On maternity photographs
I feel like I’m in the home stretch. Only 7 weeks to go until my due date… but only 4 weeks until I’m ‘full term.’ Life is going to change, and it’s gonna change SOON!
I officially feel every inch of 8 months pregnant. I waddle. I could go to sleep at any moment, in any location. The Husband actually has to give me a push so I can roll out of bed. My sciatic nerve is killing me. Walking up our steep driveway leaves me out of the breath. Yup. I’m definitely pregnant. I’m still trying to stay active, though – my original goal of exercising 3 times a week has been very helpful in keeping me motivated. Although my workouts are getting shorter and slower, I’m keeping up with my promise! Whoo-hoo.
Here’s what BabyHTP is up to at 33 weeks: “Your baby is still gaining weight (about half a pound a week), and she could grow up to another full inch this week. With that much baby inside your uterus, your amniotic-fluid level has maxed out, which explains why some of her pokes and kicks feel pretty sharp these days. (There’s less fluid to cushion the blows.) Antibodies are being passed from you to your little one as she continues to develop her own fetal immune system, which will come in handy once she’s outside the womb and fending off all sorts of germs.” (Source)
So – lately, we’ve been discussing all sorts of serious topics:
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And much more (here’s all my pregnancy posts)
I thought it would be nice to lighten it up this week and talk about something less heavy: maternity photographs!
When I told MomHTP that we were doing maternity and newborn photographs, she was a little confused. “Maternity photos?” she asked. “What are those? Do you get naked?!” Granted, maternity photographs are not a pregnancy necessity in any way, but I was really looking forward to getting them done. I wanted to capture Kristien and I at this very pivotal moment in our lives – right before two (well, four, counting the furkids) become three (or five). As awesome as I am at using the self-timer, when you get family photographs taken by a true professional, it shows.
Our friend Jen Fagan, the photographer at New Shoe Photography, took our maternity photos (disclosure: we arranged to do a services swap). Jen asked me what type of photographs we wanted, and I struggled to respond. I can photograph food (and dogs!) but I’m always at a loss for creative shots of people. I knew I wanted non-cheesy photos of us in our home for our album, but I also knew that I wanted photos that were more ‘look at us amongst this pretty scenery’ to hang up on walls. How to exactly make that work, I wasn’t sure.
I started to browse Pinterest so I could show Jen examples of what I liked, but I found it easier to find examples of what I did not want, such as:
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Photographs that incorporated watermelons as a humorous metaphor.
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Photographs that involved writing on my belly with permanent marker (“eviction date: June 13!”).
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Photographs that involved being nude and the Husband awkwardly cupping my breasts from behind.
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Photographs that involved the Husband comparing his ‘beer bump’ to my baby bump.
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Completely out-of-place props.
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The use of Photoshop to superimpose a baby image on my baby bump.
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Photographs in which someone looks creepy and/or murderous.
(Source)
In case you need a chuckle, check out these Awkward Maternity Photographs and Even More Awkward Maternity Photographs. Epic.
Not saying that there is something inherently wrong with watermelon metaphors or eviction notices on baby bumps, I just knew they weren’t for us… and they weren’t getting framed and going up on the living room wall. Know what I mean?
Anyway, thankfully, Jen is a great photographer who managed to take my vague list of “do’s” and my long list of firm “please do nots” and create wonderful maternity photographs. Here are some of my favorites:
(Hey! We actually have a crib! More on that soon.)
And last, but not least…
If you’ve been reading for a while, you may remember that I had preemptively bought that Miami onesie when we started trying to get pregnant. But I hid it from Kristien, waited until I got the positive test, wrapped it up, and gave it to his as a ‘surprise gift.’ He freaked out when he opened the package (here’s the full story). The onesie has held a special place in our hearts ever since (well, let’s be real, anything with Miami on it is automatically special to the Husband).
(Hidden camera view – maybe I’m not so bad with the self-photographs after all?)
f you want to see more of our maternity photos, head over to Jen’s blog. If you’re in the Charlotte / Western North Carolina area and are interested of a shoot with Jen – she does all sorts of portrait work – she’s offering HTP readers a 20% discount off the session. You can check out New Shoe Photography for contact information. I highly recommend her!
