Session guide

MATERNITY

Session guide

Let's make you feel like your most beautiful self mama!

The experience

but first, a

special

note

Thank you for choosing me to capture your story, I hope you know how much your trust means to me. My clients always end up feeling more like friends by the end of our journey together, it’s such a special privilege to be allowed to capture this moment of your lives and it's something that’s never lost on me. I know how awkward it can feel, standing in front of a camera, but trust me when I say I’ve got you.

Everyone is welcome here.

Many have describe their photo session with me as kind of art therapeutic journey, where art meets self discovery. It's an honour to create meaningful visuals that resonate with emotions and tell your unique story.

I’ve packed this guide full of my most helpful tips and tricks to make your session run as smoothly, so you can sit back and enjoy your experience! Always remember, you can reach out to me with any questions you want. I’m here for you, whatever you need.

Thank you for trusting me,

Maegan

of Wild Hearts Creative

My Approach

to telling your story

First of all, know that everyone feels nervous before a session & it is my job to help you ease those nerves.

I want to tell your story through art, and

part of the magic of that is letting the

moments speak for themselves. I’ll never

leave you in the lurch, I’ll be there to guide

you as much or as little as you need. Gently

prompting you or easing you into the best

light, my approach is the perfect mix of

prompting meets documentary.

Let yourself run with the moment and arrive

excited to spend some quality time with

your loved ones. When you look back at

your images years from now, what will be

the most meaningful to you? Will it be a

perfectly posed image or the connection

and love you feel when you look at your

pregnancy journey?

I want to tell your story authentically. I want to capture your lives as they are! Let yourself truly sink into the moments in front of you.

Throughout most of our session together I will have you looking everywhere but the camera - maternity sessions are so special because most of the time you will just be embracing your journey to this moment, connecting with your partner & loving on your beautiful baby bump.

I'll give you the space to focus your attention on precious baby bump & significant other - forgetting that I'm there capturing your story.

always remember

Who these

photos are for

They aren’t for Instagram, they aren’t for the perfect Christmas

card photo, these are snapshots of your lives to treasure through the decades. To look back on in 20 years and remember exactly what it felt like to be in this beautiful moment.

Nostalgia is a goddess. Embrace her.

Let go of the anxieties and the worries. Don’t stress about being

‘perfect’ or anything going exactly to plan.

Just show up as authentically as you can. Allow yourself to be present and the rest will fall into place. Let yourself feel silly and enjoy this time with your loved ones!

Getting ready

outfit inspo

It's important to remember that what you wear can set

the tone for your entire photoshoot! You want to feel

comfortable and confident in your outfit choices, so

don't be afraid to bring multiple options or ask for my

opinion. I’m always here to help.

I recommend coordinating but not matching. Choose

a colour scheme and mix and match textures and

patterns within that scheme. This will create a cohesive

look without being too matchy-matchy. Remember,

the most important thing is that you feel like your best

self during your session. So whether that's in a flowy

gown or your favourite pair of jeans, we can work

together to create a look that feels uniquely you.

Check out my Pinterest styling inspiration here!

What to wear

outfit ideas

For maternity shoots, belly out or nude photos can be incredibly stunning, enhancing your expectant curves and featuring your blooming belly. But depending on how you want to remember your pregnancy and who you expect to see the images, there are a couple of things to consider.

If you want to keep your clothes on, here’s what I recommend wearing:

• Maxi dresses
  
• Dresses that have a high waistline or slit. Fabrics with lots of texture, like lace or sheer fabric
  
• Long flowy skirts with a crop top or bandeau bra
  
• Cozy, knit pieces
  
• Jeans and a bralette or top
• Also big fan of using flowers instead of a top or with a bra - if this interest you let me know & I can help with getting flowers.

You don’t have to stick with just one outfit either! We can capture a mix of covered belly & uncovered if you want.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that this session is all about focusing on this beautiful journey you are on, so ensure the clothing you choose are outfits you are perfectly comfortable in and won’t distract your or make you feel uncomfortable in the moment.

Getting ready

The little

details

Hands are often a forgotten detail when it comes to photo sessions. Your hands will be in your photos as they are a source of connection to the little one in your womb.

Hands should be clean with no chipped nail polish. No need to get a professional manicure if that isn’t you, clean and simple works great! (this goes for you too men!)

Hair and makeup should represent you authentically, but with a little boost! If you don’t normally wear makeup, try simple foundation and a little mascara to make your eyes pop. If you do wear it daily, try adding some false lashes, and a bit of extra blush to make your features pop in photos (makeup will show up less in the photos than you think).

No need to get your hair and makeup done professionally, but if you do want to, I have a great list of vendors that I can suggest!

Word of advice

let's tell your story

When it comes to the session itself, most people just automatically look at the camera and smile, but I’ll will tell you to look out the window, or down towards your belly, or up to the sky. I’m sure you have lots of photos in your phone of you looking at the camera and smiling – I want this to be different.

I find that some of the most authentic images come when you’re absorbed in whatever it is you’re doing, whether that’s making your partner laugh, talking to the little one in your womb, or picking flowers. I promise I’ll let you know when it’s appropriate to look at the camera. Until then, just do your thing and let yourself be however you want to be.

Movement is key to capturing authentic and natural photos - while I might ask you to pause your movement for a moment during the session, most of the time I'll have you swaying, moving, dancing, laughing, and just feeling what feels best for you.

Pretending you're getting a video taken instead of a photo can be a great mindset reminder to allow me to capture the most authentic photos for you!

authentic

vulnurable

timeless

after your

session

PREVIEWS

I always like to give you a little preview of what's to come within a week of our session. Trust me when I say I’m as excited to see the final pictures as you are.

FULL GALLERY

You will receive a proofing gallery within a couple of weeks of your session. A proofing gallery is a lightly edited gallery for you to choose your images from. I will fully edit the images that you choose! Expect the complete gallery within four weeks (or 2 week after you have confirmed your image choices)! I always give myself up to 4 weeks so I can take my time and get your photos as perfect as possible. Once the gallery is ready, you'll receive a link to my gallery service via email, where you can download and share the photos with your loved ones!

PRINTS AND ALBUMS

Don't let your cherished memories live only on a computer. Printing your photos is the way to go. With your online gallery, you can easily purchase high quality prints and other products from a professional lab, allowing you to have physical keepsakes of your gorgeous photos!

I can not wait

for your session!

I want this session to give you an opportunity to slow down and appreciate your own beauty.

If you’ve gotten to the end of this guide and you’ve got a few questions swirling around in your head that I haven’t answered, please message me any questions you have. Let me know any way I can support you leading up to your session! I want you to feel at ease and prepared going into this session.

Your photos are going to be amazing. I can’t wait!