Precious time, often overlooked...
Mama, I know you have so much on your plate right now, but trust me when I say you deserve this time to celebrate all that your body is doing. You deserve to wear something that makes you feel beautiful, to get dolled up with professional hair and makeup, and to have a pause in time of when you carried your little one closer than ever. Your child will one day point to that photo and say "That's me! I'm in there!" It's such a sweet moment of bonding.
Here at Sage Imagery, we're eagerly collecting pretty dresses for mamas to feel radiant in. As of February '23, I have 5 dresses of different hue and style to offer (two of them are pictured on this page).
When it's just mother and baby, I like to add professional hair and makeup. It's the final touch to the photoshoot to make it feel all the more pampering and special. It's okay to treat this as a luxury experience; go get your nails done, or schedule a massage. You've earned every bit of it!
Mostly want some of just you and bump but want your partner to step in for a few shots? We can absolutely make that happen and still keep it as pampering for you as possible.
The best time to get photos taken is around 32-35 weeks along. That time frame is a golden era of having the round belly, while still having a good amount of mobility. It is best to book your maternity session at least two months before your desired date. This gives us time to pick out the perfect outfits, arrange hair and makeup, and overall plan a theme/setting for the photoshoot.
It's not recommended to wait until last minute - I cannot get a makeup artist out here and I won't have the perfect dress for you set aside and ready. Don't get me wrong, I've done some very last minute maternity shoots for women who insisted they didn't want photos... until their time of pregnancy was about to come to an end and they decided they wanted some documentation of it. And needed to feel pampered.
There are so many beautiful locations to show off your baby bump! Outdoor maternity photos offer an opportunity for beautiful views, surrounded by nature, and plant life. This option is best for those wanting to include the rest of the family for maternity pictures.
Another favorite option is to show off that nursery you've put together for the babe. I can grab pictures of you nesting, laying out baby's clothes, making their bed, adjusting little stuffed animals around their room. Bonus: we can reenact these photos after baby is born, too!
And my personal favorite; Sage Studios. Here, I can offer my client closet for you to use, arrange hair and makeup, and have complete control over the set. This is best for when it's just mama, and perhaps a few pictures with dad, too.
The final statement I'd like to leave you with is to drive home the why of a maternity photoshoot. There are many whys, but perhaps only one calls to you. Either way, it's not something you can change your mind on later. As a mom that lives with that regret, I implore you to really think it through before brushing it off, and consider these main reasons of why some people choose to book:
- You will never ever have this moment again
- To celebrate the life created
- Celebrate your body's accomplishment
- To feel pampered, pretty, and connected (either to yourself or your partner)
- A keepsake to show your child
- Glorify the bond between mother and child
- You won't regret having maternity photos. You'll only regret not having them.
