Hampshire Maternity Photography

Why Invest in a Maternity Photography Session in Hampshire?

Maternity Photography is not always seen as the most important type of family photography when comparing this type of session to a newborn photography session or photo sessions as your family grows older. However, a maternity photography session in Hampshire is the start of your family’s story and a beautiful memory of the magical experience that your body is undertaking. Pregnancy is such a beautiful miracle and recording the memories of your baby bump might not seem crucial at the time whilst you feel heavy, uncomfortable and barely able to move but so many of my clients in Hampshire with newborns wish they had a maternity photography session after their pregnancy bump is gone. 

Maternity photography sessions in Hampshire are such a beautiful experience as there are so many stunning options for this type of session like the vast amounts of stunning outdoor locations in Hampshire, the gorgeous old houses in Hampshire and my little boho lifestyle photography studio that is located in Southampton, Hampshire. 

At the time, a newborn photography session might seem like the more obvious type of session to invest in, especially if you are on a budget but I highly recommend not discounting a Hampshire maternity photography session because being pregnant is a beautiful memory that should be preserved and recorded for you and your children to look back on. 

For my maternity photography sessions in Hampshire I travel from Southampton to places such as Lymington, parts of the New Forest, Totton, Romsey, Winchester, Ringwood, Portsmouth, Andover and also places in Dorset such as Bournemouth and Poole. 

Hampshire Maternity Photography Frequently Asked Questions: 

Why everyone in Hampshire should have a maternity photography session 

Being pregnant is such a fleeting time- there are only so many months where you have that beautiful blossoming belly displaying the little miracle that you are growing. The average woman is only pregnant a few times in her life so why not cherish each pregnancy and record it? My 2.5 year old daughter already loves pointing out images where she was in my belly and where her brother was in my belly. It is so lovely for your children to have a visual of you pregnant with them and for them to see that love you already had for them. 

Many of my newborn photography clients regret not photographing their bump and only being left with selfies in front of a mirror of their growing bump. I took all kinds of pregnancy images- selfies of my growing belly, self-portraits of myself with my professional camera and I also had two maternity photography sessions with photographers I love. The ones of my pregnancy I framed and put on my wall? The ones taken by other photographers. Getting professional photos done of your pregnancy is so important as professional photographers capture you in your best light. They can find flattering angles and poses as we have vast experience in doing so. Our goal is to make you feel your best, most confident self. Those 9 months of pregnancy are truly such a fleeting time and it is so important to capture your maternity photography session in Hampshire. 

When should I book my Hampshire Maternity Photography Session?

I highly recommend booking your maternity photography session in Hampshire after you have your 12 or 20 week scan. As maternity and newborn photographers tend to book up far in advance, it is best to book once you feel comfortable doing so. This way you aren’t disappointed if your favourite photographer is all booked up when trying to book in your maternity session. 

When should I do a Maternity Photography Session in Hampshire?

I recommend scheduling in your Hampshire maternity photography session when you are 31-34 weeks pregnant. This is because you want to have a beautiful pregnant bump but also not be so heavily pregnant that you can’t move comfortably. I recommend this small timeframe because I have had many clients (even first time pregnancies) give birth at 35 weeks. By scheduling a maternity session in this small window, we can ensure that you get your beautiful bump photographed before baby arrives!

When will I receive my Maternity Photography Session images?

Another benefit of doing your maternity photography session from 31-34 weeks pregnant is that you will receive your maternity images before baby arrives. I always aim to get your photography session galleries edited and sent to you within two weeks of your session. After your session I cull out any images where you are blinking, those which are unflattering or too blurry and then I soft-edit a gallery of the best ones. Your gallery usually has 100-150 images in it to choose from. You then will select your favourite images and package from your online gallery and I will complete your final edits. I always think it is so important to have your maternity photography session images selected and edited before baby arrives, this way they can be hung on the walls or in an album before your hectic (but oh so fun) life with a new baby starts! 

Can I involve other family members in my Maternity Photography Session?

I always love including other family members in your Hampshire Maternity Photography session. It is so important to be photographed with the people who are most important to you. It is so important to include your husband and older children in your maternity session as well as capture individual maternity images. Your family is a huge part of this pregnancy and I love capturing this magical time for all of you. I have even had maternity sessions where we captured mother and daughter as grandparents are very important too!

