How to Take Flattering Maternity Photos
I am currently 39 weeks pregnant. For the past three months or so however, I have been feeling more and more like a beached whale at low tide. My clothes don’t fit, I have a bit of a waddle in my step and I can no longer bend down to pick things up off the floor. I know how completely lucky I am to have conceived a healthy child and this is definitely my last pregnancy so I’m trying hard to suck it up and paste a smile on my ever-broadening face. My brightness fades, however, when the woman at the market quips, “WOW! Are you sure you’re not having twins??” Not two minutes later, the guy at Home Depot says, “You still haven’t had that baby yet? You’re enormous!” These little comments really start to dig in after a while. So much so, that I finally broke down and did some scraptherapy with a page (using the Snail Mail kit by Valorie Wibbens and Splendid Fiins):
That helped me feel less like socking someone in the mouth.
But I digress.
Even though I was not feeling my most beautiful, I wanted to document my body, as this would (hopefully) be the last time I would be sporting a tummy of this grand magnitude. It was tricky to use a tripod but after a half a day of shooting, I got some photos that don’t make me wince. As a photographer, I’m always looking for poses and set ups that help to capture the glow of an expecting mother, without emphasizing the parts (like labor) that she’d rather forget when all is said and done. Here are four simple tips I’ve picked up along the way that might help you with any maternity photos you might eventually be taking, along with example photos of me and some of the lovely moms to be that I’ve met over the years:
1. Forget the flash
This is my policy for all photos, actually but it’s especially relevant when it comes to the pregnant body. Flash can wash out the skin, make the face unnecessarily shiny and create an overall flat look which is not flattering. Put the subject next to a window or door that has nice bright (but not direct) sunlight for a much more natural light that will pick up her glow. Outside shots work well, too.
2. Wrap and drape
Many times, a long piece of jersey knit or a scarf is all you need to create a discreet way to cover the less important parts while exposing the lovely parts. Ditto for a long, interesting necklace.
3. Posing and positioning is absolutely key
You can have the most flattering light and beautiful, flowing fabric but if your subject is standing head-on to the camera, you are almost guaranteed a cringe-worthy photo. Here are some posing tips: Shoot your subject standing at an angle or side-view. Make sure she’s doing something with her hand(s)– touching the belly is the universal sign of pregnancy. Have her lift the heel and bend the knee slightly on the leg closest to the camera. Even better, have her point her toe out in the general direction of the camera (Check out the iphone photo my husband took of me just two weeks ago. I felt huge that day, but the simple elongated leg and side view makes me look a little less so.)
4. Her gaze guides the viewer’s focus
Your subject does not need to be looking at the camera–quite the contrary. There is something so magical about the way a pregnant mom gazes at her developing belly. Her gaze will direct the viewer to look at whatever it is she’s looking at. This is also key to helping nervous husbands and partners feel at ease in front of the camera. Smiling at your unborn child produces a much more genuine grin than a posed smile ever will! It is, however, a good idea to get a few shots of her looking directly into the camera– combined with a gentle smile she can look like she’s up to something…
That’s it! Those are the four most important tips I know for taking flattering maternity photos. Good luck and have fun! Meanwhile, I’m actually in the hospital right now, starting the labor process today. (For those of you who might think I’m some kind of a bad a$$, I wrote this post last Thursday and scheduled it to run today– tee hee.) Wish me luck!
Happy shooting!
All the best,
Polly Liana (aka Yellowpeep)
