Hi there friends!
Today we are going to have a little chat about maternity portraits- more specifically, how to choose the perfect maternity photographer for you (even if it's not us)! Choosing a maternity photographer to capture such a beautiful time in your life is a very personal decision and the photographer playing field is quite vast- hopefully these tips will help you land the perfect photographer to help bring your dream to fruition.
1. Start the search early
I know what you're thinking right now, "but I have 9 months to find a photographer!" While your pregnancy may last 9 months, in demand photographers are often booked out for MONTHS and only take on a certain amount of clients so it's important to begin your search early. Starting early helps ensure you get on your photographers calendar and it helps you start planning and pinpointing exactly what you want your maternity images to look like. Do you want more artistic styling or classical styling? Maybe a boudoir maternity session is more your cup of tea. Whatever your taste, it's best to find a photographer who's work you absolutely LOVE and reach out to them as soon as possible. Also, don't be afraid to ask to see several galleries to check for consistency- there is NOTHING worse than booking a photographer based off of a lucky session. I highly recommend you start reaching out to photographers early on in your second trimester...even earlier if you are expecting multiples.
2. Does the photographer SPECIALIZE in maternity portraits?
Does the photographer you're looking at shoot all different types of photography from maternity to seniors to corporate head shots and everything else in between or do they specialize in maternity portraiture? While anyone can take a good photograph...not everyone knows how to properly pose a pregnant woman to accentuate her beautiful curves and make the expectant mother feel absolutely stunning. When it comes to maternity portraits- posing really is everything. Maternity and newborn portraits are the corner stone of Amber D'Anne Portrait Design- we have the experience and knowledge to make you look and feel absolutely gorgeous for your maternity session.
3. Does the photographer offer a studio wardrobe?
One thing to consider is whether or not your photographer has a studio wardrobe available to their clients or not. Most photographers that specialize in maternity portraiture have a wide selection of gowns and outfits available for their clients while other photographers may not (meaning this will be an added expense for you). The plus side of hiring a photographer with a studio wardrobe is that you don't have to buy an outfit to wear only once or twice AND it helps ensure you get a consistent look with what you see in the photographers portfolio. Amber D'Anne Portrait Design offers an extensive collection of high end designer maternity gowns as part of our studio wardrobe for all of our clients to use at no additional cost to them. We have beautiful gowns in all styles and colors to flatter every body type and skin tone. The ADPD client closet can be found HERE.
4. Does the photographer offer studio, outdoor, or both?
This goes along with the first point of starting early with research and determining what look you are really after for your maternity session. Some mamas dream of the perfect outdoor location while others fawn over the simplistic and fine art qualities that studio portraiture can offer. And some mamas, want it all for their perfect maternity session. Choosing a photographer with a studio location does come with the added benefit of having a backup plan in the event of bad weather. Amber D'Anne Portrait Design offers professional studio portraits, stunning outdoor portraits, or a combination of both.
5. Investment
With a wide variety of photographers available from amateur to professional, your investment will vary greatly across the board. A legally operating and insured professional photographer will have different rates then others just like studio photographers will have different rates than those operating without a studio. If you have your heart set on a photographer that offers a quality studio wardrobe, the investment will also likely be higher. On average, you can expect to invest between $250-$800 with a professional photographer in our area. If your dream photographer is slightly out of budget, please don't hesitate to ask them if they offer any sort of payment plan, etc. to help with the investment.
I hope this short article has offered a few helpful tips when it comes to selecting a Moscow Idaho or Pullman Washington maternity photographer. If you are still searching or have just started your search- we would LOVE to hear from you. You can call us at the studio or send us a quick email. Until next time! Amber D'Anne