Although – I must say – I do wish I had the courage to strip down and do nekkid shots. I’m sure some people find the nekkid shots to be tacky (hey, to each their own – watermelon metaphors and all). Not for the living room wall or anything (eck!), but it might have been nice to stash in a box and rediscover when I’m 75 years old.
So – let’s discuss. Maternity photos, wedding photos, newborn photos, whatever – what poses do you adore and loathe? Again – to each their own! What props are cute and which are cheesy? Would you ever do ‘boudoir’ photos (sexy portraits traditionally given to the groom on the cusp of the wedding) or nude maternity shots?
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{ 112 comments… read them below or add one }
Your pictures look great!
Love the photos!!!
Great photos! I will do maternity and newborn photos for sure when we are pregnant. Such a great memory I want to remember
I always find professional photos awkward though!
Caitlin, all of those photos are beautiful! What an awesome way to capture this time.
I’ll most likely never need them, but I love newborn photos. Babies change SO much during that first year that I think it’s really special to capture that first week or so of life.
Your photos are beautiful!
Love the photos! If we decided to do a maternity shoot, we’d do photos like yours. While I think some of nekkid shots are beautiful, it isn’t something I’d hang on the wall or show family. As for the newborn shoot, it is already a definite in my book. I’d like to think I can take them myself, but if I’m being honest I’d rather have someone else do it professionally. Since our wedding photographers have become so insanely popular, we can’t afford them so we’ll be attempting these photos with a new local photog. Beautiful photos! Can’t wait until the newborn babyHTP ones!
I love these! The pictures when you told you husband are priceless and so sweet!
BEAUTIFUL! My favorite is the one on the couch. Your first family photo : )
You both look beautiful. They turned out gorgeous!
That link to the awkward pregnancy photos is great. I was laughing out loud at my desk.
The pictures are perfect!! Probably much better than your original wedding photos, huh? haha. I seriously love that you included your dogs in these, too!
hahah everything is better than our wedding photos.
Beautiful maternity pictures. You look lovely.
And yes, I’ve done a boudoir shot for the husband before he left on deployment. He LOVED them. I think the key is finding a photographer you like so it’s not awkward. Then you need to see what you like. There were some poses/examples I just thought were NOT classy, so I didn’t do them. I liked the “pin up girl” style, not the dirty picture style. And of course, they are nowhere that anyone but the husband would ever see. Definitely not ok for living room art!
So I clicked through, and while they’re all great, I think my favorite one is of Maggie and James on the chairs outside. So cute
I’m a photographer, so I love maternity photos, but I have to say I’m really thankful no one has ever asked to do the “tasteful nudes.” I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why you would want a memory of yourself naked to begin with, much less pregnant. And if you do- take it yourself
I also don’t love the dad with out his shirt on holding the newborn. I don’t get that one either. I love natural shots that capture the real moments of having that sweet baby home. I love your photos- they look awesome!! And those pictures of telling your husband are AMAZING! I will have to do that when I get preggers 
Love your photos! So beautiful. Laughed and said a few words on those awkward photos you linked to. What in the world were they thinking? However, I like photos that are natural looking – not too many props – with interesting (but not distracting) backgrounds.
You look gorgeous! Those are some beautiful shots.
I love your maternity photos! The only ones I have encountered involve a lot more nudity, so I’ve never really embraced them. I think you have swayed my opinion, though.
My favorite is the one with James sleeping next to the crib. Adorable.
My faves are the shots with you two in the nursery. It looks very real. The couch is nice too. (I admit, I was a bit concerned when I heard maternity photos. I’ve only ever seen awkward ones.)
My favourite two – the first one in the nursery, and the one of you all on the couch. I like the one of you all because its a nice picture, but also because its the whole family pre-baby!
Also, each time I’ve seen the pictures of you telling Kristien, I have teared up. Raw emotion = beautiful.
I like some nude maternity ones. But I admit they are usually the heavily airbrushed black and white celebrity ones.
These sort of make me feel like crying! So wonderful and I LOVE the shot of the “five” of you on the couch … THAT is a pretty special picture. I also adore the shot of you on the bed looking down…so pretty, Caitlin. I really like the idea of maternity shots. Like you said, they capture a time in your lives that is so very important. A baby is so life-changing, I think it’s good to document the “before” as well as the after. You have a beautiful family already, and I can’t wait to see BabyHTP!
