Hey there! We are Kristian and Nichelle and we are first-time parents!
First time is always special, don’t you agree? As soon as we found out we were pregnant, we knew that we wanted to capture moments as soon they will just be memories. And as we enter into this new chapter in our lives, we embrace the magic of new beginnings, knowing that the next pregnancies will never feel the same way again.
Our maternity shoot was very special to us and we are so glad that we have these beautiful photos to cherish for a lifetime as we anticipate meeting our little one.
Getting pregnant for the first time is exciting and scary all at the same time. You are about to embark on one of the most amazing journeys of your life! And what better way to document this amazing time than with a maternity shoot?
If you are a first time parent who is thinking about doing a maternity shoot, we hope that this guide will help you in planning your own special photoshoot!
Choose the Right Concept and Theme
The first step in planning your maternity shoot is to choose the right concept or theme. There are endless possibilities when it comes to maternity shoots, so take some time to think about what you want your photos to look like. Do you want something simple and elegant? Or are you looking for something fun and unique? Once you have an idea of the overall look you are going for, you can start planning the details of your shoot.
We have done different kinds of photoshoots in the past from our travels, prenup, wedding and anniversary so for our maternity shoot, we wanted to do something different — something we’ve never done before — a STUDIO SHOOT.
We wanted to go for a concept that’s also new to us and we were fortunate enough to find a local studio that could accommodate our vision. Bohol is such a beautiful island and there are plenty of amazing locations for shoots, but we felt that doing a studio shoot would give us a different kind of experience and feel for our photos.
We found this studio in the city called Reserve Space Studios and we love how accommodating the owner is and how we were able to execute the concepts we had in mind into reality.
Gather Inspiration
Once you have an idea of the concept or theme you want for your maternity shoot, it’s time to start gathering inspiration. Pinterest is a great place to start! Look for poses that you like, outfits that catch your eye, and locations that you think would be perfect for your shoot. This is also a great time to start thinking about what kind of props you might want to use. If you are planning on using any special items during your shoot, make sure to have them ready and on hand so that you can easily access them when the time comes.
We wanted our maternity shoot to be simple, elegant and timeless. We gathered inspiration from different kinds of shoots and we loved how everything came together on the day of our shoot. The key is to just relax and have fun: This is probably the most important tip of all! It’s so important to relax and enjoy your maternity shoot. This is a time to celebrate your growing family and to document this amazing time in your lives. Don’t stress about getting everything “perfect”. The key is to just relax and have fun!
Get a Styling Team Onboard
This is optional but if you want to achieve a certain look for your maternity shoot, it might be helpful to have a styling team on board. A stylist can help you choose the perfect outfits and accessories for your shoot. They can also help with your hair and makeup to make sure you look and feel your best.
One thing we didn’t regret doing that helped us a lot during our shoot is that we had a team of stylists who helped us with hair and makeup, as well as with styling our outfits and photo backdrops. This was incredibly helpful, especially since we were doing a studio shoot. Having a team of stylists made the whole process so much easier and stress-free. We were able to just focus on enjoying ourselves and we knew that we looked our best.
For our hair and make up, we had one of the best hair and makeup stylists here in Bohol, Tfaith Gesite and Nikki Leigh. They usually do weddings and mostly events but they also do maternity shoots.
For our outfits and photo backdrops, we had Concept & Style by Rom’s Net who helped us make our vision come to life. We just sent them our pegs beforehand and they were the ones who sourced our outfits, prepared the backdrops and made sure that all the accessories that we need are taken care of.
Find the Right Photographer
Not all photographers are created equal! When you are looking for a maternity photographer, it is important to find someone who has experience with maternity shoots and who will be able to capture the special moments of your pregnancy. We were lucky enough to find an amazing photographer who was able to perfectly capture what we had in mind for our maternity shoot.
Wendell Banilao was one of the photographers during our wedding so we are already comfortable with him. He’s easy to work with and has experience with several maternity shoots as well so we knew we can trust him as to how our photos would turn out.
Prepare the Right Timing of Your Shoot
Lastly, one important thing to be mindful about when planning a maternity shoot is to make sure you schedule it at the right time. You want to make sure you are far enough along in your pregnancy that you feel comfortable and confident, but not so close to your due date that you are feeling exhausted. For first-time moms, 28-32 weeks is the best time to do the shoot when the bump is already showing enough at it’s roundest form but also not too low enough nearing delivery.
We scheduled our shoot for around 30-31 weeks and it was the perfect time. I felt great and still had enough energy to do a few outfit changes and to walk around the shoot location.
Being first-time parents is overwhelming and having a maternity shoot might be the last thing on your mind but trust us, it is so worth it. These photos will be cherished memories that you will look back on for years to come and a perfect way to commemorate this time before your baby arrives. Plus it’s a beautiful way to have a moment with your spouse or partner to focus on each other and your growing family.
Whether you’re expecting your first baby or your fifth, a maternity shoot is a wonderful way to document this special time in your life. And with this guide, you can be sure that your shoot will be everything you’ve ever dreamed of!
Have you ever done a maternity shoot? What tips would you add for first time parents?
Let us know in the comments below!
Related Articles:
– 8 Reasons Why First-time Parents Should Do a Newborn Photoshoot
– Top Prenup Photoshoot Themes: Capture Stunning Engagement Moments – 2023 Guide
