Creating your Pregnancy Photos at my East Grinstead Studio
Welcome to Sarah Fisher Photography where I offer a studio based maternity portrait service from my studio in East Grinstead, West Sussex.
A maternity or pregnancy photography session in the studio is a lovely way to capture your temporary shape and celebrate your impending new arrival and the start of your biggest adventure together.
While capturing pregnancy images is one of the newer styles of portrait photography, it has already gathered a large following over the years with lots of mums-to-be getting into the studio to create images of their bump that they can look back on and treasure long after it’s gone.
A maternity or pregnancy photography session in the studio is a lovely way to capture your temporary shape and celebrate your impending new arrival and the start of your biggest adventure together.
While capturing pregnancy images is one of the newer styles of portrait photography, it has already gathered a large following over the years with lots of mums-to-be getting into the studio to create images of their bump that they can look back on and treasure long after it’s gone.
What Kind of Photography Styles do I Offer?
As with all of my photography, I don’t limit us to one style so you can choose how you would like to capture your pregnancy memories.
- Want to celebrate your bump in all its naked glory, great – I’ll make sure you look fantastic.
- Fancy getting your partner in on the act
- Like the idea of taking clothed shots and may be incorporating some of my very cute baby props or stunning maternity dresses, that’s fine too.
- Not your first baby and you want to involve the big brothers and sisters – not a problem!
You can choose to do one of these are mix and match all of these into one great maternity portrait session.
What’s Included in your Maternity Session
This is a session where have my warm and cosy studio for an hour to create images of your pregnancy in a variety of styles to allow you to look back and remember the time just as you’d like to.
This session includes up to three outfit changes (including any underwear / partially nude photos) and different backdrop options. Your partner and any other children are welcome to be involved. You’ll have access to my specially designed photo shoot maternity gowns if you’d like to include them as well.
I recommend that you schedule this for around 28 – 36 weeks so that you are still comfortable but your bump still looks terrific.
A maternity photo shoot at my West Sussex studio includes your three favourite digital images that you can download, print and share as often as you’d like to and costs £95. You’re welcome to order more images from your private online gallery – there’s no sales meeting to attend.
Why Choose to have Pregnancy Photos?
It’s quite normal to not really think of yourself as a mother until you have your baby in your arms. But you’re already there when you’re pregnant even if it is hard to visualise a whole other person inside of you.
Maternity photography is all about celebrating the start of your motherhood journey. Even if you never show the photos to anyone else, I can almost guarantee that they will be a treasured item in your memory box to look back on as your family grows. It is also a wonderful idea to create some memories to share with your little one as they get older – showing them how you looked when they were in your tummy is a precious thing.
If you’d like to find out more about the types of maternity photography that I offer, as well as taking a browse through my Portfolio then checking out the Maternity section of my blog is a great place to start. You’ll find lots of examples of previous real life sessions and also some articles about the best ways to get ready for your pregnancy photo shoot and props you might like to bring along or borrow from my studio.
Creating memories doesn’t have to stop when your baby is born. You can always come back to the studio for a Newborn session to capture those precious early days.
Find out about my Newborn Photo Shoots
Maternity Dresses
I have a range of maternity dresses that are specially designed for photo shoots and you’re welcome to borrow them to create your images. They’re the perfect way to create timeless and elegant pregnancy portrait images with a little hint of glamour – especially my Tulle Robe! You’ll receive an options form the day before your sessions so you can let me know your choices and I’ll have it ready for you when you arrive at the studio. In the meantime, you can browse the range using the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about your maternity photo shoot? Take a look at the frequently asked questions section below. It’s packed with useful information to help you feel prepared and excited for your session, covering everything from what to wear to what to expect on the day.
Sorry but no. Obviously you can use your phone for making and receiving calls but I don’t allow any videography or photography inside the studio. If you are caught recording or photographing the session, you will be asked to leave and the session will be terminated without refund. All in all, that’s a horrible situation for us all to be in so please respect my copyright.
Any digital images that you purchase will be sized at 10×8″ at 300ppi so perfect for printing up to this size or slightly larger (you have more flexibility on size when it comes to canvases as they are printed at a lower resolution).
There’s no minimum spend or nasty pricing surprises with any of my photography.  You’ll already know the price of your photo shoot and what’s included and if you’d like to order more, you simply do so from your online gallery.
Sessions take place at my warm and cosy studio in Crawley Down, West Sussex.  You can find out more about it including the address and directions at My Studio Page.