I love the idea of maternity photos, but, in reality, they are sorta an extra expense I cannot really justify (baby photos is a totally other thing though…)
So, not related, but WHERE is that dress from?? I’m in my second tri and while I’m resisting maternity clothes for as long as possible, that dress looks like it would be perfect for the long hot summer ahead!
Old Navy! They only have it in black and brown now though.
I LOVE that first shot on the bridge! These photos are beautiful! I think it’s a great idea to do pregnancy photos, it’s a special time to remember!
What a cute dress! Where did you find your maternity clothes?
That dress is from Old Navy! I got the rest of my stuff from the budget section of Destination Maternity.
Beautiful photos!! I wish I had gotten maternity pictures, because I actually felt great when I was pregnant. The only thing I came close to, were some pictures taken by my husband with his cell phone. :p
You look fantastic!
i almost tear up (i’m not a crier) every time i see the hidden camera pics, it so obvious is was such a special moment for you guys- its very real, i love it.
What beautiful pictures — such a perfect blend of elegance, timelessness, and sweetness. Lovely!
Amazing photos! You look gorgeous! Where is your dress from????
Old navy – pretty awesome!
Oh my gosh!! Those photos are so beautiful! She did a great job. If my broken body ever decides to bless me with a little miracle of my own…I hope I look half as beautiful as you do!
Great pictures…. but I have to say the best ones are definitely Kristien’s face when he realises… brings a tear to my eye every time!
I think a nude photo with a watermelon is the definition of class.
Your photographs are absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to see your little one! So soon!
Love the photos! I think my favorite is the one with James napping in the nursery.
When I worked on the yearbook staff, we had guidelines for Senior photos. It amazed me how many people disregarded our rules and sent us photos that included things we said to *not* include. Mostly it was either that they sent us photos with props (fine in general, but not for the yearbook) or full-body shots (also fine, but I believe our rule was usually waist-up or head-shots).
When I got my Senior pics taken, the photographer had me do weird poses that she insisted would “look good” in the photo. …No. They look ridiculous.
I just love the one on the floor of the nursery with James passed out in the background. It’s the perfect we-just-moved-and-oh-yeah-we’re-having-a-baby-soon moment. Captures the moment in your lives so well!
I like pretty traditional photography. As much as I appreciate the more artistic shots, I always frame the regular smiling pictures.
I SOOOO wish I had done maternity pictures. Yours look super cute. I guess I was just really insecure about my pregnant body so I didn’t. Oh well.
Newborn pics — I found out after having the baby that many photographers won’t do the pics after the first two weeks so I had to call several places to take pics of my 4 week old baby. The ones we got ended up really good but now I know that if I want the cute little curled up baby pics, I need to schedule that while I’m still pregnant.
Ha! I know exactly which creepy photographs you are talking about from the descriptions!
Love yours! We had them done too…I don’t know if I will for the rest of our kids, but I wanted to at least document one pregnancy!
i am dying at some of those maternity photos. i mean seriously???
They look so great! You guys are so cute.
Your pictures are gorgeous! I am a photo whore and for the wedding we took engagement photos, I took bridals, we had a photobooth and have over 600 pictures from our wedding day. I also did a boudoir photoshoot for my husband for his wedding gift. They can be done very tastefully, and I am glad we have them. So when I am 75 years old, I can remember what I looked like at 24. Of course, I will be doing maternity photos…probably really classy nude ones. No shame!
A friend showed me some engagement photos of his friend via Facebook that were…um…uncomfortable? There were a bunch where the groom-to-be was essentially straddling his fiance from behind. The effect was a little too date-rape-esque!
Ahh these pictures make me teary-eyed! I love maternity pictures. I actually think that the naked ones are beautiful (not the awkward cupping ones) but more artistic with the belly black and white shots. But I love the idea of capturing the moments and memories before the two become 3 or 3+.
I think my favorite is that bridge picture! Crossing the bridge into parenthood
Your pics turned out fantastic! I must say the hidden camera ones of Kristien when you told him the news brought tears to my eyes, though… terrific!