Can I involve pets in my Hampshire Maternity Photography Session? 

I often get asked if your pets can be included in your maternity photography session and I always excitedly answer with a big YES! I love asking you what breed your dog is and what their name is and during our session you will find me loving every second with your pet and I often leave as their new best friend. I am obsessed with animals and have worked as a dog walker and at a West Highland Terrier breeder when I was a university student (some of my most favourite jobs ever). These furry friends keep us company during our pregnancy and are such a vital part of our families. It is so important to capture them in your family photography sessions to help the memories of these sweet souls last forever. 

How to choose your Hampshire Maternity Photographer?

It can be daunting to find a maternity photographer in Hampshire and often hard to choose one. So how do you find one and how do you choose? I always recommend googling pages and pages of maternity and newborn photographers, opening each maternity photography website in a new tab and examining each of the photographer’s galleries. It is important to see if they have experience and match the style you are looking for in a maternity photography session. There are so many photographic style out there that range from clean edits, overly posed and glamorous, studio maternity photography, outdoor maternity photography, naturally posed images, candid images and a cooler or warmer editing style.

There is so much to choose from and you have to select which style matches you best. What gallery are you drawn to? Have a read of their website and see if their ethos suits you and if you think you will get along with this photographer. An artist’s personality usually shines through their website and you will quickly know if you would like to work with that photographer. Instagram is also a brilliant tool that photographers use to showcase their work but also their personality. During a maternity photography session, you want to feel comfortable and so it is important to do your research prior to booking a maternity photographer so that you can feel calm, peaceful and confident during your maternity session. 

Why invest in a Hampshire Maternity Photography Session?

Photography is an investment that grows more valuable with time. As children grow and family members get older, these memories are perfectly preserved for you and generations to come to look through and cherish forever. My family has images that are from the early 1900’s of family members and we cherish them dearly. My grandparents’ wedding album is one of my prized possessions and one of their wedding photographs is framed and on display in my living room. As a young girl, I adored flipping through the old pages of their wedding album and looking at my grandmother’s wedding dress, choice of colours and bouquets in her wedding. I love that I have a piece of my grandparents to then pass down onto my children. 

A maternity photography session is another beautiful way to preserve time and fondly reflect back on your pregnancy with each child. For many women, pregnancy was something they had longed for and the journey to get there not as easy as they had hoped. A maternity photoshoot helps celebrate this journey and honours the beautiful miracle that your body is creating. Investing in a maternity photo session in Hampshire is a celebration of the female body, a celebration of the creation of life and a timekeeper that will help you remember your beautiful baby bump always. 

Posing for A Hampshire Maternity Photography Session:

Do I have to be a model for my maternity photography session?

I find that the number one reason that pregnant women are hesitant about having a maternity photography session in Hampshire is because they are worried that they need to know how to pose and be natural in front of the camera. It is always a bit scary being in front of the camera with all the attention on you and I find pregnant mothers feel this is a bit too daunting and pass up the opportunity. Some worry they will appear vain and self-centred if they have a maternity session featuring just them but this couldn’t be more wrong. Your maternity session is a celebration of the little miracle growing inside of you and the amazing feat your body is undertaking. A maternity photoshoot is a celebration of the journey it took you to create this little soul and a beautiful gift to pass onto them later in life. 

Do I need to know how to pose for my maternity photoshoot?

I always tell clients not to worry if they are camera shy, my job is to guide you through subtle and natural poses that make you feel confident and beautiful. As a maternity photographer, I am here to guide you so you are not expected to know exactly how to pose. Your job is just to enjoy the session and embrace your growing baby bump. I always come prepared with a series of prompts to help you pose in the most flattering way and I use the location to inspire the session. I love using your home in a home lifestyle maternity session to act as a prop to inspire new and creative ideas. We go from room to room using windows, your bed, the sofa and various backgrounds to create a beautiful, natural session. The same goes for an outdoor maternity photo session in Hampshire; I love to use trees, shadow, long grass or the beach to act as a beautiful backdrop and prop to help aid you in posing and feeling natural. Never fear if you are camera shy as there are very few individuals who love posing for the camera!

What if I don’t feel comfortable in my pregnant body for my maternity photo session?

