As a relatively new father I've enjoyed every minute of time since we found out we were having our first baby. As a photographer I was excited about utilizing this opportunity to hone my skills in maternity portraiture. Maternity photography is a whole new ball of wax for a photographer more who was more familiar with still life, landscape and fine art work. Fortunately I have a very photogenic wife who is also a great sport.
I do my best to drive my inspiration and creativity from within, rather than to use the work of others as a guide. That's not a knock to many of the the world's great photographers, but rather a reflection of my personal desire to do something a bit different.
When we were about six months along we felt like we were at a great place in the pregnancy to capture my wife's healthy glow of soon-to-be motherhood. We chose a location near the water, at about 90 minutes before sunset. Late day sun, just prior to sunset is flattering and warm. This particular park is quite large and offered a variety of wonderfully natural backdrops which I felt were also quite complementary to the naturalness of pregnancy.
I had specific goals in mind.
Capture my wife's happiness and glow
Flatter her baby bump
Collect memories in a natural setting
Use ambient light to enhance the mood
Everyone has a better side or angle from which they look best. While I know my wife better than anyone, I did have to look at her differently than I normally do so that I could find the right angles for a great photo. After experimenting a bit I found a handful of great views that would yield great results. While the light was clear, low and smooth I did need the aid of a reflector to fill in the dark sides of photos.
So, back to creativity. I didn't want any "say cheese" photos. Fortunately, warm Florida winters also allowed for gorgeous weather around St. Patty's day. For those who don't have the luxury of fabulous year-round weather, a studio shoot is equally as awesome.
Avoiding "say cheese" photos takes a bit of skill. Not only does one have to be a photographer, but also a director. It is crucial to direct your subject by speaking with them, conveying a feeling of comfort and ease while helping them pose in ways that are flattering and aesthetically pleasing.
Few things are more natural than pregnancy so the outdoor setting was ideal. I chose to use a mix of forest, water and sunset to capture the mood.
One thing I would highly suggest is that every couple get a beautiful head shot photograph during this time too. It is easy to focus solely on the belly but remember that this is a great time to capture a woman's healthy glow. I know I use that word a lot, but "glow" is a very real thing during pregnancy.
Well, enough talk. Here are few of the photos:
I do my best to drive my inspiration and creativity from within, rather than to use the work of others as a guide. That's not a knock to many of the the world's great photographers, but rather a reflection of my personal desire to do something a bit different.
When we were about six months along we felt like we were at a great place in the pregnancy to capture my wife's healthy glow of soon-to-be motherhood. We chose a location near the water, at about 90 minutes before sunset. Late day sun, just prior to sunset is flattering and warm. This particular park is quite large and offered a variety of wonderfully natural backdrops which I felt were also quite complementary to the naturalness of pregnancy.
I had specific goals in mind.
Capture my wife's happiness and glow
Flatter her baby bump
Collect memories in a natural setting
Use ambient light to enhance the mood
Everyone has a better side or angle from which they look best. While I know my wife better than anyone, I did have to look at her differently than I normally do so that I could find the right angles for a great photo. After experimenting a bit I found a handful of great views that would yield great results. While the light was clear, low and smooth I did need the aid of a reflector to fill in the dark sides of photos.
So, back to creativity. I didn't want any "say cheese" photos. Fortunately, warm Florida winters also allowed for gorgeous weather around St. Patty's day. For those who don't have the luxury of fabulous year-round weather, a studio shoot is equally as awesome.
Avoiding "say cheese" photos takes a bit of skill. Not only does one have to be a photographer, but also a director. It is crucial to direct your subject by speaking with them, conveying a feeling of comfort and ease while helping them pose in ways that are flattering and aesthetically pleasing.
Few things are more natural than pregnancy so the outdoor setting was ideal. I chose to use a mix of forest, water and sunset to capture the mood.
One thing I would highly suggest is that every couple get a beautiful head shot photograph during this time too. It is easy to focus solely on the belly but remember that this is a great time to capture a woman's healthy glow. I know I use that word a lot, but "glow" is a very real thing during pregnancy.
Well, enough talk. Here are few of the photos:
Here are a handful of other recent maternity photos.
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