What to expect
Your pregnancy journey is one of the most magical tomes in your life.
Before you know it, your sweet little one will be running around exploring the world around them. You will find yourself missing these little moments when you could keep them safe and close.
Session Day
On the day of your maternity shoot, excitement and anticipation fill the air! We’ll meet at a stunning location that resonates with your vision, whether it’s at by does dessert rocks, near Rio Grande with greenery and tress, or a cozy indoor setting. As we begin, I’ll take the time to ensure you feel relaxed and comfortable, guiding you through poses that highlight your natural beauty.
Feel free to bring along any special items or outfits that represent your journey—like tiny shoes, ultrasound photos, or meaningful accessories. These personal touches will help create a unique story in your images.
Throughout the session, we’ll capture a mix of playful moments and serene poses, allowing your personality to shine through. Whether it’s a gentle touch to your belly or a laugh with your partner, every shot will celebrate the joy of motherhood.
Most importantly, this day is all about you and the incredible journey you’re on. I’m here to make the experience enjoyable and memorable, and I can’t wait to create beautiful images that you’ll cherish for a lifetime!
Posing
As your photographer, I'll guide you through every step of the photoshoot, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident. You won’t need to worry about posing or planning—I’ll provide clear instructions and small tasks to help us capture beautiful, natural moments effortlessly.
Wondering, ‘What should I do with my hands?’ My number one tip is to place your hands on your belly unless I direct you otherwise. We’ll explore different variations, like sitting, walking, twirling, or swaying, to create a dynamic and heartfelt gallery. I’ll also make sure your partner and kids are naturally interacting with you and each other, capturing genuine connections and emotions.
Accessories
As your photographer, I provide the perfect accessories for your outdoor maternity shoot. I bring soft, cozy blankets to create a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere for you to sit or rest on during the session. If you'd like, I can also bring stylish accessories like a chic hat or other beautiful items to enhance your photos and add a personal touch. All you need to do is enjoy the experience while I take care of the details!
Pets
Your beloved pets can absolutely be part of your maternity photos for an extra-special, personal touch. Including them adds a unique element to your shoot, showcasing the bond of your entire family—even your furry members!
That said, as I’m unfamiliar with your pet’s behavior, their care and supervision will be your responsibility during the session. Please make sure they feel comfortable in the environment and are calm and safe around you and your growing baby bump. Together, we can create beautiful, heartwarming images that include everyone you hold dear.
Location
Choosing the right location for your maternity shoot can make all the difference in capturing the beauty of this special time. Whether you prefer a serene outdoor setting, like White Sands, dessert mountain views, or a cozy indoor space that feels like home, the options are endless.
Outdoor locations provide stunning natural light and vibrant backdrops, while indoor settings can offer warmth and intimacy. Think about places that hold meaning for you, such as where you and your partner first met or a favorite spot you love to visit. No matter the choice, I’ll work with you to ensure we find the perfect location that reflects your personality and style, creating beautiful images that celebrate your journey into motherhood. Let’s make this experience as special as the moments we’ll capture!
Golden Hour
Golden hour is the perfect time for breathtaking maternity photography. The soft, golden sunlight at this time of day creates a warm, dreamy atmosphere that beautifully highlights the glow of pregnancy, making your images feel magical and timeless. The natural light enhances the scenery and creates a gentle, flattering effect, resulting in stunning photos that you’ll treasure forever.
If you have other little ones, your golden hour session can seamlessly transition into a family shoot. This allows us to capture heartfelt moments between you, your partner, and your children, celebrating the love and connection within your growing family.
While golden hour typically falls later in the day and can sometimes pose a challenge for young children’s schedules, I’m here to ensure the session remains a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone. We’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable, focusing on candid and relaxed moments rather than strict poses. By keeping the atmosphere light and flexible, we’ll create beautiful memories together, with no pressure on the little ones. It’s all about capturing the joy, love, and excitement of this special chapter in your life.
