Every photo shoot is a little bit different but I thought it might be helpful to walk you through what to expect when you get to the studio, especially if you’re feeling a few nerves about booking a pregnancy shoot.

When you arrive at the studio, I’ll meet you at your car and we’ll take the short walk up the pathway to the studio. My studio is tucked away in my garden so there’s no-one who will be looking in or disturbing us.

When we get into the studio, we’ll take a few minutes to hang up any clothes you have and look at accessories that you’ve brought along to include.  You’ll already have completed your options form the day before your session so, if you selected any of my maternity dresses, they’ll be ready and waiting for you along with any other backdrops, props and accessories that you’ve asked for.

We’ll have a quick chat through the images that you’d like to create along with how nude you’d like to be in your session – so whether you’d like to stay fully clothed, show a bare bump, do underwear or partially nude shots.  There’s never any pressure from me to pick any particular option, it’s just so I understand how to structure your photo shoot and to make sure you get exactly the images that you’re going to treasure.

What’s quite common is that mums-to-be come along with half an idea that they’d like to do some underwear shots but not quite sure if they’re going to be feeling ‘brave’ enough.  What I’d say here is, if you’re feeling this way, then bring along the underwear that you’d like to be photographed in and see how you feel. It sounds like a line but, you’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll feel comfortable in the studio and the idea of doing underwear images won’t feel scary at all.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone decide against it once the session has started and I never put any pressure on.  It’s best to have what you need so you can make the most of the opportunity if you’d like to than to go home and regret missing the chance.

Once we’ve ironed out what you’d like to do then it’s time to start the session. Even if you’re planning to create nude images, we start fully clothed so you’ll begin in your favourite maternity dress or outfit.  The most important thing to know going into your session is that it will be run entirely according to your comfort – from the pace, the posing options to the studio temperature, it’s all about you having as much fun as possible.

My studio is divided into two halves – one white and one dark. If you’ve decided to create images in both (and that’s totally fine), we’ll usually start on the white side.  We start on the white side which is perfect for creating light, airy, bright and colourful images.  You don’t need to worry about not knowing how to pose for the camera – I’m going to guide you through absolutely everything you need to create a beautiful gallery of images that show off your shape and the exciting journey you’re going through.

Once we’re done here, we’ll swap backdrops and outfits and, if you’ve selected it, we’ll cross the studio to the ‘dark side’.  This is where we’ll be likely to do underwear or partially nude shots as it is specially designed to be lit to highlight your shape and let everything else fade into darkness.  hThe wallpaper here is a classy black on black damask and the light is much more focused so it’s ideal for highlighting your shape and letting everything else fade into darkness.  I never create any images that show nipples or the pubic area so, although you may be nude in the studio, your modesty will be protected in the finished pictures.  It’s also important to know that, even if you select to let me use an image from your session in my portfolio, I’ll never use anything naked unless you’ve expressly said you’d like me to.

When you’re all done with creating your images, you’ll get packed up and ready to leave. We’ll have a quick chat about how long it will be fore you see your finished pictures and the level of editing that you’d like. For example, if you have any stretchmarks, whether you would like them removed in the finished product.  Generally people do ask to have them taken out but whatever your choice is, is good with me.

Then it’s time to head back to your car and get you on your way so you can start looking forward to seeing your gallery.

As soon as your pictures are ready, I’ll upload them to your private gallery and send you the link and password.  You simply follow the link, and put in the password and you’ll be taken straight to your gallery.

To select the three images that are part of your package, you add them to your favourites list and choose ‘Share with Photographer’ when you are done deciding.  I’ll upload them at print resolution (10×8″ 300ppi) and send you a new code to allow you to download them.

If you’d like to order any more images, then you do that directly from your gallery.  There’s a little shopping cart in the top right hand corner of each image in gallery view or a text link above the image if you are looking at them individually.  Clicking on either of these will bring up the price list and allow you to add items to your shopping cart before checking out. I accept bank transfer and credit / debit cards payments via PayPal (you don’t need to have an account in order to use this facility).

So that’s a walk through of a typical maternity photo shoot session.  Of course, just get in touch if you have any other questions and I’m always happy to help.

When you arrive at the studio, I’ll meet you at your car and we’ll take the short walk up the pathway to the studio. My studio is tucked away in my garden so there’s no-one who will be looking in or disturbing us.

