What I wish more people understood about maternity sessions - as a photographer

Caroline Austin
Apr 8
3 min read

I often hear of pregnant women saying they are not confident enough to have maternity photos taken.

I have had women inquire about a session and end up deciding they just don't feel confident enough to go through with it.

And I totally understand it - your body is changing rapidly and drastically, your hormones are making you feel more sensitive, leaving you more vulnerable to insecurity, and of course professional photography is an investment and you don't want to spend the money if you aren't certain you'll like the way you look in them.

BUT there are several things I wish more people understood.

Not feeling confident in this season of life isn't a reason not to book a session - its actually a big reason you SHOULD book!

When booking with an excellent maternity photographer, you aren't just getting pretty pictures - you are also getting an experience that won't just make you feel pretty despite not feeling confident, it will actually BUILD your confidence and have you walking away feeling a new sense of beauty about yourself.

An excellent maternity photographer will create a safe and welcoming environment that makes you feel comfortable being yourself. They will accept you and embrace you as you are, and encourage you to embrace your body.

When you open up your mindset to think about your pregnant body not just in terms of how it looks, but of what is is capable of and all it is doing to create and sustain life, you find a new sense of pride in it. This is a mindset your photographer can (and should) model. A phenomenal maternity photographer will see you with a sense of awe and admiration that is contagious.

Furthermore, they will use their keen and creative eye to capture you in a way that focuses not only on how you look, but on the special bond between you and the sweet baby you can't wait to meet, the little human you're sharing your body with in this magical and fleeting time.

And remember that with time and distance comes objectivity. In the midst of your pregnancy you may be seeing yourself through critical eyes, but as the years go by, you'll find yourself looking back through kinder and more sentimental eyes. You won't be picking yourself apart - you'll be reminiscing about the days when you looked forward to hearing your baby's little heartbeat at your next appointment, when you felt your little love kicking in your belly. You'll be so happy to be able to look back on precious moments that are now a memory.

And imagine how special it will be for your child to be able to see pictures from when they were in your belly. Or for your grandchild to see grandma when she was pregnant with their parent.

It's also a great way to commemorate your family as it is - two becoming three, three becoming four or five or seven. Your only becoming your oldest, the baby of the family being promoted to big brother or sister.