What to Expect From a Maternity Session With a Gold Coast Family Photographer
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I am so very excited for you! This blog post is all about what to expect from a maternity session with a Gold Coast Photographer. Growing up here on the Gold Coast, I am fortunate to know all the beautiful locations where we can hold your dream maternity session. I have been a Gold Coast photographer for the past 11 years and have plenty of experience in capturing this milestone moment for you. As you scroll down, I will be sharing what we do before each session, when the best time to book your session is, the day of the session and how best to prepare for your dream maternity shoot.
What to Expect From a Maternity Session With a Gold Coast Family Photographer
Before the Session
Before we book your session, I love to have a chat with you either via a phone call or through email to discuss what you envision for this moment. We discuss the mood, location choices, when roughly you would like to have your session, what you would like to wear and if you have any inspo pics you would like to match the vibe of.
When to book your maternity shoot
So, when is the right time to book your session? Well, really anytime, depending on what you want to capture. If you want to do a pregnancy announcement session, we do this early. A gender reveal can be done anytime after 12 weeks. If you want to capture the magic of your bump, I usually suggest 28 - 33 weeks.
Planning the session (location, timing, styling)
Choosing your location can be done before or after booking your session. We try to match the vibe/ light you want for your photos to a location and time. Say you would like to be surrounded by nature with beautiful golden light shining through. I would then pick Long Tan Park at Currumbin around 3/2 hours before sunset so that the light is still shining through the trees. If you would like soft, dreamy, golden light, then sunrise is always a great choice. I am here to help bring your vision to life. If you want a whole bunch of flowers, we can arrange stunning florals. I have a wide variety of maternity gowns for you to wear if you like, and many props that we can incorporate into the session.
How your Gold Coast family photographer guides you
Every session is guided by me; I sometimes have clients who know exactly what they want and will organise everything for themselves. However, the majority of the time, I will be by your side, helping you choose the location, advising you on the best time, and organising the styling of the session. If the weather changes, I will contact you and provide the best advice to help you decide whether to proceed or postpone the session. I am available Monday - Friday every week before our session to answer any questions you may have about the day.
What to Expect From a Maternity Session With a Gold Coast Family Photographer
On the Day
Relaxed, gentle pacing of the session
I never pick up my camera straight away when meeting you and starting the session, I like to check in with you and see how you are feeling. First, I will run through my ideas and where I would like to start the session and where we will finish. This gives you a guideline of the session and eases you into it. I never want you to feel rushed; each prompt and each spot will be guided by me slowly.
Posing guidance that feels natural
Most of my posing is more like prompts; I will prompt you to touch each other’s faces or to rub your bump. This adds movement and natural behaviours into a session that make it real instead of poses that feel stiff and awkward. I also like to ask you questions in the session to bring out natural smiles and giggles. Movement in sessions helps to make that feeling of being awkward in front of the camera disappear with a walk, spin or chasing each other. If you are coming solo, I will prompt you to move from side to side, reach up into the sky and many other prompts to make you feel like a natural in front of the camera.
Including partners and children
Partners and children bring a whole new vibe to your maternity session. They bring fun, laughter and a whole bunch of smiles. Even if you do bring along the rest of your family, I will still make sure you get some solo shots of you and your newest bundle of joy you are carrying. With kids, we will start them in the session straight away so we have their full attention, think cuddles, tickles and fart sounds. We will try to get them to kiss the bump, but not force them to do anything they don’t want to do. Partners are wonderful to invite into shoots as they bring the love, the love you have for one another, and the new life you are about to bring into the world.
What to Expect From a Maternity Session With a Gold Coast Family Photographer
During the Shoot
Focus on connection and emotion
Photos are more than just capturing the “perfect shot”; they are about telling a story. My sessions focus on photographing moments, telling stories and capturing connection and emotions. At times during the session, I will most likely be quiet, and you’ll be wondering what to do next. But the thing is, I don’t want you to do anything; everything you are doing in that moment is being natural. Showing me how you naturally are, this is when those candid moments shine through the most. Emotions and connections become photos through these candid times during a session where I’m not prompting you; your personalities are starting to come out in the most beautiful ways.
Breaks, movement, and comfort
During the session, I’ll ask and make sure you are feeling okay, if you need any breaks and if you are feeling comfortable. It is really important to me that you are feeling good and comfortable in prompts and positions during the session. Taking breaks is perfectly okay; it allows you to breathe and come back to yourself, and lets your body relax if needed. Also, snacks are a great excuse for a break.
What if you feel awkward? (Totally normal)
Every session starts off with my clients telling me that they are awkward in front of the camera. It’s only natural to feel this way and know you aren’t alone in this feeling. And the truth is, you will feel awkward at the start; it’s only normal. But trust me when I say that as the session goes on, you will feel it less and start to enjoy it. My goal is for you to forget that the camera isn’t even there, and you are just naturally yourself.
What to Expect From a Maternity Session With a Gold Coast Family Photographer
After the Session
Image selection and delivery
Galleries are on average ready between 2 - 3 weeks, and can be a little quicker or a little later depending on the photo season at that time. Either way, you will be notified if this is the case. I do try to deliver 2-3 sneak peeks from your session within 48 hours as well. Depending on which packages you have choosen will determine the image selection. If your package includes all the images, they will be available for immediate download. If you have chosen 9 or 16 images, these will be available to you to download after you have selected them to keep. You’ll receive an email to download those images. Full gallery upgrades are available after the session, too.
Prints and keepsakes
Attached to your gallery is a print shop. This allows you to print and create keepsakes of high quality straight from your gallery. This print shop is via a reputable print company in Melbourne, and they deliver straight to your door. If you are looking for other print options, you can download the high-resolution images and use a local print company. I do reccomend not going to places like kmart, officeworks or Big W to print images as they can reduce the quality of photos and the colours can change in the printing process.
As a Gold Coast Family Photographer who has over 11 years of experience, I run my sessions to be stress-free and relaxed while capturing beautiful, candid moments that you'll be able to look back on and cherish forever. Being pregnant is such a beautiful experience and is only for a limited time. Everyone I know is so grateful that they got to capture this moment professionally.
If you are ready to capture this super special moment in your life, head over to my investments page and take a look at my packages or go straight to the contact me form, and we can get you booked in!