Wow, just checked out the full set on the New Shoe website and your photographer really got some stunning shots of you! You’ll have a hard time deciding which ones to hang in your home (gotta say, I loved the one with the dogs on the chairs in the garden, lol).
me too – i am definitely getting that one blown up.
Love the pictures, and that food truck! I think maternity photos and engagement photos are the best. I feel like you can see all of the excitement and love in the couple for all of the big changes to come
That pic of the reveal to your husband gets me teary every time! Your pregnancy pics turned out awesome! We did pics when I was pregant with our first. We “baby mooned” in Maui & I found the photographer on craigslist. They turned out amazing, although we did do a few cheesy shots. Not my cup of tea, but whatever. I was really happy with the end result
You look fabulous in your photos and you’re right, professional photos are the way to go. They often cost more but for future family photos, I will always use a pro for more candid shots rather than posed studio stuff. It’s worth the investment to me.
These are adorable. And the photography is fabulous!
My favorite pics is the ones with the building blocks on the belly that spell BABY or the baby’s name ..
I however at 7 months preggo have only gained an inch so unless this belly decides to pop in the next 2 months.. Will not be able to do those photos. I would LOVE to have a big ole baby belly.
I’m not even sure if we’ll be doing baby belly shots. I mean.. there is no belly there!
Oh you will pop! And you should do it anyway
great, classic photos
Aww.. I love the picture of you looking at your belly! So sweet
No kids in my future, but I’ve done boudoir pics for my husband as a Christmas gift. It was the MOST empowering experience I have ever had. Seeing that your own body–yes, yours–can be beautiful (without photoshop or retouching) is such a great feeling. If you’re thinking about it, find a photographer that you feel comfortable with (sidenote: mine was a guy!) and GO FOR IT!.
I was gonna do some for our anniversary this year! Ive been wanting to for a few years and ive found a photographer that seems wonderful and her pics are lovely and sexy at the same time. I finally worked up the courage to email her and like a week later i started feeling like crap which led to 7 weeks of feeling like crap which turned into being diagnosed with celiacs disease and now possible a new gastro disease i need a second edoscopy for…
so there goes all my money. And not to mention my self esteem feeling pukey and sittin in the bathroom all day isnt cute. We dont kids and i was/am in the best shape of my life so i want to capture it! I feel kinda silly about it, especially considering i have lots of issues with porn so im conflicted with this desire to do it. Guess inhave some more time to think!
I checked out the rest of the photos on Jen’s site – you’re so cute (and photogenic!) together! I especially liked the one with the dogs on the chairs by themselves & the headshot photo of you two from the chairs/backyard setting
These pictures are so freaking cute!!! I’m reading this post while in class (bad Liz, lol) and literally have to keep myself from aww-ing out loud!
That first photo of you two on the bridge is stunning, just beautiful! You look amazing.
yup that’s my favorite as well!!!
Omigosh, I’m so in love with your photos! I feel like looking back, pregnancy went by in the blink of an eye so I cherish my maternity photographs. I think you look so beautiful, Caitlin, and the two of you look so happy and in love. It’s really nice to see that and I’m so happy for you guys! By the way, I’m still guessing BabyHTP is a girl! xx
My husband gives me a love shove to get me out of bed several times a night since i pee like every hour. so romantic! I’m almost 39 weeks, it’s becoming all too real.
I didn’t get maternity photos done, but I kinda want to. If I haven’t gone into labor this weekend yet, I’m going to go to our local park and have my friend take photos… I figure I have good lenses and I know what shots I want so hopefully they will be okay?
I hope they come out excellent!
The pictures are beautiful, you’re beautiful, the concept is beautiful. All just beautiful.
I can’t get over the pictures of you telling your husband you’re pregnant. LOVEEEE!
Oh my godddd I love these!!! You look so beautiful, and you both look so happy! Your blog is giving me total baby fever!
Wow, I’m blown away by these photos. You look beautiful, as always! My fav is the bridge one and the one of you sitting on the bed and holding the bump. Pregnancy suits you well!!
LOVE these photos and your dress!
The picture on the bridge is absolutely gorgeous. Blue is a wonderful color on you! Congrats!
