Doing your own Maternity Portraits during COVID-19
During this pandemic, a lot of you are making significant sacrifices, and one of those things being your memories. For some, Maternity portraits are not significant, but for me, and many others, having these memories are a must.
Over the past few weeks, it’s been heartbreaking not knowing when we will have the studio open and be able to photograph our beautiful and deserving clients. I wanted to do something to help, and created this guide. There is only a few poses here, and I would urge you to look into this well priced pdf from another local photographer, Chelsea Bootsman, if you’d like to expand more posing. CLICK HERE for the guide.
Location: It’s important that right now you do these in your home near a well lit window, your backyard, or at a open field area behind your house where you can practice proper social distancing with anyone walking by.
Clothing: Now I don’t know anyone that can open their closest and pull out a maternity gown, unless you are me haha. What I am suggesting is you decide to do 1 of 2 things, order 1 online if you have time, or 2 make do with what you have. Do you want something fitted, or something with a little more flow? Once you’ve decided you can dress accordingly. Here are a few casual outfit ideas. Remember a cardigan, or jean jacket can switch up the feel super easily. Do some with and with out.
Side Pose
Picture A
Picture B
This pose is going to be the one to start with as I always can get a few different angles and shots from this. Start with your body facing the camera.
You will want to pop you left or right leg depending on which way you’d like to side to. For this example, lets say your left leg.
You will then turn your body to the right about 75 degrees with your left legged continued to pop.
Then you will place your left arm along side your bottom with your hand cupping your underbelly. The other hand will rest on your belly.
Play with crops. Have your camera man (your partner or someone in your home) take a full image (Picture B), a 3/4th like in the picture above (Picture A) and then a closer up one about 2/3. Cut off just below the belly. Careful not to crop out hands!
TIP: Play with where you direct your head. Looking down at your belly, off to the side, and directly at the camera. Change your hand placement along with this for a totally different pose!
The Bump
This might seem pretty obvious, but get a shot of your belly! Take a few from above with your hands situated how I mentioned above.
I personally love seeing engagement rings, wedding rings etc in this shot.
Try setting up your camera, or phone in a way you can have your partners hands in the image as well.
Add in siblings, have them sit on your belly, or kiss your belly.
Casual Poses
This pose is pretty open for interpretations because it can be anything from dancing, spinning around, walking, bumping hips.. anything that feels natural. To add a little flare, grab the dress along the side and bring it back and forth, laugh, look straight at the camera, your partner, or your bump. This will feel a bit funny at first, well actually it will all feel a bit funny well doing it, but I promise it will be worth it.
Final Notes
You will have a bunch of photos, and you will have lots of fun doing these. If you were booked in with a photographer, reach out to them, and I am willing to bet they will edit your images for you, I know I will. If you are still having difficulty, I will gladly get on the phone/facetime, and talk you and your partner through the photos. I’ve added some more photos for inspiration.
