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A Surprise Maternity Photoshoot
I was so thrilled when I received the sweetest email from this client’s husband inquiring about a maternity photoshoot for his wife. He explained that they were expecting their second child, and that during her first pregnancy she had done a maternity session that unfortunately ended up being a really unpleasant experience. Honestly, hearing that broke my heart a little.
Pregnancy is already such a vulnerable and emotional season, and every expecting mom deserves to feel beautiful, comfortable, and celebrated during it. He told me he felt like she deserved a second chance at the experience, and wanted to surprise her with a session that would make her feel truly special this time around. From that moment on, I knew that if they booked with me, I wanted to make sure she had an amazing experience from start to finish.
Planning a Luxury Maternity Photography Experience
After talking through all the options together, Patrick decided to book my Signature Maternity Package, which is my most popular maternity session. It includes two looks from my client closet, a longer session with more variety, sibling and partner photos if desired, and the option to add on professional hair and makeup.
He also decided to add on hair and makeup for Nadia, which I always think is such a wonderful choice for expecting moms. Not only does it help you look polished for photos, but it also gives you a chance to slow down, relax, and truly feel taken care of before your session even begins. My hair and makeup artist comes directly to the studio, and I coordinate everything so you don’t need to stress about a thing. All you need to do is show up and enjoy the experience.
Creating a Personalized Maternity Session
Once Patrick looped Nadia in on the surprise session, I was able to start coordinating everything with her directly. She told me that she cried when she found out about the sweet gesture from her husband. A few weeks before her maternity session, I sent over my client closet so she could browse through all the gown options and choose the looks she felt most excited about wearing.
She also mentioned wanting to incorporate a faux floral hair piece that was native to her home country. I absolutely loved that idea. I always encourage clients to bring meaningful touches into their sessions whenever possible because it makes the images feel even more personal and unique to their story.
“I had such a lovely experience with Stephanie as my maternity shoot photographer! She and her makeup artist went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. The photos came out so beautifully and my family and I will treasure these photos forever. Thank you, Stephanie!”
Luxury Maternity Photoshoot Near Clifton, NJ
Since Patrick decided not to join the session to allow Nadia to have the spotlight, we focused entirely on celebrating Nadia and this beautiful season of motherhood. Before the session, she sent me an inspiration image featuring a simple neutral backdrop, soft white material, and beautiful glowing backlight. It had such an elegant and timeless feel to it, and I was so excited to recreate something inspired by it while still making it feel unique to her.
Soft White Fabric Maternity Portraits
We started the session with soft silky white fabric that wrapped delicately around her bump. The way the light filtered around her created such a dreamy, ethereal look. We played with several pose variations throughout this setup, including some with Nadia looking directly at the camera and others where she softly looked off into the distance. We also incorporated standing poses along with some lying on her side to create more variety throughout her final gallery. These looks are some of my favorites from her gallery.
Mauve Gown Maternity Photos
Afterward, we transitioned into a silky mauve gown from my client closet that photographed beautifully on her. The material flowed so gracefully with every movement and highlighted her bump perfectly. The soft mauve tones paired beautifully with the lighting and gave the images such a romantic and feminine feel.
Neutral Editorial Maternity Look
For her final look, Nadia changed into a neutral beige off-the-shoulder gown that gave the session a more timeless and editorial feel. The simplicity of the dress allowed the focus to remain entirely on her while the soft folds and textures added just enough movement and elegance to the images.
One of my favorite parts of the entire session was watching her slowly become more comfortable and confident as we continued shooting. By the end of the session, she was glowing in front of the camera, and you could really see her personality and beauty shine through in every image.
A Second Chance At Maternity Photos
Knowing that Nadia’s first maternity experience left her feeling disappointed honestly stayed in the back of my mind throughout the entire process. Every mom deserves to feel beautiful and celebrated during such an important chapter in her life, and it meant so much to me to be trusted with creating a better experience for her this time around.
By the end of the session, seeing how happy she was while looking through a few previews on the back of my camera reminded me exactly why I love what I do so much.
Maternity sessions are about so much more than just taking pretty photos. They’re about preserving a moment in time that passes far too quickly, while helping expecting mothers feel confident, beautiful, and cared for in the process.
Looking For A Clifton NJ Maternity Photographer?
If you’re looking for a maternity photographer in Clifton, NJ or Northern New Jersey who offers a calm, guided, full-service experience, I would absolutely love to help you create something beautiful for your growing family. I photograph maternity sessions for families throughout Bergen and Passaic County, including Clifton, Hoboken, Jersey City.
My maternity sessions include access to my curated client closet, posing guidance throughout the entire session, optional professional hair and makeup, and a relaxed experience designed to help expecting moms feel comfortable and confident every step of the way.
You can learn more about my maternity sessions here: Steph Spirou Photography