Each of your images is edited to make sure everything looks at its very best – that’s why you have to wait a little while after your session before you see them.
I present all of your images in colour and then I’ll add in black and white copies of some that I think particularly suit it. Of course, if you’d rather have an image in black and white then just ask and I’m happy to switch it over for you.
I keep your images for 18 months following your session date and after this point, they are permanently deleted so if you are purchasing digital copies, I can’t stress enough to back them up safely.
When you buy a digital file from me, the copyright stays with me as it would with pretty much all other photographers out there. However, that’s just a legal term that I retain as the creator of the image. You’re able to print and share the image as much as you’d like to – the only things that you can’t do is sell the images or claim that you took them. Other than that, they are yours to do as you wish with.
My online gallery should be fairly familiar to you if you shop online but in case you need a bit of extra assistance, you can click on the button below to access a help document that walks you through how to access your gallery, choose your favourite images and place an order. Of course, if you are having problems, just get in touch and I’m always happy to help.
Life can be unpredictable, especially during pregnancy, so if you need to reschedule your maternity session, rest assured that I’m happy to accommodate. Whether it’s due to an unexpected change in circumstances, health concerns, or simply feeling like a different day would be better, we’ll work together to find a new date that suits you. I understand the importance of capturing this special time and will do my best to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. Just let me know as soon as possible if a change is needed, and we’ll make the necessary adjustments.
Of course, if your baby arrives before your session is booked, then you’re free to use your session at any time in your first year as a new family. Book in for a newborn session, take some time to create family portraits or even commemorate a first birthday with a cake smash – it’s totally up to you!
You need to pay for your photo shoot when you book it. If your session is more than two weeks away, then you have the option of paying a £20 deposit with the balance being due the week before your session. Otherwise the full balance is due on booking.
This is question that I get asked a lot and it’s a really tough one to answer as it depends on so many things. If I’m photographing a baby and they’re in a great mood, then you have lots of photos where if they are finding things a bit difficult then you get less. Gun to my head, if I had to offer an average image count, then I’d say that you can expect to find about forty fully edited images in your finished gallery but that can vary wildly so it’s probably not a very useful statistic for you.
Usually your photos are ready about two weeks after your photo shoot. That time can vary a little according to how busy the studio is but I will let you know when they will be ready at your session.
Each of your images is professionally edited and so there will be a bit of a delay before you can see your images while I get everything ready for you. This can vary according to a number of factors but generally, it’s about a two week wait before your images are uploaded to your private online gallery. I’ll be able to advise you better on exact waiting times at your session.
About two weeks after your session, I’ll have your images edited and uploaded to your private online gallery. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend. I’ll email you a link and a password and that will take you straight to your finished images.
I believe in complete transparency when it comes to pricing so you won’t get any nasty surprises. You’ll already know what your session fee includes in terms of images, and you can simply order more from your online gallery if you’d like to – there’s no sales or viewing session to attend.
Here are the prices for additional digital images and prints.Â
Absolutely! You’re welcome to include your partner and any children in your photo shoot. If you have small children though, I’d definitely recommend bringing along another adult so you can focus on enjoying your session when it is time for you to pose solo.
My studio is really flexible and I have lots of different backdrops and lighting options to choose from. They’re very easy to switch between so we can simply create lots of different styles of images for you within one session – I recommend choosing three (you’ll be able to do this from your options form the day before your visit) to create a beautifully varied image gallery.
When deciding what to wear for your maternity photo shoot, the most important thing is to choose outfits that make you feel comfortable and confident. Clothes from home, like a well-fitted dress, a cosy cardigan, or a pair of maternity jeans paired with a simple top, can be perfect for creating a natural and personal look. Fabrics that flow or cling to your bump, like soft knits or stretchy materials, photograph beautifully. Consider solid colours or subtle patterns to avoid distractions from the focus of the photos—your baby bump. If you’re including your partner or children in the session, coordinating but not matching outfits can add harmony to the images.
In addition to your own wardrobe, I offer a range of stunning maternity gowns designed specifically for photo shoots. These dresses are specially designed and crafted to highlight your silhouette while providing a touch of elegance and drama. From soft, flowing chiffon gowns to figure-hugging lace designs, there’s a style to suit every taste. My studio collection includes a variety of colours and textures to ensure we can create the look you want for your portraits. You’ll be able to browse the selection online and select any that you want to include when you receive your options form the day before your session so they’ll be ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
My studio is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
There are three types of maternity photo shoot for you to choose from.
