Maternity photography - Annie
Motherhood is a very tough topic for me, in more ways than one. For me it has always been surrounded by fear, sacrifice and judgement. I did not long for it for some time, maybe because deep down I knew it was not going to be that straightforward for me. That’s why I approach each pregnant woman with care and understanding because of all the stories we hear. How a woman’s life will change, how they have to behave once becoming a mum, and even how they have to give up everything for their children. Old fashioned you might think, but it is still out there. If not people around us that telling us this, but often a woman telling it to herself. Putting too much pressure on herself, setting high standards how life should be before children, and how they should look during pregnancy. Sometimes we forget there is a new life being created and that’s what matters the most. These mums are enough for who they are, they are beautiful and shine through unconditional love. All a photographer has to ask them is to look at their growing belly and whisper some words of love, and they start to glow. All the doubts, troubles and worries are gone in a split second.
I met this beautiful mummy to be, Annie, on an overcast Sunday afternoon. I have chosen an outdoor location near the local river because Annie wanted to have her photoshoot outside, close to nature and I was waiting to use this spot in my photos. Going for walks is close to Annie’s and her partners heart and she wanted to have nature reflected in her maternity photos. We had an open space with beautiful winter grass still growing and also natural overgrown greenery around that enchanted her maternity photoshoot.
My goal is to capture a woman’s beauty and magical power in every possible way so they have this memory forever. To give them evidence for the future that they are valued, strong and loved in every way. To give them something to look back and remember those soft and cosy moments when it was just them carrying their baby, taking care of it and still being the woman they are. Pregnancy comes and goes so quickly even if it does not seem that way when you are waiting for your baby to be born. Once it is here, it is lovely to have quiet moments now and then to look back and remember how was it when you were waiting, hoping and loving your baby bump.
Before every photo session I ask if my clients would love to have advice about what to wear and how to prepare for their photoshoot. For maternity shoots I always ask if they can put their favourite maternity dress on or clothes that makes them feel comfy. I know how lovely is the feeling of cosy maternity leggings and you think that they will never, and I mean never, going to come off. But for photoshoots, I ask them to get ready for a day out. To put their make up on, their favourite shoes and feel beautiful. I loved Annie’s outfit choice and it could not match our setting better. Her deep brown dress looked so beautiful against lovely light grass and deep green leaves. There is so much beauty in autumn and winter colours. It is not all about just grey days.
More than once when people book their photo sessions, and especially when we have arranged a photoshoot outside, they ask if their lovely pets can join them. I am all in for this suggestion as it is a great opportunity to let them run around while we taking photos. An even better thing to do is to let them join the photo session. It can be so much fun to have your pets involved and try to pose with them. They are like little children: funny, unpredictable and hilarious. With Annie we did not originally plan for puppy Ruben to be in the photos, but at the end of the session I offered to take a couple shots with them all together. What a great idea it was and they all had fun. I love to see this new family having laughter and such cozy and loving moments.
