What to Ex p e c t f or Yo ur Mater n i t y S e s s i o n w i th L auren Ma g g i
Preparing for Your Session What to Wear Tips Coordinate - Not Match We’ve all seen the photos where everyone has on the same color shirt and most likely jeans. But rather than blending together in one big block of color, try to make sure your outfits compliment each other, rather than completely matching.
Keep it Simple Keeping your outfits simple with low key colors and patterns or light texture will help give your photos that simple classic look without hiding your bump behind busy patterns.
Start With One Piece and Work Around it
Pick a Color Palette
Pick one outfit or piece of clothing first, then use that to plan everyone else’s outfit. Working one at a time makes this part less stressful and helps outfits be more cohesive.
Having a palette of 3-5 colors can help you narrow down each person’s outfit. Mix and match the colors through out so that everyone’s outfit ties in to another’s. Even if it is just an accessory for a pop of color.
Avoid Neon Colors and Ball Caps
Make Sure You are Comfortable
When someone is wearing a neon or extremely bright color, it reflects onto that person, and those around them. And ball cap style hats can cause very dark shadows on the face.
Loving what you are wearing will help you love getting your photo taken. Make sure everyone loves their outfit, and make sure to show off that adorable bump!
Make Sure You Are in the Right Mindset Photos can be stressful for everyone! This is why getting in the right mindset is important. This can be a great bonding time for your family and the little babe in your belly as you think about the future. Pregnancy can have lots of ups and downs and lots of uncomfortable moments, but this is a time to think about the excitement and the love during pregnancy.
Don’t be Afraid to Bribe the Kids!
If your little one will have an older sibling or two, don’t be afraid to bribe them! Whether you use candy, a favorite toy, or a promised trip for ice cream after, this is a time that bribery will work very well for your kids! Or your husband!
Arrive Early
Give yourself plenty of time to leave and get to the location. We all know that anything can happen, and one explosive diaper can make you run behind!
Just Relax! I want you to have fun at your session! Be goofy with the kids, give your spouse a kiss on the cheek whenever it feels right, don’t worry about smiling straight at the camera. These sessions are all about the love between all of you and connecting with your baby. So you focus on your little one, and I’ll focus on the photos.
What To Expect During The Session I usually start with the simple poses and let everyone get used to the camera. Don’t worry if these ones don’t turn out or no one has a real smile yet, just think of these as a warm up! We’ll get all of the posed photos done first, this way we make sure we keep the kids attention! Then we get to the fun ones. I usually will step back and let you do your own thing and capture you in your own element. This is when I get the genuine smiles and the love between all of you. During this part, talk about your hopes and dreams for your baby. If there is anything specific you want to try that I don’t usually do, please just let me know! All I ask is that you trust me!
Receiving Your Photos After I finish editing your photos, I will upload to them an online gallery. Once they complete uploading, I will send you an email, like the one to the left, with a link to your gallery. Make sure to read the accompanying email as it will have instructions and helpful tips for your gallery, as well as a few reminders. Your gallery will look a bit like the gallery to the right. It is where you can view, download individual photos or all the photos, share the entire album or individual photos, as well as purchase prints and canvases!
Paying for Your Session When I first email you your contract and questionnaire, at the end you will have paid the invoice either by credit card, or by clicking “mail a check.” To pay for the remainder of the session, you may access that same email, or I will be sending you another email shortly before your session. You may pay in advance, or if you would like to pay by check or cash at the time of your session, simply click the “mail a check” option again. If you have any questions regarding payment, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Ordering Photos While you are more than welcome to print at other places, I highly suggest printing from the lab connected to your gallery. In your gallery, each photo will have a shopping cart icon, or there is a “Buy All” button at the top. When you click the icon, a menu will pop up on the side with the different printing options, and you can pay right from the gallery as well. Then they will be shipped straight to you! If there is a product you don’t see that you have in mind, please just send me a message!
Leave a Review
If you love your photos as much as I do, a review will mean the world to me! I love being able to see clients feedback and it also helps future clients! You can leave a review on Facebook or on Google. If there is anything that I can do to help make the experience better, please feel free to send me an email. I am always looking for ways to make your session be an exciting time for everyone!
T h a n k Yo u !
Every client is special to me and I look forward to every session! It means the world to me that you have trusted me to take your maternity portraits. Just know that by hiring me, you are helping me support my family and follow my dreams. I truly don’t think of this as a job, and I go into every session planning on making new friends. So thank you for welcoming me into your family if just for a little while. I hope this guide helps you be more prepared for your session and covered any questions you might have.