I almost didn’t get maternity pictures done, and now I’m so glad I did. It’s true you forget being pregnant, and I’m so glad we have these beautiful reminders
Since you’re already getting newborn pictures done, I highly suggest doing a “before and after” shot with the baby. We did this at 9 days and 6 months and they turned out adorably (if I do say so myself!!) Here’s our pic if you’re curious
http://www.jillpromoli.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Port-Elgin-Family-Photographer-110.jpg
Love that. Very cute.
super cute!
I love your photos! You both look so happy and natural in them.
I think any type of pose where (usually) the woman is in front and the man is creepily behind a tree/brick wall, poking around the side…those are so awkward to me!
I’ve done a boudoir shoot and it was really fun! It made me feel incredibly beautiful and self-confident! I highly recommend it – of course find a photographer who you feel comfortable with.
Omg, those photos are truly beautiful! I think they came out great. That dude with the bump is looking super creepy! People really do pics like that?!
Nude maternity photos are too funny. Personally, I think they are a bit cliche- I much prefer what you have done.
You both look amazing in your photos! Especially gorgeous- you resting in Kristien’s lap and the two of you laughing in the backyard.
LOVE THESE!! They turned out so well. We didn’t do maternity photos (guess I could… I have until Tuesday night when I will be induced, ha!). Not because I am opposed but just because I really didn’t think about it much. I really like the types of shots you posted here… not really a fan of the nude or more revealing ones but that is just me!
Wow, they are amazing! Such a great way to capture this wonderful time. We didn’t do either pregnancy or newborn photos, and I regret it in hindsight. Especially the newborn photos!
So cute! Ya look great!
I’m planning to do boudoir photos for my husband for our one year anniversary! He hinted many times leading up to the wedding about how awesome it’d be, but I was a grad student and didn’t have the money for it. Now that I’m working (and he’s deployed, I’ll give them to him during R&R) I decided to do it and have an album made for him as the “paper” gift for anniversary #1. I’m excited yet suuuuuper nervous, still researching photographers and working out extra haha.
you. are. beautiful. both of you.
Ahahahaha…I loved the examples of what you did NOT want for the maternity photos – these literally made me LOL! And I LOVE the photos that you did take – absolutely beautiful! I am seriously so excited for you two (or four).
Lovely, really beautiful pics – how fantastic ti have such a cool reminder of this special time!
Funny stories about my maternity pics, to give you a laugh:
Baby 1 – my friend is a photographer and offered to take some pics over the new year summer holiday when I was 8 months preggers. So we found ourselves pretty much naked at sunset, posing in an open park 200m from her parents’ house, with dog walkers openly staring at my bump and boobs! What was I thinking? Oh yeah, I had pregnancy brain… I wasn’t really thinking at all!
Baby 2 – I got up at 5am to go to hospital for my scheduled C-section and realised I didn’t have any decent “bump shots” – so my hubby took some pics in the bedroom with me looking knackered and stressed!
Needless to say, neither of these are on display in our home.
haha oh carin, that is too funny.
Beautiful maternity photographs. When and if I get pregnant I know I’m definitely doing nude photographs but ugh no not with a watermelon lol. Watermelons and husbands breast cupping aside, I really fail to see how nude photographs of a pregnant lady can be described as tacky. The female form is beautiful and even more so when said female is carrying a baby.
Just me 2 cents. Nudity is not shameful nor tacky. I won’t necessarily hang it on my wall but it’ll be a nice keepsake.
First of all, that creepy maternity photo is HILARIOUS… seriously, why do people want such a thing?
Secondly, your photos are beautiful. Your friend did a wonderful job!
I’m not married nor do I have little ones yet but I think Pinterest is a great source to gather inspiration for when the time comes. I may not do fully naked photos but I think there is something incredibly sexy about pregnancy, I wouldn’t mind flaunting it a little.
You look so gorgeous, Caitlin. You and your husband are glowing.
Aww! The hidden camera shots made me teary! My other faves are the bridge and crib shots. So sweet! In theory I’d like some boudoir shots of me pre-baby for a box when I’m 75. In reality… I really don’t want those shots floating around somewhere until then. I haven’t decided on semi-nekkid maternity shots but I’m leaning toward no on that one. My list of maternity shoot donts is quite similar to yours!
