Maternity and Family Photos at Forest Hill Park
“I did think that period in my life needed to be documented but… I’m not gonna lie, I don’t like [many] people’s maternity photos. Or I don’t think that they are for me. I see people walking around and looking just delightful in their ethereal dresses which is lovely… But I didn’t think I could pull it off. And I feel like that’s what I mostly see. People in long dresses. Out in the world looking lovely. But I just couldn’t see it for myself…”
I’m not sure who decided that pregnant women all need to wear dresses for their maternity photos. Someone in Big Photography got with someone in Big Flowy Dress®️ and they came up with the rules.
But rules are meant to be broken, and if you’re not someone who is comfortable in big, flowy dresses, why try to force yourself into that?
I helped Melissa pick a couple of outfits with colors that would pop against the leaves in the location we chose (Forest Hill Park). It was still early fall, so lots of leaves were just starting to change, and we chose maroon and orange to bring the colors to the park, since the park wasn’t ready to show off yet.
She wanted to make her maternity session about more than just her, too. (No judgment if you want to claim that session for yourself.)
With the impending arrival of her baby boy, she wanted one last family photo session of just the three of them, before the chaos of babyhood and birthing a baby changed her and their dynamic.
The day of our session, there was a hurricane on the horizon (both literally and figuratively; this was just before the 2020 election and Hurricane Z-word was headed up the coast.) The day had been so gloomy. But there's something to be said about overcast, moody maternity photos under colorful autumn leaves, against a still lake. It feels like the world is taking that long, deep breath with you, holding it for a minute with you as you prepare to shift into a new phase. Life is about to be very different, but there will be beauty in it.
There will be beauty, and also love and laughter, because those are bedrocks this family is built on.
“…Turns out, I loved my maternity photos. I love what I chose to wear and in general I thought they were delightful.”
I'm so lucky to have known these people for as long as I have, as dear friends and clients. Melissa, Dave, and Joshua, I'm so excited for you and your growing family. I can't wait to meet your little dude and welcome him into the fold. Thank you for trusting me again with your big family milestones. It was so wonderful to take your maternity and family photos!
If you’re pregnant and looking for a way to get maternity AND newborn photography in one easy package, check out my maternity+newborn photography package option.