Client Closet
I'm excited to offer a Client Closet that you can access for free when you book a shoot with me! It includes a wide range of beautiful, pregnancy-friendly dresses and outfits, perfect for maternity sessions or any other photoshoot. This allows you to choose stunning, curated pieces without the hassle of finding something on your own. Whether you're looking for elegance, comfort, or a bit of both, there's something in the closet for you!
1.Pick a Color Palette That Complements Your Session's Location
Start by selecting a palette of 3-4 colors as your foundation. Think in terms of tones—blues, earth tones, neutrals, pastels, etc. Each family member can express their personal style within the chosen palette while still maintaining a cohesive and well-coordinated look.
Your location plays a big role in how your images will feel, so consider the natural colors of the environment when choosing outfits.
- Spring by the Rio Grande – Soft pastels, like blush, sage, or light blue, will complement the fresh greenery and bright foliage.
- Late Summer by the Rio – The greens deepen, making earth tones such as rust, mustard, olive, and warm neutrals a great choice.
By selecting colors that work with your surroundings, your photos will feel more natural and visually harmonious!
2.Don't Match. Coordinate
Now this doesn’t mean everyone has to 100% match with khaki pants or jeans and a white shirt! You want to complement each other’s outfits by choosing colors that work well together. I find that if everyone is wearing the same clothing, people will all tend to blend in together and there won’t be too much pop and life to the images.
Muted tones look beautiful together in a family picture. When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t pull attention away from the main subjects, and only put one person in a pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, and knits.
3.Layering
One of my favorite “tips” for clothing choices! In the Summer months, this may be more difficult to pull off but during all of the other seasons, definitely layer your outfits. Not only will it provide more visual interest in each photo but it will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses. Have a ton of images of yourself in just your dress or cute top and jeans? Throw on a little sweater or jacket and a hat and you have entirely different look.
4.Be Timeless
For some fashionista’s, this may be a difficult concept, however you are going to want these images to stand the test of time. Pick outfits that aren’t considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come.
5.Plan Ahead
Planning ahead for your photoshoot ensures a stress-free and enjoyable experience for everyone involved, resulting in beautiful images you’ll cherish for years to come.
To make the process even easier, I offer a Try-On Appointment for mamas who want to take advantage of my client closet. You’re welcome to come over and try on any dresses or check out the kids’ outfits before your session. This helps you feel confident in your choices and allows time to purchase any additional pieces if needed.
Things to Avoid:
Attach photo
If you decide to treat yourself before your session, let me know! I can send you referrals to some of my favorite professional makeup artists here in El Paso.
It’s totally okay if you don’t typically wear makeup. However, to avoid shine in your photos, I recommend gently dusting some translucent powder over your face before the session.
Don’t forget about your nails! If you’re wearing open-toed shoes, this is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a pedicure. Chipped nails can be distracting in photos. If you can’t get a mani-pedi, no worries—just be sure to remove any old nail polish beforehand.
Gallery Day
After your session date you will receive your final gallery within 2-3 weeks.
You’ll be able to have access to your private online gallery and download all of your images. Your gallery has an expiration date so please make sure to download them and have them back up everywhere! This means your computer, a flash drive, a cloud storage system.
other tips:
- Before the session, talk to your kids about it. It's better not to catch them off guard. If they know what's coming, they can prepare themselves (even toddlers require some forwarding!). You can show them my photo and tell them that a silly buddy will be taking their pictures, but don't worry, they won't have to sit and smile for an hour!
- My outdoor session are usually held at sunset. Shooting around sunset creates the beautiful light you in photos. In the summer, some families' sunsets are later than others. Please consider having your child nap alter in the day or scheduling your session for sunrise.
- Arrive on time and prepared to begin your session. Because your session is timed according on the light, please factor in traffic and other things. If you need time to get your children ready or settled, arrive early to the session.
- Make sure everything is ready the night before so you aren't scrambling in the morning, you don't want to be stressed out before your session!
- Speaking of food, make sure the children are well fed, hydrated and rested before the shoot, it's also good to keep it light the morning of the shoot. You can always bring some snacks especially if we are adventuring!
