Maternity Photos

classygal15 · April 2016

Hi all,

I'm currently at 17 weeks and have been thinking about having professional maternity photos done later this trimester or in the third. Has anyone done this before? Do you think it's worth the expense? Or does it make more sense to have just newborn photos? I'm honestly on the fence about this. I'm sure it's just your own preference but wanted to see what others thought. Thanks!

camichael84 · April 2016

I did maternity photos with my first and I want to do it again with this one. We only spent $75 to have them done because DH has a friend who does photography. I'm not sure I would have wanted to shell out $500 or more for them, but that's me. I know some photographers do a package that includes a maternity session, newborn photos, 3 months, 6 month, and a year. I'm going to look into it for this one. I feel we might have spent less in the long run if we had gone that route.

eightynine · April 2016

I'm definitely not doing this, I feel like it's a huge waste of money, but that's just me. I also wonder if a lot of people do it because of the pressures of getting professional pictures taken for absolutely everything and posting them on social media.

You can always have a friend take some fun, free maternity pictures of you and your S/O. I may do that. I may even set up my own 'newborn shoot' as well-- I have the money for this, but just feel it could be spent in a more meaningful way for my family.

yellowrose314 · April 2016

I'm planning on having maternity photos done in the late 2nd or early 3rd trimester, when I still have energy, and the weather is better where I live. One of my very dear friends is an amazing photographer, she will be doing all the maternity photos, the birth and newborn shots. Since this is my first baby I want to celebrate it in anyway I can. Plus I'm planning on doing a collage to put over the baby's bed for artwork

lovelylauren86 · April 2016

I would wait till later in your third tri. I wish I had done mine later with my son. There are a few where I look more fat than pregnant. That was at like 32 weeks

AnnaS930 · April 2016

@lovelylauren86 - I agree that you don't look super pregnant in that particular pose.. but you don't look fat either! You look darn good, whether it's a maternity picture or not!

camichael84 · April 2016

lovelylauren86 said:

I would wait till later in your third tri. I wish I had done mine later with my son. There are a few where I look more fat than pregnant. That was at like 32 weeks

I wouldn't wait too long, though. Our session lasted a couple hours and involved a lot of walking in August heat. I was miserable by the end. We did them at 34 weeks, and am glad I didn't wait any longer.

AnnaS930 · April 2016

Edited to add: Link might not quite be safe for work. nothing too risque, but that's your warning. Also, I'm in tears of laughter, I hope I'm not the only one finding these so wonderful...

Maternity photos are not for me. I like doing my weekly bump pics for myself but not sure what I would do with a portfolio of pics of myself... although the idea of taking some with my son are a bit tempting, but I think I'll wait and have some nice pics done once baby is here.

Please, enjoy this wonderful sampling and take some inspiration from these poses/wardrobe options:
https://www.parenting.com/gallery/awkward-pregnancy-photos?page=1

618mom22boys · April 2016

I've never done maternity photos with any of my kids. But I do take a lot of regular pregnancy pics. I'd rather spend the money on newborn photos.

CoffeeBeanFiend91 · April 2016

Because of my weight I never felt I looked pregnant enough until the end to get them done with DD. I regret not doing it.

RedMar · April 2016

@AnnaS930 thanks for disclaimer before opening that site... Holy moly! My favorite would have to be the holiday card.
I received an "Awkward Family Photo" day-by-day calendar for a Yankee swap gift this past Christmas and it is the best!!! I look forward to flipping the page everyday.

RedMar · April 2016

To add to the discussion, I had maternity pics done @36 weeks and it was on Mother's Day so it was a little warmer out that I would've liked, but I think that hot weather is inevitable for us since we will be in August by that point. I am thankful I got them done and am excited to have these taken with DS included.

Also, I do photography on the side and I recommend if you're feeling self conscious, wear darker colors. Not really ideal for hot, sunny weather, but they compliment the curves

! Don't be self-conscious! Keep in mind this is a once in a lifetime ordeal and you are growing a miracle!

