Top Reasons to Consider Maternity Photos

Are you considering maternity photos but are on the fence about it? Not quite sure you want to put yourself out there? Well, I hear you. I was the same way. When I was around 30 weeks pregnant, I set up my camera on a tripod with a timer in my studio to capture my own twin pregnancy. What I didn’t, and couldn’t have known at the time, was that it would be my only pregnancy. I am so lucky to have my lady babies (now seven!), but in the chaos, stress and excitement of my pregnancy, I had no idea how fast it would fly by. Those nine (high risk) months I had were extremely special. A unique event in my life. So unique in fact, it only happened once.

Even if you are lucky enough to be pregnant more than once, it is an impermanent state. A state that you are sometimes glad to see fly by (goodbye nausea and heartburn!) and finally welcome that new baby into your life. But there’s a lot to love about being pregnant. And there’s a lot of good reasons to capture this moment in your life in maternity photos. Below are the top reasons I could come up with for why I think pregnancy photos are well worth the investment in time and money.

1. Celebrate and honor this unique time of pregnancy.

Your life is about to change in the most breathtaking way imaginable. You’re bringing a brand new human into this world after all! If that isn’t worth celebrating, what is? Pregnancy can certainly be fraught with a lot of anxiety. Getting your maternity photos professionally done forces you to slow down, take a deep breath and really, truly revel in being pregnant. It is your body growing and caring for a new life. Pause and honor your body for this herculean feat! Soon you’ll have a little baby to hold but for now, celebrate yourself!

2. Capture that pregnancy glow because Mama, you are BEAUTIFUL.

You hear about pregnancy glow and it is NOT a myth. You are stunning! Capture that glow in a portrait so that you can look back and remember how incredible you are. Yes, you’ve likely gained weight. And in places you had no idea you could gain weight (!), but for a very good reason. Your baby bump is stunning. And sometimes you can’t even see how truly beautiful you look. Let me show you!

3. Maternity photos help you, and your child, remember.

Time is fleeting and you’ll want to look back and remember, trust me. Life feels so insane in the now and likely always will. Until that day when you’re ready to finally look back. Maybe it’s when the kids have all gone off to college or started their own families. Probably it’s a lot sooner like when your child is having a birthday.

But want to know someone who really wants to know what you looked like when you were pregnant? Your new baby. At least, I would love nothing more than to be able to look into my own mother’s eyes in a portrait from when she was pregnant with me. I have a few snap shots that were taken of my mother when she was pregnant, and I love them. Often times it takes decades of our own living for our parents to become real to us. Often that does not even happen until we have children of our own. Only then do you think to ask your own mother what her experience was like. At this point in my life, all I have left of my mother is the photos and some pretty rad opinion articles she wrote when she was a journalist for the Lowell Sun back in the day.

Your forty weeks of pregnancy go by in a flash. Before you know it, you’ll have a tiny baby in your arms, and it’ll feel like they were always a part of your life. To them, you most definitely were always a part of theirs. So show them.

4. Baby bump photos are great way to get siblings involved and excited.

Do you remember life before your little sister or brother joined your family? I happen to be the youngest so I never had my world rocked in this particular way. But if you already have a little one or two at home, including them in your maternity photos is a great way to make them feel involved and to get them excited. Plus, there are few things sweeter than a picture of big brother or sister kissing their mommy’s belly with their brand new best friend inside.

5. You be the star of the show for once! And get some pampering while you’re at it.

I do everything in my power to make these sessions as relaxing and stress-free as possible. Every session is custom styled to you and based on your preferences and level of comfort. You will fill out a short questionnaire that helps me to get to know you and what your goals are for the session. We plan the session based on what your favorite colors are. We think ahead, too. Is there a color scheme in your home you’d like your photos to match? If you know you’re going to hang wall art, we plan accordingly.

You let me know what you’re dreaming about, and I will do what I can to make those dreams come to life. The other good news is I have gorgeous maternity gowns and tutus, plus stunning accessories right in the studio that you can borrow. And I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get you beautiful portraits you will treasure.

6. Sometimes magical things happen.

We can’t really take credit for these things. In fact, I was just as shocked as this gorgeous mama when he got down on one knee. I was myself in tears and almost forgot I had a camera in my hand. My jaw was on the ground and I felt so honored and humbled to be able to capture this moment for this couple.

Other extraordinary things (to me at least) include miraculous light. If the season is right and we schedule your outdoor portrait session at just the right time, we could find ourselves with a magical sunset like the one below.

8. Gender Reveal Photos! 

Gender reveal parties have become super popular. This couple wanted to do a gender reveal portrait session in front of my camera so they could show their baby when he or she grew up. The best part was that big sister had no idea the gender so it was a true gender reveal! They chose to use confetti popper canons. I knew we had one (well two) chances at it so I bought some multi color ones on Amazon and we practiced with big sister before the actual, real reveal. The reveal photos came out beautifully and this family not only had a memorable experience, they had photographic evidence to pass along to both of their kids from the day big sister found out she was about to have a baby brother.

9. Document your little one’s first year from the very beginning: pregnancy.

We talk a lot about milestones throughout the first year of your little one’s life. But really, these milestones don’t begin at the newborn stage–they begin before that. We offer Portrait Packages to help you capture each milestone as it’s happening. So that when your little one is older (and gives you attitude-ha!) you can look back and remember all those precious times.

Are you looking for a maternity photographer in the Greater Boston area? Crabapple Photography is located in Andover Massachusetts and serves clients from around the area including Lowell, Danvers, Georgetown, Wilmington, Arlington, and more. Kate McKenna has been a Boston area photographer specializing in maternity, newborn, and family portrait photography since 2009.

Contact Kate today to book your customized maternity portrait session.