My studio is the perfect place for a dreamy maternity session. The light is soft, the environment is serene and the result is perfectly simple portraits.
I love when mothers invest in maternity photos because it documents the stage that so quickly changes.
4 Tips for a Great Maternity Session
When you invest into a maternity session, you’re documenting all the feelings and emotions while being pregnant. You want to remember the glow and how empowered you felt being able to grow a human.
I highly recommend putting all your efforts into planning your photo session to make sure you walk away feeling like a supermodel. I’ve put together a few tips to help you get the most out of your maternity session.
How to Use Pinterest for Photo Session Inspiration
I love Pinterest. I joined when the only way you could join was to be invited by someone cool. Who doesn’t love a one-stop-shop for fashion tips, recipes, DIYs and the top 100 baby names for 2018? Pinterest has grown and pretty much everyone uses the site as inspiration for their every day life. It’s now common for clients to send me their boards before photo sessions. I love that we can communicate as photographer and client in this very visual way.
I also think Pinterest has clouded our realistic minds. We believe we can create the gallery from our photo session in the form of a Pinterest board. And here’s the bottom line I tell me clients about using Pinterest to plan your photo session. Use it as INSPIRATION. These photos are not something we can copy. A photographer had a ‘magic moment‘ with their client and shared it online. It was so magical that you want that. But, here’s the thing…you are not them and I am not that photographer.
Let’s create our own magic moments. We can relax into the moment and before you know it all the stars have aligned.
Using Pinterest for inspiration is so helpful for your photographer.
Last week I photographed this glowing mama in my studio in Long Beach. I absolutely love everything from top to bottom about this session. She wore a beautiful dress with delicate details. Her jewelry complimented the dress perfectly. I collaborated with her to make this floral crown. The soft light of the studio is so gorgeous for maternity sessions. If you’re considering a maternity session, the studio is a great place to keep it simple and just highlight your growing belly and the new life that’s about ready to enter the world.
You can also check out this Orange County on-location maternity session with the same soft colors.
Long Beach Maternity Session by Kristin Eldridge.
Laguna Beach Maternity Photography
I love when clients thoroughly think out the look of their shoot. We work together to come up with a concept and there’s lots of prepping and planning on both part. My client chose her dress and headpiece (gorgeous!) for a soft beach setting. I suggested a rocky cove. We met at the early morning hour of 7am (that’s commitment!) so we could get soft lighting. The whole look was amazing. She also had her hair and makeup done (worth it!) for the shoot. The whole look came together so well. And we ended the shoot with her getting in the ocean. I love the look of a drapey dress that’s wet with salty ocean water. Gorgeous!
Sometimes clients get sad when the sun goes away. I get it…there’s a lot of beauty in the sun peaking out from the trees. But, there’s also a lot of beauty in the subtle way that clouds mute all the colors and make them into a watercolor painting.
My job, as a photographer, is to take the situation (whatever it might be) and make it work. So, if it’s bright and sunny, I’m making the light work for me. If it’s cool-toned and overcast, I’m gonna make that work for me too!
This maternity session is the perfect example of a beautiful overcast day.
Photos by Kristin Eldridge, Maternity Photographer in Orange County.
Overcast // Orange County Maternity Photographer
Such sweet mama and daughter moments! I love how little girls go into full mommy-mode getting ready for their new little sibling.
Photos were taken by Long Beach Maternity Photographer, Kristin Eldridge.
There’s this perfect in-between lighting that happens at the beach. It’s not quite overcast and it’s not quite sunny. That’s my favorite type of lighting. There’s no shadows and you still get some vibrant colors. I wish every day could be this perfect in-between!
Photos by Orange County Maternity Photographer, Kristin Eldridge.
Being under the hand of a professional is comforting. There’s just a difference between Super Cuts and that fancy salon you trust your highlights to. And, yes, your pocket book feels the difference too. But, being able to trust the professional that’s in charge of your hair, your car and your taxes is worth the extra change.
I feel the same way about being a photographer. Yes, you can find a photographer for $100, but if you want to hire a professional photographer, you might have to save a bit more. What’s the difference? The difference is trusting your image to someone that has photographed babies, photographed families and has experience with maternity photography. It’s someone who knows how to soothe your cranky toddler and find the most flattering angles for your belly.
So, look at your photographer as your professional image-taker. Someone you trust and someone that has experience in your stage of life. And lucky for you, there are so many amazing photographers in Orange County!
// Photos taken at the beach by orange county maternity photographer, Kristin Eldridge.
Can we talk for a moment about clothes? I know it’s a superficial thing, but what we wear affects our mood. I’ve been in an outfit that I love and felt like I could conquer the world. I’ve also worn clothes that I’m constantly tugging at or stuff that just doesn’t feel like me. And sometimes, I’m just unsure. I’m wearing an outfit and thinking, is this working? Is this cute or am I trying too hard? All it takes is a compliment from a friend or stranger to pull me to the other side.
Cute boots. Love your top. Where’d you get those jeans from?
It’s really simple, but a little affirmation goes a long way. Sometimes when I work with clients, I’m helping them with outfits or something they’re just telling me ahead of time what they’re planning on wearing. Either way, (because I work with awesome people) I just know they’re going to show up looking great.
I used to just focus on the job ahead. Taking pictures. Taking for granted how hard they’d worked on outfitting the family. But, I’ve changed my tune. Before we even start, I compliment. It’s important to verbalize what you’re thinking. If you can tell someone spent extra time on their hair and make-up, let them know how gorgeous they look.
I know it seems like a no-brainer, but I have a feeling that even normal people (not photographers) forget to compliment. In our head, we’re thinking…oh my gosh, I love that dress…but it never makes its way to our lips. So, compliment someone today. Whether you’re taking their picture or not.
Oh and speaking of awesome outfits…this amazing pregnant mama put this whole thing together and looked stunning while doing it.
