Maternity Photos?

Scarlettg

Ladies, how do you feel about maternity photos?  FTM here and I'm trying to decide if they're worth it or a waste.  Your thoughts are appreciated.  Thanks!

Scarlettg

mbm1983 said:

i can barely take a weekly bump photo. so personally, i will pass.

However, if you want them get them. Simple as that!

This is actually why I'm torn.  I haven't done weekly bump photos (no time/motivation) and I'm kind of afraid I'll regret not having any pics of me pregnant.  On the other hand, the idea of handing over a significant amount of money for pics of me looking like a hippo just doesn't seem fair.  

Shadeauxe

I have one picture of me pregnant with my first child at about 7 months. I don't regret not having more pictures and certainly not having paid for a professional photo shoot. But, I don't like pictures of me anyway, so there's that.

trixchik30

I think it's just personal preference. We are going to get some because I have a friend who is a photographer and we can get them for a bottle of wine and a thank you note...I'm not super thrilled at being the size of a whale, but I feel like somewhere down the line out daughter might like to see them. If I had to pay big $$ though I would probably pass.

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lindsayanne14

I have some nice pics of myself PG with DS, not professional ones. I don't regret not having them done with him and I haven't even thought about them with this one. That being said, I've seen some beautiful maternity pics and think if it's important to you, then go for it. I know some local photographers offer maternity/newborn packages which may be a way to combine the two and condense the cost a bit.

Scarlettg

lindsayanne14 said:

I have some nice pics of myself PG with DS, not professional ones. I don't regret not having them done with him and I haven't even thought about them with this one. That being said, I've seen some beautiful maternity pics and think if it's important to you, then go for it. I know some local photographers offer maternity/newborn packages which may be a way to combine the two and condense the cost a bit.

Now THAT'S an idea!  Thanks for the tip!

crossfit704

I have a great friend who is a professional photographer, and she will be doing them.  She is charging me hardly anything and packaged it with newborn pics when baby comes.  We also have like no pics of DH and I since we got married (7 years ago) so its ill be nice to have a few good ones of us.  I have a wall going up my stairs that we will put 1 on canvas and put on that wall along with a wedding picture, a new born pic of baby, and a fabulous shot I took of DH at the beach a few years ago.  It will be our "family" wall and build over time.  

carter604

I think I'll have a friend who's great with a camera take some candid shots some time this spring when I'm nice and big, but won't do the cheesy maternity shoot. I've had so many friends upload 100 cringeworthy half naked belly photos to a facebook album and I vowed is never follow suit. Here's what *not* to do: https://www.worldwideinterweb.com/item/1733-the-50-most-awkward-pregnancy-portraits-ever.html

Scarlettg

@carter604 I solemnly swear that if we do spring for maternity photos, they will not look like the ones in those pictures.  For one, I fully intend to keep my belly covered by actual clothing designed to cover said belly at all times.  I will neither use my belly as a prop, a la the basketball shoot, nor will I allow anyone to write anything on it.  The pics I was imagining were basic photos with DH and I, fully clothed, while I happen to be sporting a pregnant belly.  

Meanwhile, those were both hilarious and nightmare-inducing.  Thanks for sharing... I think.

OneLastRefrain

Yeah I want ones like an engagement shoot, but with a pregnant belly. I don't want naked creepy ones.

fourthtimesacharm

My sister had beautiful maternity photos done and her package included the newborn shoot at well (it was pricey but the pics were absolutely gorgeous). To this day she has never once put a maternity pic on display. The newborn pictures, on the other hand, totally worth the money.

My nephew's girlfriend is a photography student and works at a picture place. She asked me if she could do mine (for free) to help build her portfolio. I don't think I would get them done if I had to pay for them, though.

bowman958

I had them done with DD and I'm glad I did, it's nice to look back at them and feel truly beautiful. My SIL is a pro photographer and if she offers to do a few this time around, I will take her up on it. But I won't pay for them again - once is good.

meganbethg

I say yes! For me, this is my one and only pregnancy, so I'm soaking it up. I think it's an amazing thing how the female body changes so much to support an unborn child, something I want a picture of to remember what it looked like and maybe trigger some other memories (hopefully good ones like feeling the baby kick, not this never ending morning sickness).
To you though, your situation might be different..maybe you want to wait until LO number 2 and have cute family/maternity pictures done...but totally comes down to your personal choice (my vote is still yes! I love family pictures!)

PS. pictures don't have to be super expensive, try finding a local photography class at a college (I used to be in said class and we were always looking for models) or the Internet. Facebook is a great way to see if any of your friends have local suggestions for photographers.

meganbethg

OneLastRefrain said:

Yeah I want ones like an engagement shoot, but with a pregnant belly. I don't want naked creepy ones.

Creepy naked ones are the worst for sure!

bowman958

fourthtimesacharm said:

My sister had beautiful maternity photos done and her package included the newborn shoot at well (it was pricey but the pics were absolutely gorgeous). To this day she has never once put a maternity pic on display. The newborn pictures, on the other hand, totally worth the money.

My nephew's girlfriend is a photography student and works at a picture place. She asked me if she could do mine (for free) to help build her portfolio. I don't think I would get them done if I had to pay for them, though.