Love the black and white photo of the whole family on the couch! And I love your bangs
Your photos are really gorgeous. I am very happy for your family! That blue dress is beautiful.
Those photos are stunning!!!
Your photos look great! I will keep your friend in mind if I need photographs since I live near Charlotte.
I’m sooo dying to do those boudoir photos. So far, there has only been one photographer in clt that I even considered going to. They have to be classy not trashy
Happy Thursday!
beautiful!!!
Great pics! We did maternity photos too and am really glad we did. I had tried to take some myself but it’s just not the same! I didn’t strip down but we did do a couple wearing a button up shirt and undid the button to below my chest so that you could see the “naked bump” sticking out. We also did one with some rubber duckies parading across my belly and hung that one in the nursery. Turned out very cute.
Beautiful photos Caitlin…. love the one of you 2 and James in the nursery; the family photo of you all on the sofa…and the black and white one of you looking down at your tummy. xo
Your pictures are gorgeous! Love the one of you guys by the crib.
And thank you for introducing those awkward pregnancy photos to my life. Cracking up at my desk.
I am all for maternity photos – tasteful ones! I completely give credit to those who have the boldness to bare all, but I am NOT one of them haha.
I would love if my guy agreed to a couple, but I’m not holding my breath
I am pregnant with my first & am pretty sure that we will not do any maternity photos. I do plan to do some newborn photos though, I know we will treasure those.
For my husband’s birthday 2 or 3 years ago I did a pin up photo shoot. I’m built more like the 50′s girls & lean more towards that vintage look anyway. I was so nervous when I showed up for the shoot, but the women who ran the studio made me feel great & really comfortable. None were nude, just in lingerie. They did my hair in rolls, I wore fake eyelashes for the only time in my life, & we had so much fun. My husband loved & still loves them. I think actually it is the best gift I have ever given him, in his opinion. I’d highly recommend it!
That sounds so fun!
Your pictures are so cute–my favorite is the one with all of you (and dogs) on the couch.
My least favorite newborn photo shoot pose? When mom holds the curled up baby in front of her lower abdomen to mimic when she was pregnant. Yes, we get it–the baby came out of there!
I’ll admit to being a curmudgeon about “photo shoots” in general. Over your lifetime how many times will you flip through 600 maternity pictures? And if you have more kids, chances are they won’t get photo shoots (too busy with multiple kids!) and will not be remotely interested in seeing the sainted older sibling tastefully photographed from every angle. But maybe that’s my youngest child jealousy speaking. My brother has a thousand baby pictures, and I have about two.
I love baby photos and maternity photos, but I don’t think I would want to do nudes. Or the boudoir “sexy” photos. Just not for me.
Beautiful beautiful pictures! You are gorgeous! I love just these type of maternity photos. We did them outdoors in a field and by water and I really loved how ours turned out. The watermelon thing cracks me up because we totally did it and they turned out soooo stupid and we didn’t get any of those!
oh i LOVE the last one of you in the dress. the colors are beautiful! and happy birthday by the way
Even though I saw your post when you showed the images of you telling your husband, seeing them again just now almost made me tear up! Such a cute idea.
naww how cute is the husband in the pic where he is holding the onesie!
Your photographs are so beautiful! You both look so happy and proud, and the photographer is amazing. I particularly like the shots with the dog, of course pets are a part of the family.
And some of those “awkward” maternity photos are just creepy. The spanish moss? The gun? Ew.
I didn’t have maternity photos taken, unless you count the one my husband took the night before I went in for my c-section. Not something I want to frame and hang on the wall.
So… did you go naked-faced at the photo shoot?
Naw
I’ve been been browsing maternity photos lately and have definitely found more do-not’s than do’s! My favorite local newborn photog does maternity shots too, and almost all of hers are the boudoir style ones. Which I did do for our wedding, but don’t really feel like stripping down now, haha. So I’ll be needing to find more “normal” ones to bring as examples of what I want if I book her.
Yours turned out great! I love the sepia toned one of you looking at your belly, and the one of you and Kristien on the bridge
These photos are gorgeous. And thanks for sharing the links to the awkward pregnant photos. I haven’t laughed that hard in a WHILE!
Photos look really nice!
Loving your blog/website. I am due with my first baby on June 10
You look great! best of luck to you!
Katie