It is very rare that a pregnant mother feels extremely confident in her pregnant body as the changing pregnant body comes with aches, pains, sickness and extreme fatigue. This can make the thought of a maternity photo session feel exhausting! However, I recommend sticking it out and having a maternity session as the lasting memories the images create are so worth it! The job of a maternity photographer is to make you feel confident, create a relaxing and peaceful environment and help find the most flattering poses for you. My goal is to make you feel at ease during your maternity session regardless of location and help you create beautiful images that you can cherish long after baby arrives. 

Styling Your Hampshire Maternity Photography Session:

How to Style Your Hampshire Maternity Photography Session and what to wear?

My photography editing style is warm and the colours that compliment this the best are browns, creams, whites, rusts and earthy colours. I have a wide range of dresses in these colours in my Client Closet that you can choose from in your booking email. I love photographing these colours because they are timeless, warm and help to create a beautiful cosy and natural vibe. I think that long dresses that show off your baby bump are the most flattering and offer the best natural look as they flow when walking and create beautiful movement in your maternity images. While I love using long maxi dresses for maternity sessions, I highly recommend wearing what you prefer so that you feel the most comfortable. If this means jeans and a t-shirt then go for it! Being comfortable and confident in what you are wearing will go a long way in creating beautiful, strong maternity photographs. 

How to Style Your Home in Hampshire for your Maternity Photography Session?

While everyone loves a beautifully decorated home, it is important to remember that your home does not need to be a show home. Your maternity photography session in your Hampshire home is for you and only you. Your home as a background in your maternity session is meant to be a beautiful reminder of a snapshot in time and the home your little one was born into. I love homes with character- books lining the walls or piled up on the nightstand, your children’s artwork displayed on the fridge and toys scattered on the floor. I always find a beautiful space to work in; sometimes as simple as putting a chair in a beautiful ray of light near a window can create the most magical maternity session. So don’t worry about not having your home decorated in the latest fashions, the clutter or the size as I love the challenge of arriving at a home maternity photography session in Hampshire and creating art in whatever space I’m given to work in!

Types of Hampshire Maternity Photography Sessions:

What type of maternity session is right for you?

The main types of maternity photography sessions in Hampshire are studio maternity sessions, lifestyle home maternity sessions and outdoor maternity sessions. How do you decide which is right for you?

Maternity Studio Photography:

There are two types of maternity studio photography these days and one is the more traditional studio style which consists of various colour backdrops and studio lighting. This style is more traditional and can be glammed up with hair, makeup and maternity gowns. This style is becoming less popular as more modern approaches to photography are blossoming in various countries. The more modern approach to studio maternity photography is a lifestyle studio. This is when a studio is created to look like a home with a beautifully styled bed, chairs and decor to create a cosy, beautiful backdrop for the session to create a more natural look. A lifestyle studio session also helps create more variety in the session as there are so many variations for posing on different pieces of furniture and backdrops. 

Lifestyle Home Maternity Photography:

Lifestyle home photography sessions are also a more modern approach to a maternity session as traditionally maternity photography was only done in the studio. However, a home maternity photography session in Hampshire creates a more natural look, a more intimate vibe and can help the camera shy feel more comfortable. This is my favourite type of maternity session as it gives such a cosy, intimate look and we can get such a wide variety of looks by utilising all the rooms in your home. 

Outdoor Maternity Photography:

Another favourite is a Hampshire outdoor maternity photography session and one of the most popular. An outdoor photography session allows for a more natural look and helps mesh mother nature with a blossoming pregnant belly. An outdoor maternity session can be as tranquil or dramatic as you like depending on the location and the scenery you choose. A beach maternity session standing in wild waves can be moody and beautiful while the pregnant mum is in a flowing dress in the water. A field of flowers lends itself for a peaceful, tranquil maternity session and can look so beautiful in a flowing dress or a bare bump. There is just so much creative beauty you can achieve in an outdoor maternity photography session.

Are you ready to book your Hampshire Maternity Photography Session?

While not always the most popular type of session when compared to newborn photography, a maternity photography session is an important investment when considering the memories it captures instead of a few selfies of your growing bump in front of the mirror. Book a session with Kirstin Witney Photography in Hampshire! I am a Hampshire maternity photographer and would love to photograph you!