Pregnancy is a funny old season of life.
Some days it feels like you’ve been pregnant forever. You count down the weeks, try to imagine what your little person will look like and wonder whether you’ll ever be able to sleep comfortably again.
Then somehow, before you know it, your bump is gone, your baby is in your arms and you can barely remember what waddling to the toilet felt like.
That’s why I love maternity photography so much. It presses pause on a season that can disappear in a blur. It captures that brief moment in time before your whole world changes.
“We engaged Bie for our maternity shoot during our babymoon in New Zealand, and it was truly such a wonderful experience! My husband and I are usually quite awkward when it comes to photoshoots, but Bie made us feel so comfortable from the very beginning and made the entire session super fun and enjoyable!” – Leonie
Whether you’re expecting your first baby, adding another little person to the family or visiting Wānaka or Queenstown on a babymoon, a maternity photography session is a chance to remember the waiting. The excitement. The tiny kicks. The chapter before everything changed.
The one question I’m asked all the time, and I’m guessing you have it too is “When should we book our maternity session?”
Timing helps
I usually recommend booking your maternity shoot when you’re somewhere between 30 and 35 weeks.
By then, your bump is beautifully round and, hopefully, you’re still comfortable enough to wander around the lakeshore or one of our beautiful mountain locations without feeling like you’ve just completed a marathon.
If you’re in town a little earlier or a little later, though, don’t worry. It’s absolutely possible to work with whatever stage you’re in and still get stunning photos.
Wear something that feels like you
A beautiful flowing dress can be a lovely way to highlight your bump. If that’s not something you have in your wardrobe, don’t worry, I have a growing collection of beautiful maternity dresses you’re welcome to borrow for your session. You can check out my client wardrobe here.
But if dresses aren’t your thing and you’d prefer to wear something that feels more you, that’s perfect too.
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable. The only thing I’d suggest is choosing an outfit that shows off your beautiful bump, because after all, that’s what we are here to celebrate and capture.
Good light doesn’t always have to mean sunset
Golden hour is called golden hour for a reason, and if we can schedule your shoot for then, we will. That’s when most of these photos were taken, and you’ll agree the light is magical.
But people are often surprised when I tell them that not every maternity session has to happen at golden hour, so if it doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. Sometimes sunrise is perfect. Sometimes sunset is. Sometimes a cloudy afternoon gives us exactly the look we’re after.
It’s a combination of the light, the location, and the people in front of my camera that tells the story. We’ll figure out your visual story together.
“Bie knows how to capture the moments, especially the small precious ones that you wouldn’t even know of. The results will make your heart melt. We are very grateful and absolutely besotted by the images Bie has captured of our family.” – Shelby
Bring water… and maybe a snack
Growing a human is hungry work, but you already know that.
If we’re walking a little between locations or you’ve got little people joining us, it’s always worth bringing a bottle of water and a few snacks in your bag. No one has ever regretted packing the snacks.
Leave perfection at home
Honestly, you don’t need to know how to pose. Your partner doesn’t need to love having their photo taken. Your toddler doesn’t need to smile at the camera for an hour, or even behave angelically. And you don’t need to worry about what to do with your hands.
That’s my job.
I promise the best photographs almost never happen when everyone is standing perfectly still or smiling at the camera. They happen in between. When you catch each other’s eye. When your toddler reaches for your hand. When someone laughs unexpectedly. When your hair blows across your face in the wind.
The cuddles. The windswept hair. The little hand resting on your bump. That’s where the magic is. Those are the types of photographs you’ll treasure forever.
Pregnancy asks a lot of you.
Your maternity photography session shouldn’t.
Book yours today! Link here
