Maternity Studio Session | Christina

Maternity session with a beautiful first-time mother-to-be.

I recently have expanded my studio wardrobe and picked up some lovely pieces that I felt would be amazing for a studio maternity session. I’ve also been dying to try out my new natural light studio for a more intimate maternity session and asked my friend, Christina, the owner and stylist of the cute and classy hair salon Studio C in Jacksonville, Oregon to come in for a session during her 34th week. This is Christina’s and her husband’s first baby and I knew she would be the most beautiful mommy-to-be. I called in my favorite make up artist, Shawnie Curtis, who created, once again, a flawless make up look complete with individual eye lashes and a rosy pink lip color. Christina did her own hair and the end result is absolutely stunning!

How gorgeous are her eyes?!

I love, love, love photographing eyes. It’s one of my favorite things about photographing faces – seeing how unique and beautiful eyes can be. Christina has a bit of this sport of almost a red hue on her right eye which, in all the years that I’ve known her, I’d never noticed before.

We started the session in the dress she actually wore to her bridal shower. Though it is not maternity, Christina was so tiny that it worked wonderfully for the session and brought in some sentimentality. We paired it with a cute lace cardigan she came with and I love the classy and soft look it created.

The next gown is actually a top I picked up at a local boutique. I love the Free People feel and while it is not a maternity top, I knew it would be great for a maternity session.

Normally, my studio subjects are much shorter so I don’t get to play around with backlighting from the windows, but I love how it creates an etherial feel to the images.

I have been very excited to try out this next gown for a maternity session. It is a vintage Vanity Fair, double layer chiffon nightgown I found on Etsy about 6 months ago. I think it is so, so beautiful and would have definitely used it during my own maternity session with the fabulous Photography by Lahna Marie and then my following motherhood session with the world-renowned Robin Long Photography if I’d had it at the time. It’s so soft and feminine and I knew Christina would be beautiful in it.

This gown is actually a lace robe I purchased off of Ebay. It has a very vintage feel and I love the antique, off-white color. It had ribbon ties, but they seemed to be in a weird position so I quickly cut them off and closed it with safety pins. I’m going to add a hook and eye closure for future sessions. I love how serene and happy Christina looks in this image.

 

Oh, this laugh!! I love capturing spontaneous moments of true laughter and joy. I have no idea what we said or what was going on but it was funny and allowed me to capture this beautiful moment.

The 4th gown we played with was also an Ebay purchase. It’s another lace robe with a more modern feel then the previous gown. I love the lace details right across the belly.

We created one of my favorite images using this gown. I had her lay down on my futon couch and arch her back as much as she could to help keep the belly from falling flat. I focused on her eyes and with the shallow depth of field, it created such an emotive image. It’s not quite boudoir maternity, but has such an intimate feel.

We finished up with the mermaid style maternity gown I actually purchased from Sew Trendy Accessories and wore for my own maternity session. I love the sweetheart neck line and the long flowing lace bottom. It hugs the body so the baby belly is prominent. And it is incredibly comfortable!

Thank you so much, Christina, for allowing me to capture this moment in your pregnancy!

Christina’s baby girl was actually born a month early, just 10 days after this session and I’m so glad we didn’t put this off any longer. My babies were all born early, between 11 and 15 days early, and with pregnancy you just never know what baby wants to do. The best time to schedule your own maternity session is the start of your 2nd trimester for a session held between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant.

Gift Registry and Gift Certificates are here!

An exciting new service I’m providing my clients is my newborn Gift Registry and the ability to purchase a gift certificate online. Mothers-to-be who sign up for my gift registry receive a 10% discount on any print and/or digital collection!