shots would be of her holding some baby shoes next to her belly, baby blocks spelling out the name, a big bow, flowers, teddy bears or anything else that is special to them. A pose I did for my daughter when she was pregnant was when she was 7 months pregnant, she was looking into a full length mirror. Then after the baby was born, at about a month old, I had her come back in, wearing the same outfit, holding the baby and looking into the mirror. Then I merged the two photos together so on the one side you see her pregnant looking into the mirror but the reflection in the mirror is actually of her holding the baby. Everyone loves it and it is one of my most requested maternity poses to do for clients.