Pregnancy is a beautiful time in a woman’s life; whether she’s feeling the glow of impending motherhood or just struggling to keep her head above the toilet most mornings, the months leading up to birth show us how truly magical the female body is in all that it can do to bring life into this world. Moments like this should be captured – and captured well – in every small detail and beautiful angle.
The goal of a professional maternity photographer is to create a truly unique experience in which the mother-to-be feels comfortable, relaxed, beautiful, pampered and empowered from the moment she enters the studio. Your professional photographer should guide you every step of the way.
1. Pamper Yourself
What woman doesn’t feel sexy after being all done-up? A maternity session is more than just a photo shoot. It is a day of well-deserved pampering that should include a manicure, hair styling, and professional makeup session. At Lola Melani Photography, we bring in our world class beauty team from Paul Labrecque to truly complete the experience. Planning a romantic lunch or dinner date with your partner after the session is the perfect way to enhance and sustain the significance of your photo shoot experience.
2. Natural is Sexy
An overall natural look is best for this kind of shoot. I recommend soft waves for the hair and light daytime makeup with an even skin tone and accented eyes and cheekbones. I encourage my clients to wear false but natural looking eyelashes; the curve of the eyelashes helps to create a gorgeous, feminine silhouette. I recommend using individual eyelashes so that they look more natural even in daylight photography.
3. The Power of the Wardrobe
Whatever your style and preferences, there are plenty of options for clothing choice and types of poses during your photo shoot. Some pregnant mothers choose to fully embrace their changing bodies and capture tasteful, artistic nude or semi-nude portraits, while others opt for more modest, fully clothed shots and/or outfits that accentuate their exposed belly. Choose whatever makes you feel your very best.
Your maternity session is the perfect excuse to shop for a few outfits that hug and complement your beautiful pregnancy curves. I recommend bringing at least one black dress to wear for the silhouette shot and another dress in cream or white for the more ethereal, dreamy, and soft portraits. Along with form-fitting dresses, flowing maxi dresses are also recommended.
Another practical, yet lovely option, is to buy a long “infinity” dress. Draped in many different styles from strapless to halter, they can be a great option for elegantly clothed portraits. There are several vendors on etsy.com that specialize in beautiful custom maternity dresses created specifically for maternity shoots. If you’re looking for other fabrics, I also recommend sheer, lace, and natural silks and chiffon. Don’t be afraid to add a splash of color – and bring a few accessories!
My best advice is to find the photographer whose style you love the best and with whom you connect the most. Remember, the task of your photographer is not simply to take flattering images, but to provide an unforgettable experience and ambiance of relaxation and comfort in which you feel pampered, beautiful, and most importantly, sexy.
I believe that the most important advice I can offer is to understand that the goal of your photography experience is to celebrate YOU, the miraculous life within you, and capture, in portraits, the essence of your beauty and emotions as you await the birth of the greatest gift you will ever receive.
Looking for Un-Maternity Wear?
If you need to add some maternity clothing to your wardrobe, but don’t want to spend money on pieces you’ll only wear for a short period of time, then head on over to Melody Lane for the best in regular clothing that is versatile enough to wear before, during, and after pregnancy! They offer trendy, classic, and comfortable clothing that is hand-picked for all the life stages women usually experience. With nothing over $100, always free shipping, and new styles featured every season, Melody Lane makes sure your “fashion meets life”.
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Meet Lola Melani, Professional Maternity and Newborn Photographer
Lola Melani is an admired New York City based photographer who creates enduring art to last a lifetime. Opening her studio with the belief that every woman deserves to have timeless portraits of herself, Lola has built a loyal clientele by providing an intimate experience during her shoots and captivating each woman’s unique beauty in every image. After growing up in Russia, Lola came to the U.S. to study at the University of New Orleans where she obtained her MBA. She quickly discovered that corporate office life wasn’t for her and went on to uncover her passion for art and photography. She began experimenting at home and used any free time to educate herself about photography, traveling several times to NYC to take courses in fashion photography from ICP. Realizing that New Orleans wasn’t going to provide her the same opportunities, Lola made the move to New York City. For over a decade since, Lola has been photographing women and celebrity clients by incorporating a simple, intimate focus into her work. Lola established her career with a focus on maternity and newborn photography, and she has most recently introduced boudoir portraits with Privé by Lola Melani. Her photography style blends editorial, fashion and fine art portraits as her signature staple.
Photo credits: Lola Melani Photography, Caroline Veronez on Unsplash
