STMs - maternity photos

JSS1002

Did you do them?  Are you glad?  Do you look at them?  If not, do you regret NOT doing them?

When DH and I got married, we bought a photography package that included a free engagement session.  But we got married so fast that we didn't really have time to do an engagement session, so photog said we could save it for maternity session.  Now the time is upon us, and I'm wondering once again if we want to use it as a maternity session, or wait and do newborn photos.

I mean, I KNOW we'll want newborn photographs, so it would be wonderful to not have to incur another expense, but I also don't want to regret not having maternity photos later if I want them.

Thoughts?  Experiences to share?

 

Trish&Pete07

Never took then, never regretted not having them either.

Debbie0580

TrishPete07:

Never took then, never regretted not having them either.

Plus 1
ETA "plus" since mobile bump ate my sign.

kara1204

Trish&Pete07:

Never took then, never regretted not having them either.

 

This.

Spacebunny19

Never got them with DD and don't regret it per se, because they're pricey, but I do wish I had a few *better* pics with me pregnant with her.  I won't do mat photos this time either but I have already taken at least one decent photo (at Christmas) this time.  (I also bought some cuter mat clothes this time; last time they were 99% hand me downs.  So if nothing else  I want to capture the cute wardrobe!

katie6/26/04

I had a friend do them and I'm really happy I did it.  It's not the type of pictures I will put all over the house and give out, but I'm glad to have them in his first year album to remember that time.  I will probably have a friend do them again.

JSS1002

katie6/26/04:

I had a friend do them and I'm really happy I did it.  It's not the type of pictures I will put all over the house and give out, but I'm glad to have them in his first year album to remember that time.  I will probably have a friend do them again.

'

Thanks for all the feedback - was kinda hoping to hear that!  Maybe I will have a friend who is good at photography take a few pics of us, and then save the free professional session for newborn... I'm not always 100% comfortably having my photo taken, and while they might turn out great, I feel like there's a great chance I won't like how they turn out and be disappointed....

 

courtneyt13

Debbie0580:

TrishPete07:

Never took then, never regretted not having them either.

Plus 1 ETA "plus" since mobile bump ate my sign.

+2

skoogirl

I never had them done and haven't regretted it. I took some self-shots and that is enough for me. But I wish I'd had professional newborn photos done.  I would opt for the newborn photos over maternitiy photos.

Bbelle88

We did both.

Looking back I'm not obsessed with my maternity photos but glad I have them.

But I am obsessed with my newborn photos of my daughter. I LOVE having them, they are absolutely priceless to me. 

If you're trying to pick between the two and can only do one, definitely do the newborn photos. It's so nice to have professional photos of your baby frozen in time at the tiny special age! And they're perfect for the birth announcements

 

 

jreavey

I'm a FTM, but I got a groupon for portraits.  DH and I got them done, and while it's nice to have the photos, it was a huge pain the the @$$ for what we got.  Honestly, I wouldn't bother with it again.  Future kids will just get newborn pictures.

OhSewCrafty

Trish&Pete07:

Never took then, never regretted not having them either.

Ditto.

agytay

I did it and I am doing it again. I haven't taken too many pictures pregnant this time and since I am positive this will be my last pregnancy, then I want to capture it.

It is a personal preference, and I am sure my child will want them later as an adult. 

AnnieJar

I didn't do professional maternity or newborn photos with DS and I regret both. Although we have a nice camera and  take a ton of pictures so there was no lack of documentation, a professional shoot is just more quality. I regret it doing the mat shots mostly because I looked so much better during my first pregnancy, I had a perfect basketball belly and no extra weight anywhere else. Not so much this time but I am still planning on getting them done because this might be my last pregnancy. 

nyki06

We were gifted a photo session for my baby shower and since we didn't have the funds to pay for an additional shoot we just used it for newborn photos. 

Have you checked with your photographer to see if they would honor your agreement for newborn photos instead of maternity? I'm only asking because as a photographer myself I know that they are ENTIRELY different shoots at way different levels of difficulty. My newborn shoots are generally 2-3 hours and are a lot different than taking photos of one adult (or two with engagement shoots).

I respond the same way to every maternity photo post, you need to do what you want. None of us can tell you what you do or don't value. I didn't have my first and although I wish I had a few professional ones it doesn't keep me up at night.  

EIsieMae

Trish&Pete07:

Never took then, never regretted not having them either.

This. 

KrisM86

I did some simple ones and I'm very glad I did. We do still look at them and one pic from the session is framed in DD's room. However, my sister is a photographer so we got them done for free. I probably wouldn't have paid to get them done.

Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha

I had them done and never regretted them

JSS1002

nyki06:

We were gifted a photo session for my baby shower and since we didn't have the funds to pay for an additional shoot we just used it for newborn photos. 

Have you checked with your photographer to see if they would honor your agreement for newborn photos instead of maternity? I'm only asking because as a photographer myself I know that they are ENTIRELY different shoots at way different levels of difficulty. My newborn shoots are generally 2-3 hours and are a lot different than taking photos of one adult (or two with engagement shoots).

I respond the same way to every maternity photo post, you need to do what you want. None of us can tell you what you do or don't value. I didn't have my first and although I wish I had a few professional ones it doesn't keep me up at night.  

I haven't heard back from her yet, but I emailed her tonight to ask.  I thought about it, and I think if I have to choose between the two, I'd rather do newborn photos than maternity photos.  In reality, we dont' really HAVE to choose, because we could pay for a newborn session if we wanted one, but I guess I'm just not entirely sure I want/need maternity photos, whereas I KNOW I want newborn photos. 

So we'll see what she says and then decide from there!

Thanks!

mollyskywalker

Never took them and don't regret it.