I am so excited for your session! I feel so honored to capture this special moment in your life together. I’ve created this guide to help you get the most out of your photos, and by the time you’ve read through it, I hope you’ll have all your questions answered and feel excited
and prepared for your session. Then I’ll take care of the rest! Your only job is to be yourself, embrace that bump and let me create beautiful photos you’ll love forever. If you have more questions when you’re done reading through this guide, please don’t hesitate to ask!
When to Schedule
Let's plan on having your maternity session scheduled when you are 29- 33 weeks along. This way we have time to reschedule in case of weather conditions or sickness if you're having a rough pregnancy. Your belly will also be showing beautifully and you haven't hit that completely uncomfortable stage yet.
Date
Most clients schedule their sessions on weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) so my weekends sometimes book out several weeks in advance, but my weekdays are sometimes available too. If you have a flexible schedule and are able to shoot on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, I can usually fit you in fairly quickly.
Time
The best light for your photos will occur during
“golden hour,” which is the hour immediately before sunset or right after sunrise, when the light is soft and there are no harsh shadows. The sun is low in the sky which makes which makes the surroundings look rich, golden and vibrant. To establish a start time for your photo shoot, look up the sunset time for our shoot date (and location) and subtract an hour. That’s the best time for us to start.
Remember, the sun sets much earlier during winter and much later during summer, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your portrait session date, especially if you’re taking off work or have evening plans afterward.
Location
The location of your session is up to you! The first thing to decide is whether you’d like your session to have an urban or natural feel. Are you city people who love culture and architecture? Let’s do some photos in downtown! Or do you love nature and trees? Manito Park is perfect for that! Want a unique look? Tubbs hill is stunning! We can think outside box too. Saw something on social media you'd like to try? Let me know and we can find a similar vibe. Here are a few of my favorite shoot locations where I regularly book sessions. Feel free to choose from among these or take a look at my blog post "The Most Breathtaking Photoshoot Spots in Spokane". Do you have a favorite spot that’s filled with happy memories? Let’s make it happen.
• Saltese Uplands, Spokane Valley
• Post Falls, Idaho
• Manito Park, Spokane
• Bowl & Pitcher, Spokane Valley
• My Studio in the Valley
•Slavin Conservation
WHAT TO WEAR
Have you ever dreamed about rocking a romantic gown, tulle skirt, or
flower crown, but just never had an occasion for it? This is your chance to do it up! Remember: there is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your maternity session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun!
For expecting mothers, I always recommend floor-length gowns or maxi dresses. Whether form-fitting or loose and flowy, these dresses create the best silhouettes to flatter your figure and really highlight your bump. A full and flowy skirt is like a built-in "prop" too, giving you something to twirl and swirl, and adding effortless movement and interest to your photos so I'll recommend going that route.
When choosing color(s), I recommend selecting soft, light tones and muted shades. Black, though slimming, becomes very shapeless in photos. Avoid black if you can. A solid-colored fabric with texture is always a winner, but if you don't want to wear a solid-colored dress, select a print that is minimalist and understated. Think dainty florals or small stripes. Another way to add visual interest is to opt for texture like lace, linen, chiffon, or tulle. If you want to go in a different direction or have a second outfit for your session, I love an unbuttoned, simple and light-colored jeans with a white sports bra or cropped and fitting top.
CLIENT CLOSET DRESSES
What does the fam wear?
D A D S
His clothes should complement what you wear without overshadowing you or your bump. I always make recommendations based on what mom has chosen to wear. However, the most important factor here is to keep it nice and simple with neutral colors. Like I stated for Mama, patterns are distracting and often take away from the overall focus, rather than complementing the composition of the image. This means no heavy stripes, plaids or other heavy patterns. Neutral colors are best and there are various combinations that can be made with shirt, jacket and formal trousers. I would suggest skipping the tie, but this ultimately
depends on how formal you all want to go. And Dad- don't forget the accessories! This can really heighten your look. Watches, belts, etc.
K I D S
During your maternity session, the focus will primarily be mom and dad, but including some shots of big brothers and sisters can be a wonderful way to involve siblings in your session too. To ensure the focus remains on the family connection, it's best to coordinate colors without matching exactly. Soft neutral colors
like cream or a light brown work well as the dominate colors. For siblings, a classic, timeless outfit is recommended. For the boys, a casual Henley and khakis make a great outfit, and simple, textured
dresses for the girls are perfect. Make sure to leave out any logos, graphic tees or characters. Shoes are important for them too, so keep in mind the shoes you choose.
How to choose your color palette
M Y N U M B E R O N E P R I N C I P L E F O R D R E S S I N G A F A M I L Y F O R T H E I R P H O T O S E S S I O N I S " C O O R D I N A T I N G , N O T M A T C H I N G ."
1) START WITH A "THREE CORE COLOR" PALETTE OF NEUTRALS & NEARLY-NEUTRALS
Before you go unloading your whole family's dressers and drawers, you can simplify this process with a plan. And the plan is to pick a palette. Start by selecting a neutral base, like white, cream or brown. Then, find 2-3 nearly-neutral colors.
2) ADD ONE OR TWO ACCENT COLORS
If you want to add a bit of variety, or if you can't find a complete outfit from your 3 core colors, add in one or two accent colors, to be used less frequently than the core colors. Think rust, soft blue or an olive color. These colors should complement the neutrals and nearly-neutrals that you're already using. Finish off by adding nonessential clothing items such as wraps, sweaters, hats or statement accessories such as watches, bow ties, bracelets, hair bows, and jewelry that fits the core and accent colors.
!!Extra Tips!!!
1)Plan ahead!! Nothing puts a damper on a fun and relaxing photoshoot like feeling rushed or late! You should plan for traffic and arrive at our scheduled start time.
2)Pamper yourself with a day at the salon. Get your nails, brows, hair. whatever makes you feel good done to look your best for your maternity shoot. We want you feeling your best, so why not splurge a little?
3)Slept, fed and hydrated: If you're well rested and hydrated, your skin will glow in front of the camera. Our session will typically be at sunset and at a lot of times, that's around dinner, so making sure
you have eaten a light meal so you don't get "hangry" is a good idea.
4)If you decide to get a spray tan before your shoot, try to go with a lighter choice instead of the dark. Sometimes it can come off looking orange on camera, especially on the hands, and we don't
want that!
5)Makeup- My #1 biggest secret for a youthful glowy look is the L'oreal True Match Lumi Glotion. Put a little under your foundation and it will make your skin look incredible. Stay away from any heavy eyeshadow or liner. Go minimal with the lashes, and go with the idea of glowy and bright.
