During my first two pregnancies I had a hard time fully embracing the bump. I’d see photos of myself and nit-pick. Too much of this or that + hormones = tears. This time I’ve made a conscious effort to just set the negative aside. Suck it up and be brave, I told myself. There are lots of unattractive and uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy, but what’s the point in dwelling on them, right? Not long after I’d had each of the girls I wished I’d done a better job of capturing the pregnancy with a maternity shoot- or asked someone to help. I wasn’t ever sure we’d decide to have a third child, but when I found myself there again – this time around – I knew the perfect someone who could help.
Photo sessions don’t come naturally to most folks, me included. In my experience a glass of wine (or a shot of something stronger) makes for more relaxed photos, but that’s not always practical… or medically advisable. Thank goodness for Maggie! She was eager to help, knew exactly where we should go to find great light and atmosphere and kept me relaaaaaxed. At about 30 weeks, just before our move, we went to a nearby Savage Mill, MD studio.
I know Maggie well enough and also know her style from her gallery well enough to be sure that she’d help me get the light and happy images I wanted. I was comfortable saying “Umm, Maggie, no way in hell are we snapping any part of me naked, mmmkay?” And she laughed and agreed. I’ve met other photographers who are so set on their own vision for a project that they can’t hear feedback. Or have a rigid set of poses they set up without input. For something as personal as a maternity session, that’s painful. Maggie had already “shot” Adrianna and I last summer, and it had felt easy and fun. It was easy to hire her again.
In just an hour in the studio, we got lots of images I love. Even on the morning of the shoot as I was rushing to grab what I thought I might want to have with me, I had to consciously say “yes, you have a million other things to do right now, but you’ll be glad you did this later”. And I am.
A fun related note about Maggie – at the same time that I moved south, so did she! She’s now living and working in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. The drive between our houses is a good bit farther now than the 3 minutes previously required, but she’s still kind of a neighbor! I’m so grateful for that.
If I rank-ordered them, this shot is high on my list.
We fit a lot of wardrobe and scene changes into an hour!
I was glad to get my Maternity Countdown Tee into the shoot. Miranda Anderson, countdown tee maker and seller, is working on her own baby girl countdown now!
Most of my regular maternity wear for this pregnancy has included stripes, and I think these striped tee plus top knot pics are my favorites.
You know, because I sit cross-legged on the floor all the time lately. Well, I probably should. More yoga would be good.
Sharing these is almost as hard as taking them. I still see the sorts of flaws that we notice about ourselves that others probably wouldn’t unless we pointed them out. And others probably see things I haven’t noticed! But my purpose in sharing them is to say: Be brave! It’s not east to be in front of the camera, but it’s worth capturing fleeting moments. I’m so glad I did. Thanks, Maggie, for helping finally make these happen!
Your photos turned out wonderful! But I totally understand your reservations. I am in the home stretch of my second pregnancy and have had trouble with body image throughout both. I don’t feel like the glowing, cute pregnant girl that everyone claims I should be. I just feel disgusting. I hope to come to terms with it before my next one (if there is a next one) so thank you for sharing your experience and feelings about it :)
It may be that by the third I’m not as sensitive to the unattractive parts– I’m not as shocked and distracted, perhaps. But especially if you think you may not have another, take some photos! It’s a moment that isn’t coming back. And it’s possible that by the time the baby is out and your hormones are normal-ish again (uh, in my experience, 12-18 months after delivery!) you’ll not only be glad you did, but you’ll think whatever was bothering you was kinda silly. Maybe. :)
I couldn’t agree more about being able to nit-pick certain parts of your body while pregnant. That’s what kept me from getting pictures of myself during my first pregnancy. I think it’s worse for me during this second time around because I feel like my body never returned to its pre-pregnancy shape! But I hope to follow your lead and get some pictures done because we don’t know if this will be our last or not and I don’t want to regret it. You look beautiful in yours! And I also will not be baring any extra skin!
Thanks, and Yay! Do it! Yeah, there is no complete return to the way things were. But… even if we weren’t having kids, we’d still be getting older, right? Might as well appreciate the moment for the good things it offers!
These are great photos and you look beautiful! I had maternity photos taken with my first, and was able to get another shoot with a good photographer friend during this pregnancy as well (I am currently 34 weeks pregnant with #3). I don’t feel particularly attractive or beautiful while pregnant, but I am glad that I have the photos to document this time. I’ve actually struggled more with body image this time around than with the last two. I think for me a lot of it is knowing that this will probably be my last pregnancy and I am THAT CLOSE to being able to lose baby weight for good and not have to deal with all the weight fluctuations anymore. Thanks so much for sharing your photos and experience and good luck during these last couple of weeks!
Yes! So nice to think that this is the last round of baby weight to lose! Phew! Like, I know that it’s cool to have a dress form that’s adjustable, but a dress form that’s adjustable that I don’t actually have to bother adjusting is cool, too.
How cool! I live in Hampton Roads area, too. :-) Not planning any more kids but still, good to know there’s a great photographer around!
All your photos look wonderful! Don’t be shy about your baby bump. It’s beautiful. It’s a *baby* in there! Your body is making a miracle inside you. I felt frumpy a lot, but it helped me to remember that.
Hi neighbor! Maggie does other subjects too. :) And thanks! Hard to be shy about it NOW, ain’t no hiding it at 38 weeks. But I’m glad I’ve made my peace with it. Only took three tries.
You look GORGEOUS!!!! Love these. My faves are the ones of you in the white tank on the yellow couch.
:)
Thanks, Rae. :)
You look beautiful! Great pictues. I think all pregnant women look beautiful. (Though, I thought I personally looked like a big whale. :) ) Congratulations!
Thanks. :) Yes. Whale comes to mind. Especially when getting in and out of bed. No photos of THAT.
You look lovely! It is really hard not to focus on every little thing we don’t like about ourselves, but later on it’s so worth it to have the photos.
That’s what I’m thinkin’. Also fun to think later about the things we didn’t notice at the time and later think “how did I not notice THAT?!?!” Ha.
I think you look great! The one of you cross-legged on the sofa and the calendar shirt ones are my faves. Your kids will also be glad later that you have the photos. Heck, I’m glad you took the photos, and I don’t even know you! LOL.
I have self-portraits that I took the morning I was induced to give birth to full-term twins (they were 6.5 and 7.5 lbs, just to give you and idea of my size – and I’m 5’4″). I have shown them to no one but my husband and sister because I’m just in a bra and undies. The immediate effect is stunning (more of the medically stunning type rather than stunning beauty – I was E-NOR-MOUS), but when I revisited the pictures a couple years later, I thought, y’know, I look so… happy. And omg, what a huge belly, etc, but I have this mischievous grin on my face like hey, guess what’s gonna happen later TODAY?
Take care of yourself in the last couple weeks. You’re on the home stretch!!! Good luck!
WHOA. 15 lbs of baby is amaaaaazing. Those sound like super fun photos! Thanks for the kind words.
I hope you know you are a ridiculously gorgeous pregnant lady! I love these photos and can not even pick which one I like best. I never would have gotten in front of a camera pregnant if it hadn’t been for you all those years ago. I look on those photos so fondly now. Thank you so much for that gift.
You look lovely! The setting is awesome. I wish, wish, wish, I had more flattering photos of myself while pregnant. It was harder to do back then…. we wore tents.You will never regret this for sure.
You look gorgeous, Susan! Just gorgeous! So happy for you that you did these photos – you will never regret it. I can’t wait to see her when she arrives (if she hasn’t yet!) Best wishes!!