TNgoldengirl · April 2016

I did them with my first. Didn't do anything with them but I'm still glad I did. I love to make scrapbooks and such to have last to look back on. And this time, we are doing beach portraits in May, so I figured this would double as a mini maternity session. My friend did these last year and they were gorgeous! It'll probably be a while until we have professional family photos done again (maybe when baby is 1?) so, I'll be happy to have these done.

tinypikachu · April 2016

I do photography so I'll be doing our photos, if that makes any sense

I'll set up my camera and have DH do them, after I give him a few pointers. He's helped me out in shoots so he knows a little bit, I'll just tell him how to do the portrait angles I want. I think I'll do them in a couple of months as I don't want to tire easily or get too overheated if I wait until 30+ weeks and I already look huge so I expect to look big enough for the pictures. I'll also be doing my newborn photos when baby gets here!

Ah825 · April 2016

I will definitely get some done. Nothing wrong with dressing up and wanting to feel beautiful!❤️ We'll have to start a maternity photo thread in a few more months.

SLou24 · April 2016

I think I'll get them done! We won't go all out, but I'd love to have some nice pregnancy photos to look back on. We have a friend who is a very talented photographer though, so I'm not sure if we'd do them if we had to shell out a ton of money for them.

camichael84 · April 2016

@AnnaS930 My DH was in almost all of my maternity pics, so it was kind of a couple shoot as well as maternity shoot. I added them to the start of the Shutterfly photo album I made for DD's first six months. Other than that, I haven't done much with them, and that's why I didn't want to spend a ton on getting them done. I'm excited to have DD in the pictures this time.

BarrysBride05 · April 2016

I had maternity pictures done and am so glad I did. Like others we had plenty of couples shots. I was 35/36 weeks. Weather was nice. I wore something comfortable and them around our home/farm so I could potty, etc as needed. For $125 I received a CD of edited shots with all printing rights. We ended up not doing newborn (have mixed feelings about), but we have tons of natural and professional pics of our daughter so she is definitely well documented.

frogdog06 · April 2016

Just had our detailed ultrasound and emailed the photographer to book our newborn & maternity session! I'm super excited about it, not really to post about it, but as @Ah825 says, I want to feel beautiful and remember myself pregnant. I purchased a DSLR earlier on to document baby's first years, but I want a professional to take the newborn photos in a safe manner and with plenty of props.

Check out Yelp and Facebook for photographers in your area.

classygal15 · April 2016

Thanks everyone for your feedback! You guys have definitely helped me decide to have them done but not spend a ton of money! It would be great to document such a special time

SarahDarah333 · April 2016

AnnaS930 said:

Edited to add: Link might not quite be safe for work. nothing too risque, but that's your warning. Also, I'm in tears of laughter, I hope I'm not the only one finding these so wonderful...

Maternity photos are not for me. I like doing my weekly bump pics for myself but not sure what I would do with a portfolio of pics of myself... although the idea of taking some with my son are a bit tempting, but I think I'll wait and have some nice pics done once baby is here.

Please, enjoy this wonderful sampling and take some inspiration from these poses/wardrobe options:
https://www.parenting.com/gallery/awkward-pregnancy-photos?page=1

OMG I'm dying those are HILARIOUS!!!

I personally don't want to do maternity photos other than ones I take myself. If we had another kid, I think I might feel differently. I have an acquaintance who did a maternity shoot on a beach... in a bikini... like, a bikini that would be small on a skinny person... I mean hey, she obviously felt comfortable and confident, and more power to her, but I would be horrified to be captured in a bikini at 8 months pregnant on a beach- I would personally feel like a beached whale, but again, that is just my opinion. I've seen plenty of tasteful maternity photos as well. I think it just comes down to personal preference.

heyheyklee · April 2016

If you have a decent camera and a tripod just take them yourself. I was 35 weeks and on a day off I did some for myself. I think they came out pretty good with some editing!

KimmySchmidt · April 2016

Maternity photos are not my style. They just seem very staged to me and it's not my thing. Like "oh, hi! I didn't see you there. I was just standing in front of this waterfall staring at my belly." I'm more a fan of candid photos in general

kosmo86 · April 2016

KimmySchmidt said:

Maternity photos are not my style. They just seem very staged to me and it's not my thing. Like "oh, hi! I didn't see you there. I was just standing in front of this waterfall staring at my belly." I'm more a fan of candid photos in general

I agree, but if you find the right photographer it can be done well. For my wedding photos although most of them were somewhat staged our emotions and facial expressions were not. They look very natural and fun, I love them so much and have them all over the house. It was a little different because we eloped and the pictures only contain the 2 of us.

ssimon621 · April 2016

We did them with my first and plan to do them with this baby and include our older daughter.

