Maternity photography tips from Aylesbury Photographer

Pregnancy cannot be compared to anything else. To feel that small life, moving and growing within, and know that it is completely dependent on you to continue its journey to birth, is something beyond incredible. 

The beauty of life is what I feel passionate about; it is a living miracle.

If you are due a baby during lockdown, I’m sure you never expected to spend your last few weeks of pregnancy like this. Maternity leave should be a time of enjoying those last few weeks with feet up, Netflix, a never ending supply of tea, and savouring the peace. However, when you are forced with that option, it somehow reduces the affect it should be having, and it’s probably taken reluctantly and begrudging; I know that I relish opportunities of quiet at home, but now I have to be home – those feelings aren’t quite the same.

I’m fortunate to live in a place surrounded by gorgeous countryside; Buckinghamshire. I encourage you to take your permitted daily exercise and go out on a walk, and you could capture some stunning photos of your bump to remember a time of peaceful quiet walks.

Pregnancy is such a special time. I value these moments in life, and this is what I want to preserve as a photographer. I want to photograph momentous events in life; pregnancy, birth, newborn babies. Your body is carrying a precious life. I urge you to take some photos to remember this time. I’m incredibly sad that I can’t do it in person for you, to be trusted to share this chapter of your life, but I can be here to guide you.

So these are some pregnancy photography tips I can share with you:

What camera to use

You don’t have to own a professional DSLR. This is about capturing beautiful moments for yourself, not about it being of professional quality. I use a Nikon D800 which I love, but feel free to use any camera – this could be your phone, a camera you use for holidays, or maybe you do have a DSLR that’s been waiting to be picked up.

Find somewhere with good light

You can use outside, but avoid the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest and not the best light. An hour or so before the sun sets is a gorgeous time. Use light to accent your shape.

Or inside, you can face a window or have a window light behind you for some beautiful silhouette shots.

Use any colour wall or pop up some material as a backdrop and face the light.  I have some backlight on this one too, but the main focus is the light on the front of bump.

If you have a timer on your camera you could stand with a window behind you and make some beautiful silhouette images. You can also do this of just Mum and bump as a side profile, but it is nice to have both parents in if possible.

What to wear

Wearing something tight fitting will help to accent your shape. You can choose to show bare skin of your bump and some matching simple underwear, or use material if you are feeling particularly creative. I photograph a lot of bare bump images in my Aylesbury photography studio, but I can appreciate you may feel more comfortable fully clothed as you try out photographing your bump with these tips. This is all about photos of your bump which is home to your baby during pregnancy. Do what you feel comfortable with.

Using props or involving siblings 

If you have baby booties, a little hat, fake flowers, you can add these into the image by holding them on top of or next to bump. You can see ways of using props from pregnancy sessions on my facebook page – click here. Using scan photos can be a beautiful way to see baby and document a growing bump. You can do this of just mum holding scan photos by bump, or with a timer and involve dad too.

Sibling shots are gorgeous. Have big brothers or sisters kiss bump, or read a story to bump with them, or just cover your bump with hands. All hands on deck!

Getting the best angle 

I’m just going to touch briefly on this. Try photographing slightly higher, or stand on a chair. Mum’s – you don’t have to look straight at the camera all the time, enjoy the time with bump, look down at bump, look away into the distance so you aren’t worrying about a camera. Forget about the camera and let yourself just spend quiet time with your baby bump.

The rule of thirds

How you compose the frame can really help when considering it with the rule of thirds. (you probably do this naturally already when taking any image!) You don’t have to place Mum central in every image. Think about 3 parts to the image, and try out placing Mum in 1/3 of the frame, and a blank area in 2/3’s, or fill 2/3’s of the frame with bump, leaving 1/3 empty. This is just to help you think about how much your subject fills the frame.

I hope this blog has been helpful to you to try your own pregnancy photos during your maternity at home. If I can help you with anything, please do message me, kelly@kellybond.com

I would love to be part of your journey of pregnancy and birth, even if that is an online experience. I am missing meeting and chatting with Mum’s about their soon to be arrivals, missing capturing that time of life. I love talking about pregnancy, birth and babies and will do so at every opportunity! So please, do message me to say hi.

I am offering an editing service to help you enhance your DIY maternity photos using my pregnancy photography tips and will be posting examples on a blog soon. I have some waiting in my inbox and they are on my to do list.

I would love to see your photos!
Stay safe everyone and have a fun time photographing.
Kelly xx

More places you can view my work:
www.facebook.com/kellybondphotography
www.instagram.com/kellybondphotography