I think displaying maternity photos that aren't family photos is kind of weird, for me. I wouldn't bat a lash if I saw them in someone else's home, but for me they were personal.

erikaluna01

I would pass if paying full price but get them for the right price. I only have pictures of my baby shower with my first and I regretted not having more. This time, I'm doing bump pictures.

amystan

I have a friend who is a photographer and specialises in portraits, he is going to be taking maternity photos for me. That's basically it for traditional pre-baby stuff for me so I'm excited

kicoward

We have our session planned for February. I was young when i had my older kids (who are now in 18, 16 and 15) so i never got them now that im older n settled into a healthy relationship im going/have gone all out with this pregnancy. Ive already got my poses, outfits, photographer and placed picked out...super excited

cwiceangel

My friend is a photographer and told me last month she wanted to do them in January so that's happening. I won't be huge so that's a plus. It'll be nice to have some pics of my husband and I before baby. It's been three years since our wedding and the last time we've had them do pics. They've done our engagement and wedding pics and have been taking candids at dances and parties so it's weird to me that we wouldn't have some of a major life event done by them. If I had to pay a crazy amount of money then I would be a little unsure, but they give us a good deal. Our wedding we ended up with about 800 images. Most people they shoot for get around 100.

JaneShops

FTM, & I haven't done the weekly bump so planning to do maternity. Classy, no bare belly, & if anything just have my friends snap some nice ones during my shower

nechmielewski

We did some with our family photos, I love them

OliveMom3

I regretted not doing it with my first and since this might be my last, I'd like to do it.

dana1047

I probably will not do maternity photos. If i change my mind, I will not do naked belly pictures. I do not mind the belly sash pictures as many make the sashes then reuse them on wreaths for their hospital door.

dana1047

Another

TheWindCriesMary

For some reason I am in love with these underwater ones

Scarlettg

@dana1047 Those are really pretty!  I'm not really a flower-y kind of person, but I like the idea that you can re-use them as a wreath on the delivery room door.  I also like that they accentuate the line between your boobs and your belly so you don't look like one big mass 

jk3610

I'm getting them done the morning of our shower.  (Since DH and I will already be dressed semi-presentably for that anyway.  )  I have a friend who recently started a photography business and she said she'd do them for free if she could use some of them in her portfolio.  Can't say no to that!  Help out a friend and get some nice pictures.  We plan to have other children, but on the off chance we are unable to, I want to get some nice pics taken.

wolowizard

I've set mine up for February. I found an inexpensive photographer who has a regular 9-5 job, and does photography on the side. I absolutely love her newborn pictures so that's why I went with her (she'll be doing the newborn pictures too). Right now, I'm not sure if I'll display the maternity pictures but I do want to have them and they'll probably end up in some photobook somewhere and of course I'll give all the files to our parents to do with what they want. I also agree 100% with no bare belly pictures. I am not a fan of those!

littlewest1

I did them with my first and will do them again.  I remember debating about whether or not I would do them am I am glad I did.  Pregnancy goes by so fast it's nice to look back on them once in awhile and remember that time. 

ElizabethSwann

I was thinking about it. But i decided to save the money for newborn photos instead.

epidemic

Scarlettg said:

mbm1983 said:

i can barely take a weekly bump photo. so personally, i will pass.

However, if you want them get them. Simple as that!

This is actually why I'm torn.  I haven't done weekly bump photos (no time/motivation) and I'm kind of afraid I'll regret not having any pics of me pregnant.  On the other hand, the idea of handing over a significant amount of money for pics of me looking like a hippo just doesn't seem fair.  

I didn't read through to see if this had been suggested, but maybe find or ask a photographer who does newborn pics if they will do a package for you that includes maternity + newborns.

mamakeeg

carter604 said:

I think I'll have a friend who's great with a camera take some candid shots some time this spring when I'm nice and big, but won't do the cheesy maternity shoot. I've had so many friends upload 100 cringeworthy half naked belly photos to a facebook album and I vowed is never follow suit. Here's what *not* to do: https://www.worldwideinterweb.com/item/1733-the-50-most-awkward-pregnancy-portraits-ever.html

One of my best friends is a photographer and she wants me to sit completely naked on a horse at 9 months pregnant. Dead serious. Um fuck nooooo there is no way hahahaha. I definitely will get one or two of my naked JUST belly but I will never post those on any sort of social media, I just want them to look back on and show my daughter someday. Personally I wish my mom had pictures of her pregnant to compare because she always says I'm carrying just like her.

yellowdaisies84

If you think you want them but the expense is holding you back, remember you don't have to go to a maternity session at a studio. You can go to a portrait studio with your husband and get some photos together to show off your bump when the portrait studio is having a promotion- I have found AMAZING deals including FREE in my area at Wal-Mart and Sears. (I live in Ontario, Canada.)

Even better, I have been lucky enough to find deals for FREE maternity session from a great studio that specializes- the catch (in both cases) is you can only choose one image, that way they hope they will get you to pay for more or use them in the future. 

If you know someone with a decent camera or eye for photography, you can find some images on Pinterest that you like and try to recreate them. In my opinion, that can create a photo that you will cherish just as much as if you posed in a studio. If not more if it's in a familiar setting with meaning to you like your home, your yard, or a spot you love!

khan08

My cousin and friend are both photographers so I will definitely be doing some. I think the perfect time is usually the end of the 6th month to mid 7th month of the pregnancy. I am having a little girl and I can't wait to find girly things to take a picture with!

babybarrand

Personal preference . Can't wait for mine, with my sisters they were classy and made a great started for a scrapbook ! Good keepsakes for when the bellys gone .

pistachio&blush

We are definitely having professional maternity photos.

knjzacher

We did some "unconventional" maternity photos for my first. The photographer is a friend from my past as a model and we had a lot of fun with it. We are thinking of doing something along the same lines this time. I am not into the soft black and white half nude romantic looking ones AT ALL but hey, to each their own.

This is one of ours. My husband in the background there was really impressed with me (that was a genuine emotion on his part).