We didn't spend a lot, under $200 for sure. I think I was about 32 weeks when we did them. We have a few in a folder and a few on a pin board in my daughters room along with her ultrasound pictures. She loves having the pictures and knowing she was in mommy's belly on the pics.

LeahKnits · April 2016

I don't do maternity photos. I don't find them cute or sweet. I think they usually look a little weird. But if that's your thing, I am not judging you. It just is not my thing at all. We've never done professional photos of our kids either. I'd love to get some done of all my kids together, but I won't be paying for newborn photos. I take a lot of pictures with my phone to share with my family, and I like them much better than the staged ones.

mrsl0429 · April 2016

@KimmySchmidt I am dying laughing - agree with you, not my style. Have a had a couple of friends encourage me to do it, but they really just make me uncomfortable, personally.

Thurstobertay · April 2016

frogdog06 · April 2016

I have to add...I like them, for me, for my personal photo archives, and my husband, and maybe my mom and close girlfriends...but for me to bare my belly (which I am not so certain I want to do) isn't really something I'd want to share with everyone.

However, @kosmo86 mentions, with the right photographer, I'm hoping to look beautiful!

Came with newborn photos for under $200 and all digital rights. Woohoo.

SuperFudge00 · April 2016

I had a friend do mine. Loved them and loved the experience. Don't think I'll do them this time, I don't feel at all like the goddess I did when pregnant the first time. I also did newborn shots.

Tippy05 · April 2016

My brother is a photographer so he did some for my first pregnancy, but it was more of a silhouette of my bump rather than a full on, belly and face shot. He also took photos of my kids as newborns, and will likely do this one too.

If I didn't have a photographer in the family, I wouldn't have had maternity photos but would have absolutely had newborn photos done (but not the hospital ones). I'm a sucker for the ones with the babies propped up resting on their own hands and with the goofy hats!

Sarafuss · April 2016

We won't be doing maternity photos (and I haven't in the past). I would be uncomfortable having pictures of just me (and I usually end up not liking any pictures of myself) so it would be a waste for me. I do take weekly bump pics to look back on though. We will be doing a "Fresh 48" session and also newborn photos. I wanted to do birth photos as well but the cost was too high.

marajay6 · April 2016

Like a few others on here, maternity photos are not my style. I really don't do a lot of staged photos - we skipped engagement photos, newborn photos, have very few professional family photos. We have plenty of candid pictures, just not many professional. And I am ok with that.

miam4 · April 2016

I am a photographer for fun (let's put like this). I love taking pictures. I have done many maternity and newborn for friends for free just for the joy of taking pictures. When it was my turn, I had no option but hiring someone. We went to a park and the pictures are amazing. I have pictures all around my house, and I really enjoy it. It is up to you. You can get a very nice photographer specialized only in maternity, or you can get JCPenny/PortraitInnovations/Macys/Sears/etc and get a cheap package. It is what I tell my friends: It is all about your pocket and what you want.
I am hiring a professional again...
It is a beautiful memory.

nativetexan512 · April 2016

I'm not interested in photos of just me, but I would like a few photos of DH and me and our dog before the baby comes. I might get our next door neighbor to take them for us in front of our house.

When we got married I didn't do bridal photos either, come to think of it my last professional photos alone were high school graduation.

0SeaMonkey0 · April 2016

I know some people are really into their maternity photos but I've never felt the need to have them done. I definitely made a point to get some nice pictures of myself pregnant, usually when we're dressed up for an event of some type, but I've never seen the point of the professional shoot. I definitely think newborn photos are worthwhile and I make it a priority to have mice family pictures taken at least once a year, but having a specific maternity shoot has never seemed worthwhile for me. Some photographers offer a maternity/newborn package though and if the price was reasonable I might consider it. I didn't have engagement pictures taken for the same reason though. It just doesn't seem like the focus to me and I really only need so many professional photo shoots in my life

crispy11 · April 2016

I have never done maternity photos or newborn photos because money was tight when my husband and I were both students. I'm considering it this time around but I will probably start with newborn photos and do maternity with hypothetical #4 when our financial situation will hopefully be even better.

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