When you’re expecting a baby, to say you have a lot on your plate is an understatement. And to say that you feel amazing every single day is downright crazy talk! Making an effort to document the entire experience is the last thing on your mind.
But before you know it, your little bundle of joy will be here and while you’ll most likely take thousands of photos of your baby, photos of you before and with your baby will get overlooked. And when you’re looking back through your family photos in 5/10/15 years, there will be a blank spot where you went from your wedding day right to baby photos.
Almost all of the women who hire me for their maternity photos are on baby number two or three, and this is why they regret not taking maternity photos before.
You will forget what it’s like to be pregnant
Pregnancy photos allow you to remember all of the best parts the way you want to remember them. One of my very first maternity clients told me, upon seeing her prints for the first time, that I captured exactly how she wanted to remember her pregnancy. It wasn’t the swollen ankles or back aches, or stretch marks, or anything else. She was radiant, and graceful, and full of love. She proudly hung that large portrait on the wall in her home.
It’s like going on a family vacation. We take pictures of ourselves in these exciting new places to fun things so we can remember those moments. We can choose to keep those special memories close to us, and forget about the delayed flights, lost luggage, bug bites, and long lines. We can choose how we want to remember that trip.
Everyone remembers good and bad things about their pregnancy, not being able to relive the most amazing moments through photographs is something a lot of moms regret.
Your children will thank you for it
this is something you can do for your little bundle of joy before they’re even born. So many children love looking through family photos. Seeing pictures of you carrying them in your belly, looking radiant and so full of love will only strengthen the bond between you. When your daughter shows these photos to her own daughter some day, they can both share these special memories with you.
Since most women aren’t feeling the most beautiful during their pregnancy, it’s too easy to go the entire time without taking any photos of you and your belly, especially if this is your first pregnancy. This is a really special and important time in your life. You don’t want to regret not having any great photographs to share with your own daughter and grand daughter.
Learn about Ellen’s experience
Putting on your oxygen mask first
Becoming a mom means putting the needs of your children first, and it’s all too easy to let years go by without ever doing something kind for yourself. Before you became a mom, you were a kind, driven, and deserving woman who made time for yourself.
You still deserve to treat yourself. It is still fun to get your makeup done and wear something you feel GORGEOUS in, without feeling guilty. Taking care of your own needs does not make you a bad mom. Maintaining your own happiness is not selfish, it’s necessary. You have to put your own oxygen mask on first if you are going to be able to take care of your child without feeling run down all the time. Let’s be real, you’re still going to feel tired most of the time… Making your own needs a priority from the beginning will help you be the best mom you can be.
Your partner will thank you for it
A maternity photo shoot can strengthen the bond between your partner and your child. You are already so strongly connected to your baby. It’s a feeling you could never have imagined before your pregnancy. You feel every tiny kick. Your heart beats for two. You eat for two.
Your partner does not share that same experience though. Doing this session together, or at least including your partner for some of the shoot, will help him feel closer to your child.
This can also just be all about you, guilt free. You deserve this incredible experience.
These aren’t your grandmother’s maternity photos
Some maternity photos are really cheesy, and it makes some mamas cringe when they think about taking the ‘hands in the shape of a heart’ photo, and they would never paint their belly to look like a basketball. I’m with you on that one. Pinterest needs to retire those images.
One reason moms regret not taking gorgeous maternity photos is because they didn’t know there was a better option than Glamour Shots. When you find a photographer whose work speaks to you, your whole perspective will change. My style is elegant, strong, feminine, and graceful. It’s also moody and dramatic. My clients absolutely love being photographed in this style. However, for every client I work with, there are 10 who do not like my style, and that’s great! There is a photographer for everyone. And there has never been a better time to find the perfect photographer for you.
You only get one chance to do this
Whether this is your first baby or your last, every pregnancy is unique, and you will never again have the opportunity to really capture this experience in a special way. I’ll let Lucille Ball wrap this up for us with her famous quote. “I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”
Hare are some other helpful articles for you 🙂
When Should You Schedule Your Maternity Photoshoot?
What what do I wear for a boudoir photo shoot?
The 5 common mistakes that could cost you an experience you will never get back
