The Minimalist Guide To Maternity Photography

By Jetweb
Fashion or sincere need, maternity photography has become a common practice in recent times. With expecting parents much more interested in the development of their unborn child, the photographer has become the means to document that process. While the sonar scans at the hospital show the foetus as he grows, the photographer has a different role to play in the growing family.
As with weddings, maternity photography often focuses on the woman, but that has also changed. The creative skills of the photographer comes into play as there are only so many ways to take a picture of a baby bump. Expecting parents can help in determining what they want from the photographer even before they enter the studio for the photo shoot. Choosing matching or complementary clothing would be a good start for both partners. Avoiding overly bright or neon colours would ease the photographer’s burden in setting up the lighting in the studio. A professional can deal with extremes, but as the models of the shoot, your focus should be on the whole. The baby needs to be a beautiful bump after all.
In addition to clothing and make-up, consider the poses you would like to use for the photographs. Maternity photography can include nude and semi-nude shots and can enhance the overall intimacy of the final product. This is a choice of the expecting parents, and should be discussed with the photographer before the shoot commences. Few people are comfortable in showing so much skin and you need to be prepared to take this up with the photographer should you want these kind of shots. Remember photographers also specialise and nudity in any form may not be what they would shoot either.
A woman wanting a maternity shoot alone should consider taking a friend along, especially if nude or semi-nude shots are required.
Intimate shots need not be nude at all. Silhouette shots, close-up shots or a particular pose can all contribute to a feel of love and intimacy. Do your research by reading magazines and looking for similar photographs on the internet to help you make an informed choice for your shoot.