It’s probably one of my biggest regrets, not having professional maternity photos taken during my three pregnancies.
And now my children ask to see images of me when I was pregnant with them and I struggle to search through my phone to find even one.
If I’m honest, it’s because I didn’t feel good during my pregnancies but now I look back on the few images I do have and think ‘what was I thinking? I was beautiful.’
They’re not for you, they’re for them
Something I have come to learn is that maternity and newborn images aren’t for you, they’re for your kids. Even if you’re feeling puffy and feel like nothing looks good on you, images of this stage of life show your children what you looked like before them.
They show the anticipation of waiting to meet their greatest love. It shows their beginning and the start of your parenting journey with them.
When you’re no longer on this earth to hold them close, they’ll look at you in images and remember the stories you used to tell them of how much they kicked you while you were pregnant and how you and your partner were brought to tears by their sheer existence.
But I don’t feel attractive
After three pregnancies, I know that feeling well. But I can also say one of my biggest regrets is not having maternity photos taken.
I look back on the few phone snaps I took of my belly and view my body with much kinder eyes than I did back then. I was totally kick arse!
A maternity session gives you an hour to really think about this baby, this season of life, this ever changing and strong body of yours. I want to show you just how gorgeous you are and what everyone else sees, even if you can’t just yet.
Another item on the to-do list
When a baby is on its way, there’s a lot to organise. There’s the packing of the hospital bag, ensuring maternity or paternity leave is organised and tracking down someone to watch your kids (if this isn’t your first babe).
But the beauty of booking a maternity and newborn session in while you’re pregnant, is it’s done and dusted well before it all starts to get a tad overwhelming.
At about the 20 week mark, simply fill in my contact form and we can book both your maternity session and newborn shoot at the same time. Then you can forget about it and know that I have everything else handled.
It’s too expensive
The greatest three days of my life began in the darkness of the night in a dimly lit room as my three babies entered this world.
I am so grateful for the photographs I have of them in their clear bassinets at the Rockhampton Mater Hospital, the images of their tiny features and our first family photos together.
I’m acutely aware that I’ll never have that time back again. Ever. As much as I’d love to rewind and live it again. What those moments are worth is different for everyone. For me, there is no price because I’ll cry happy tears for the rest of my life reliving that time.
When you book a maternity and newborn session together, you receive a discount. I also offer payment plans, so you can gradually pay off your session before you’ve even had it.
Your memory fades but your photos don’t
I would have thought something has profound as the birth of my children would stay with me always but unfortunately the finer details have started to slip away.
My kids ask me about the moments immediately after they were born and their first days with us and I have a hard time recalling what that sleep deprived, blurry season of my life was like.
I have printed images of their dimply knuckles, tiny fingernails and their little bodies against mine. Once printed, they’re guaranteed to last 75 years plus, so I know they’ll outlive me and my children will be able to show their own babies.