- Mini Maternity Shoot – including a single outfit and backdrop and focusing on the mother-to-be only. Includes one digital image £45
- Full Maternity Shoot – includes three outfits and backdrops and can also include partner and other children. Includes three digital images £95
- Progressions Maternity Shoot – a series of maternity shoots designed to create a single piece of artwork at the end of it to showcase your pregnancy journey. Includes the sessions and the finished artwork as a large, print resolution file £195
For a Maternity Mini Session, we book the studio for half an hour and for a Full Maternity Session, we have an hour. Generally speaking though, we’ll only be shooting for part of this time, which allows us to take things at a relaxed pace.
I have a small range of props and accessories that you are welcome to borrow in incorporate into your session. You can find out more about them here.Â
You should wear whatever you would like to be photographed and, depending on the type of maternity session that you have booked, we may have time for several outfit changes during your session. I also have some maternity dresses that you are welcome to borrow. I recommend an outfit that clings to your bumps so you can show it off, jeans and shirt that buttons at the front is also a great classic combo. If you’re having lingerie images then great fitting matching underwear is perfect. It’s a great idea before your session to wear loose clothing that doesn’t leave any marks on your skin.
I have a range of maternity dresses that you are welcome to use as part of your maternity photo shoot. They are especially designed for photo shoots to be super flattering and create some lovely silhouettes in both lace and sheer fabrics. You will receive an options form the day before your session that will allow you to view the range and select a dress / dresses to include.
It’s difficult to answer this because airbrushing means different things to different people. I edit each image to make sure it’s looking it absolute best and I’ll remove any temporary blemishes like scratches, marks or spots. I don’t remove any birthmarks of anything that is part of your because that’s who you are, I don’t digitally enhance your body shape (we’ll sure as heck be using flattering posing and lighting though) or change the contours of your face. That’s not what I’m about and you’re perfect as you are.
Absolutely. You don’t need to have any experience to get amazing maternity images, I will guide you through exactly what to do at your photo shoot so you just need to turn up and be yourself.
At your session, I will check with you if it is OK to use some images from your session as part of my social media, website and portfolio. There’s absolutely no pressure there and, even if you give me permission, I would never use any partially nude or nude ones unless you expressly tell me that I can. If you don’t want any images to be shared, then they will only be uploaded to your private gallery for you to view, stored in a secure digital environment and then permanently deleted after 18 months.
Photo shoots take place at my warm and welcoming studio in Crawley Down, West Sussex.  Here’s how to get to it.
I edit each of your images and I will remove any stretchmarks or temporary blemishes unless you ask me to leave them in (some folk like to see their tiger stripes). I’ll check what you would like at the end of your session.
Absolutely not. Lots of people choose to be photographed in their lingerie or partially nude and these can be some stunning maternity images. However, if that’s not for you, then that’s not an issue. We can create some equally beautiful images of your pregnancy whilst you’re fully clothed.
I will edit each of your images in your finished gallery to show you off to as your best self.  As well as refining each image, I’ll also remove temporary blemishes and also stretchmarks if you would like me to, I’ll ask you what you would like at the end of your session.
Absolutely, you should bring along anything you love to photographed in and to include in your finished images.
You don’t need to do anything special to get ready for your photo shoot as you’ll already be glowing. However, a gentle exfoliation and lots of moisturiser the day before are a great way to get your skin camera ready and you’ll want your hands to be looking their best as they’ll definitely be featured on your bump.
It’s a good idea to bring along a few outfits, one that is clingy that shows off your bump, and maybe one flowing one too – although I do have maternity dresses that you are welcome to borrow. A front buttoning shirt and jeans make a great combination along with a skirt and camisole tops. If you’re planning on being photographed in your underwear then bring along a well fitting matching set. You are welcome to bring along any accessories that you’d like to include such as first toys, first blankets, scan pictures or baby bootees.
I recommend booking your maternity photo shoot when you are between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant or before 32 weeks if you are expecting a multiple birth. That way, you will still have a nice rounded belly and you won’t be too uncomfortable. You also don’t run the risk of missing the opportunity to have a photo shoot if your baby makes an early arrival.
Recent Blog Posts
Looking for ideas and inspiration for your maternity photo shoot? Explore my recent blog posts, where I share tips on styling, preparation, and behind-the-scenes stories from the studio. It’s the perfect place to find guidance and spark ideas for creating beautiful memories of your pregnancy journey.
Preparing for Your Maternity Photo Shoot: Everything You Need to Know
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