As an Edmonton maternity photographer and mother myself, I know first-hand how easy it is to convince yourself that pregnancy does not need to be documented. After all, your body has changed and stretched and become unrecognizable. You feel tired and swollen, and anything but glamorous. And yet, when you pause to marvel at the magic that is growing and birthing a little mini version of yourself, it really is nothing short of miraculous. Today, we’re chatting about why you need to document your pregnancy.
In my personal opinion, pregnancy is beautiful and can be glamorous, and is one time in life that absolutely must be documented. Here are a few reasons why- and a few tips for getting behind the camera when you’re feeling anything but camera-ready.
Capture the magic and anticipation.
Whether or not you feel as beautiful and glowing as you are, pregnancy is a time of sweet anticipation of what’s to come. Maternity photos can freeze those feelings in time, and bring you back to those magical weeks and days of eagerly awaiting your precious arrival. It’s easy to forget how these days felt once baby is in your arms, and photos have a special way of transporting you back to a moment in time. Not to mention, most women only experience pregnancy a few times in their lives, and you’ll never get this moment back. Chances are, you won’t ever regret having documented this fleeting stage of life.
Your children will cherish these memories one day.
Whether or not you love looking at your changing body, capturing this special time- a time with just you and baby- will be a cherished gift for your child one day. I love looking back at old photographs and seeing my mom carrying one of us in her swollen belly. To me, there really is nothing more special or beautiful than the bond of mother and child.
Document the growth of your family.
As an Edmonton maternity photographer, I’m passionate about encouraging families to document all of life’s important stages. I truly believe that you can never have too many photos of your little ones, and getting to witness the growth of your family on your walls and in your albums is truly special. After all, each stage of life seems to pass faster than the last, and all we’re left with once our little ones are grown are photos and memories. Documenting each stage of your family’s history will be a beautiful story to share with your children as they grow- and what story is more important than the one of your life?
Your pregnancy journey deserves to be documented.
You worked hard for nine long months, growing and stretching to keep your baby healthy. That is something to be celebrated and remembered!
Important Tips for Documenting Your Pregnancy
- Select a dress from your photographer’s client closet! They’re flattering for all growing bumps and will be sure to make you feel like the pregnant goddess that you are! (All dresses here are from my client closet)
- Hire hair and makeup- or let your photographer coordinate it for you! Hair and makeup is included in all of my full-length sessions, and for the newborn session in my First Year Collection. My makeup artist is incredibly talented at making you look and feel beautiful- and just like yourself, too. Because every mama deserves to feel her best. (Check out Robyn here!)
- Bring along your partner and family, but be sure to capture some special moments of just you and baby! I have been shooting more and more “intimate” maternity sessions with just mama and baby, and they are truly magical. To see a few more maternity sessions on the journal, check out sweet baby Flora’s session, and baby Hannah’s outdoor Edmonton session! You can also see an intimate, indoor maternity session captured on film here.
- Trust that your photographer will make you feel beautiful! As an Edmonton maternity photographer, I know how to pose you in ways that will enhance the natural beauty of your growing bump. It’s okay to feel a bit nervous (we all do!), but know that the right photographer will help you feel as beautiful as you are.
Want to chat more about capturing your own pregnancy journey? Come say hello! I’d love to chat with you about documenting your beautiful growing bump with our luxurious portrait experience!
Hair and makeup by my talented artist, Robyn at https://robynscheer.ca/
All images scanned by my incredibly talented lab, http://canadianfilmlab.com/
All dresses from my exclusive client closet, reserved to help my mothers feel beautiful
