Although I am a family photographer, I also photograph many couples. The couples maternity session is a popular session booked. While maternity sessions with a big sibling are structured much like a family session…first time pregnant couples are a lot different! I am here to share some posing tips from my years of being a Long Island maternity photographer.

No matter if it is your first, second or third baby, your pregnancy should be documented. This is such a special time and one that goes by so quickly. It is a milestone that you will want to remember in years to come. Each stage of your life with your children is different and that is why it is so important to have photos that document that evolution and development of your family. I know that it can feel challenging to schedule a maternity family session with young children, but I will make the process simple for you an you will even have tons of fun while having your family photos captured.

Many women schedule maternity sessions for their first pregnancy, but it is also important to schedule a maternity session for a second pregnancy. Your family dynamic is about to change and it is the perfect time to capture those last moments as a family of three.

Many women skip the maternity session and go straight for the newborn photos instead. This is a big mistake for a multitude of reasons, especially if it is your first child. Firts of all, pregnant women are absolutely gorgeous. Also, although it may not feel like it at the time, this phase passes way too quickly. You will want to remember these days when they are long gone.

I worked with this recent client when her first daughter was born and also for her daughter’s first birthday session. When she contacted me to tell me she was pregnant with her second child, I was elated to now only photograph her family again for a newborn session, but to also see how much her daughter has grown in the past few years.

Yes, that is right. I am talking to all of you gorgeous expecting moms out there. So many women choose to skip maternity photos and it makes me so sad. I know that some women don’t feel their best during pregnancy, or they feel that the photos will be awkward, but I encourage you to take the photos. First of all, no one is more beautiful than a pregnant woman. It sounds like a cliche, but women are simply radiant when they are pregnant. The pregnancy glow is not a matter of fiction. I have seen it first hand with each and every one of my gorgeous clients.

I absolutely adore photographing pregnant women. I think they look stunning and it is such an important milestone to document. This is especially true when your family is expanding. It is nice to capture those exciting moments that lead up to welcoming a new baby into the family.

My recent client contacted me because she was expecting her second baby boy in just six weeks and she wanted to schedule a family maternity session on the beach. She said that she wanted photos that documented her last moments as a family of three. I know how hard it is to schedule a photo shoot with toddlers, but I think it is such a great idea to document this special time.

Oh, how I wish more women would schedule maternity photo sessions for themselves during their pregnancy. There is nothing that can surpass the beauty of an expecting mother; as cliche as it might sound, the natural glow of a pregnant women is simply unsurpassed. Sadly, so many women do not see themselves as beautiful during this momentous time in life. Many women tell me that they just don't feel their best during their pregnancy and, consequently, shy away from the camera during those nine months. I completely understand and I too felt this way about myself during both of my pregnancies. Although I did not shy away from the camera and took my monthly photos of my bump, I never scheduled a photo session with a photographer and I still regret it to this day.

I am so excited to announce my Spring lineup of mini sessions. I offer Spring sessions annually and these sets are perfect for a wide array of occasions. This year, I am offering two different sets, both of which are bohemian inspired and are perfect to capture a multitude of milestones.

The first set is definitely the more bohemian influenced of the two sets. It features a brick wall adorned with macrame hangings. Vines of potted green plants and an array of textures such as a rattan chair, jute rugs, and crochet blankets complete the set. The set can be used for updated portraits of your children, for a mommy and me photoshoot, a maternity session, six month milestone session, Easter portraits, Valentine’s day portraits, for a birthday, or even for Communion photos. I absolutely love the images and plan on using these images to commemorate my youngest daughter’s sixth birthday.

Summer is now in full swing and I have been busy photographing children and families down at the beach. I feel so blessed to be able to work in such a gorgeous and serene location. Regardless of the amount of families I photograph and the amount of sunsets I watch, I am always humbled and amazed at the beauty of the ocean.

I truly believe the the beach is the perfect backdrop for any family session. The clean and muted colors of the sand and ocean provides the perfect backdrop for your photos and allows me to focus one the love and bond in each family. The golden glow of the sunset provides ultra flattering light, but also enhances and highlights the love and bond of each family.

I absolutely love in home lifestyle newborn sessions. These sessions are the most natural and organic way to capture those first moments with your baby. I capture you and your family interacting with baby, but I also make sure I get a few polished portraits of baby for you to use for birth announcements and to hang on your walls. I have found that most families really appreciate and value those images of them with baby so much more than the posed mages I provide.

I often get asked by clients, what can I do to prepare for this session and what can I expect? So, I decided to write a blog post in which I will answer those questions.

The weather in June has been spectacular! I am loving every second of this month and I am so excited that my session one beach sunset family photos sessions has begun. The beach truly is the perfect backdrop for any photo session; it provides a gorgeous natural backdrop and the ocean and sand seems to help facilitate the playful and interactive images that I love to capture.

I recently had the opportunity to work with this beautiful family again. I photographed them two and a half years ago in their home for a lifestyle newborn session when they first gave birth to their twins. I just love when families return for future sessions and I have the opportunity to see their children grow.; it truly is such an honor.  

Oh, how I wish more women would schedule maternity photo sessions during their pregnancy. The beauty of an expecting mother is simply unsurpassed. Sadly, so many women do not see themselves as beautiful during this momentous time in life. Many women tell me that they just don't feel their best during their pregnancy and, consequently, refuse to be in photos during those nine months. I completely understand and I too felt this way about myself during both of my pregnancies. Although I did not shy away from the camera and took monthly photos of my bump, I never scheduled a photo session with a photographer and I still regret it to this day because I don't have anything that really captures how special and miraculous that time was and believe it or not, I often miss being pregnant. 

Pregnancy is such a special time in a woman's life and although it is draining, it is also a time when women look absolutely breathtaking. At the time, those few months may feel like they last forever, but long after your baby is born, you will realize that all went by in the blink of an eye.  

To encourage my newborn clients to capture their pregnancy, I offer them the option to add on a maternity mini session.  It is important to capture this time and my goal wit these sessions is to show mom just how gorgeous she is.  I want moms to look back at their maternity photos and realize how beautiful they looked and how special that time truly was.

Oh, how I wish more women would schedule maternity photo sessions for themselves during their pregnancy. There is nothing that can surpass the beauty of an expecting mother; as cliche as it might sound, the natural glow of a pregnant women is simply unsurpassed. Sadly, so many women do not see themselves as beautiful during this momentous time in life. Many women tell me that they just don't feel their best during their pregnancy and, consequently, shy away from the camera during those nine months. I completely understand and I too felt this way about myself during both of my pregnancies. Although I did not shy away from the camera and took my monthly photos of my bump, I never scheduled a photo session with a photographer and I still regret it to this day.