Mommy Maven: Maternity Photographer Tells Us How to Capture the Perfect Maternity Photos

Pregnancy is such an amazing and special time and so many pregnant women I know love to capture their new bodies in maternity photo shoots.  Even if you don’t feel your most beautiful, know that you will cherish having these photos when pregnancy is but a tiny memory!  Since a full family maternity photo shoot may not be in your budget, I’ve asked one of my favorite maternity photographers, Karen Haberberg, to share her tips on creative pregnancy poses, props and more to accomplish the most fantastic maternity portraits at home!  And Karen’s offered a special treat just for my blog readers….more details at the end!  xxRosie

Pregnancy is a monumental time to be photographed.  Your body is constantly changing and for some it can be a once in a lifetime experience. Here are ten tips to keep in mind to document your beautiful transforming body in the perfect pregnancy photo shoot:

1.     Put the camera on a tripod and set your timer – This way you won’t need someone to press the shutter. It’s just you and the camera.

2.     Background – Keep the background uncluttered and plain. Clean and simple backgrounds keep the focus on you and your belly.

3.     Wardrobe – Go bare. Skin looks great. Show it off. If you are shy and plan on showing the pregnancy photographs, wearing a white tank top and tight bottoms, or wrapping yourself in a sheer white material works great too.

4.     Posing – A profile shot is always a great way to accentuate the growing belly. Also turning your body ¾ to face the camera and putting one hand beneath the belly works nicely.  Check out my website for more ideas.

5.     Natural Light – Open up your aperture wide to let in a lot of light. A flash can overpower the scene unless you are experienced.

6.     Artificial Light – Find a dark room. Shine some kind of artificial lighting at your belly. You can use incandescent clamp lights from Home Depot which are cheap, adjustable, and can be easily hung.

7.     Black and White – Convert your images to black and white and see what you think. Black and white images can often hide skin imperfections, especially if the images are very high contrast with dark shadows and bright highlights. It also takes out the colorcast associated with artificial lighting.

8.     Make a project out of it – A timeline of your pregnancy is a great way to watch your body change and grow. Try photographing yourself once a day, once a week or at least once a month in the same spot with the same pose.

9.     Family Maternity Photo Shoots – Incorporate your partner, other child, or children in the shot as well. Use a wide-angle lens for these shots. 17-55mm.

10. Experiment and have fun!

If all else fails, hire a professional photographer so this time in your life is visually remembered and celebrated.

*For more information on Karen Haberberg Photography and her maternity work, visit www.karenhaberberg.com.  As a special bonus, Karen is offering a free 8×10 image for any customer who mentions “Rosie Pope” through July 2013. 

Tags: maternity photography, maternity photos, maternity portrait, pregnancy portrait