When we get into the studio, we’ll take a few minutes to hang up any clothes you have and look at accessories that you’ve brought along to include.  You’ll already have completed your options form the day before your session so, if you selected any of my maternity dresses, they’ll be ready and waiting for you along with any other backdrops, props and accessories that you’ve asked for.

We’ll have a quick chat through the images that you’d like to create along with how nude you’d like to be in your session – so whether you’d like to stay fully clothed, show a bare bump, do underwear or partially nude shots.  There’s never any pressure from me to pick any particular option, it’s just so I understand how to structure your photo shoot and to make sure you get exactly the images that you’re going to treasure.

What’s quite common is that mums-to-be come along with half an idea that they’d like to do some underwear shots but not quite sure if they’re going to be feeling ‘brave’ enough.  What I’d say here is, if you’re feeling this way, then bring along the underwear that you’d like to be photographed in and see how you feel. It sounds like a line but, you’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll feel comfortable in the studio and the idea of doing underwear images won’t feel scary at all.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone decide against it once the session has started and I never put any pressure on.  It’s best to have what you need so you can make the most of the opportunity if you’d like to than to go home and regret missing the chance.

Once we’ve ironed out what you’d like to do then it’s time to start the session. Even if you’re planning to create nude images, we start fully clothed so you’ll begin in your favourite maternity dress or outfit.  The most important thing to know going into your session is that it will be run entirely according to your comfort – from the pace, the posing options to the studio temperature, it’s all about you having as much fun as possible.

My studio is divided into two halves – one white and one dark. If you’ve decided to create images in both (and that’s totally fine), we’ll usually start on the white side.  We start on the white side which is perfect for creating light, airy, bright and colourful images.  You don’t need to worry about not knowing how to pose for the camera – I’m going to guide you through absolutely everything you need to create a beautiful gallery of images that show off your shape and the exciting journey you’re going through.

Once we’re done here, we’ll swap backdrops and outfits and, if you’ve selected it, we’ll cross the studio to the ‘dark side’.  This is where we’ll be likely to do underwear or partially nude shots as it is specially designed to be lit to highlight your shape and let everything else fade into darkness.  hThe wallpaper here is a classy black on black damask and the light is much more focused so it’s ideal for highlighting your shape and letting everything else fade into darkness.  I never create any images that show nipples or the pubic area so, although you may be nude in the studio, your modesty will be protected in the finished pictures.  It’s also important to know that, even if you select to let me use an image from your session in my portfolio, I’ll never use anything naked unless you’ve expressly said you’d like me to.

When you’re all done with creating your images, you’ll get packed up and ready to leave. We’ll have a quick chat about how long it will be fore you see your finished pictures and the level of editing that you’d like. For example, if you have any stretchmarks, whether you would like them removed in the finished product.  Generally people do ask to have them taken out but whatever your choice is, is good with me.

I’ll also get you to sign my consent form.  It asks four questions.  Firstly whether I have your consent to take your images and then whether I have your consent to store them in a secure digital environment for a period of up to 18 months.  I definitely need your permission for both of these but I guess otherwise you wouldn’t be coming to visit.  The next two questions are whether you’d like to sign up to my mailing list (I send out emails about special events about four or five times a year) and whether it’s OK for me to use up to three images for my blog, social media, and portfolio.  Obviously both of these are entirely optional but just to reassure you that, even if you do give me permission to use your images, I’d never use nude / partially nude ones unless you’ve expressly given me permission to.

Then it’s time to head back to your car and get you on your way so you can start looking forward to seeing your gallery.

As soon as your pictures are ready, I’ll upload them to your private gallery and send you the link and password.  You simply follow the link, and put in the password and you’ll be taken straight to your gallery.

To select the three images that are part of your package, you add them to your favourites list and choose ‘Share with Photographer’ when you are done deciding.  I’ll upload them at print resolution (10×8″ 300ppi) and send you a new code to allow you to download them.

If you’d like to order any more images, then you do that directly from your gallery.  There’s a little shopping cart in the top right hand corner of each image in gallery view or a text link above the image if you are looking at them individually.  Clicking on either of these will bring up the price list and allow you to add items to your shopping cart before checking out. I accept bank transfer and credit / debit cards payments via PayPal (you don’t need to have an account in order to use this facility).

So that’s a walk through of a typical maternity photo shoot session.  Of course, just get in touch if you have any other questions and I’m always happy to help.