Studio or Outdoor Maternity Photo Shoot: Which should you do?
Maternity photography is an amazing way of capturing the beauty and emotion of pregnancy and one of the most frequent questions I get asked is on the choice between an outdoor and studio maternity photoshoot. Both types of sessions have their pros and cons so it's important to know them before making your decision. Hopefully, this post can help make it easier for you to make that decision. Let’s start with outdoor maternity/pregnancy photo sessions!
What I love about outdoor maternity photo sessions:
Nature is beautiful! A scenic background is a great way to add color and vibrance to your photos. We get the option of a range of colors from all the greenery, the blue sky, a gorgeous sunset, the ocean and all the beauty that nature has to offer pretty much for free. This helps to add an organic and natural feel to the images.
Soft, natural light can be great for the mood and emotions of anyone, more so a mom to be. I typically love to shoot outdoor sessions towards sunset because that’s when the light is softest and can create and capture the perfect mood you want to achieve in a maternity photo. Having access to the different levels of natural light is very helpful in achieving many creative looks and moods.
Nature offers a range of locations which can provide a variety of backdrops. A photoshoot at the beach or in a wooded area would provide a lot of opportunities for a variety of beautiful images.
Outdoor sessions can be more relaxed and comfortable for mom since we would have less posed looks and can just have stunning photos of mom interacting with nature
The not-so-great stuff about Outdoor Maternity Photo Sessions:
Outdoor maternity/pregnancy photo sessions are very weather dependent and unpredictable, leaving us at the mercy of the elements. This makes it a bit of a challenge to book sessions way ahead of time.
Most outdoor locations can sometimes have a lot of distractions such as crowds, traffic, or even wildlife. Having a lot of people around can also make it difficult for mom to relax and be natural, especially if they’re self-conscious.
Limited control over lighting and background.
Having a variety of looks may be challenging because it could get uncomfortable changing outfits especially when there’s no access to the privacy a changing room can give.
It’s difficult to do nude-semi-nude shots because of privacy issues.
What I love about studio maternity photo sessions:
The photographer has total control of the environment, lighting, background and ambience which gives the photographer more creative control and can be more comfortable for mom.
Studio sessions can produce images with a more polished look that can be edited in so many ways in post production..
You can schedule your maternity session anytime! We don’t have to worry about weather conditions and can book sessions way ahead .
It’s a lot easier to provide mom with a variety of looks and outfits since it’s a lot easier and faster to do outfit changes within the comfort of the studio
Nude photos! You can have have nude of semi-nude photos done without any worries, making it a lot easier to show off your bump and your pregnant body, if that’s the look you’re looking to achieve.
The not-so-great stuff about studio maternity photography sessions:
No amount of filters or digital backgrounds can replicate or replace the natural and authentic feel and effect that nature provides.
Studio sessions are a lot more posy which might be difficult for advanced pregnancies.
Studio sessions limit you to the studio space with no access to the variety of locations nature can offer
Ultimately, the decision between an outdoor and studio maternity or pregnancy photo shoot will depend on your personal preference and the style of images you want. Both types of sessions will produce beautiful and memorable images, and each has its own unique look. When deciding on a maternity photographer, find one who specializes in the kind of session you want for best results.
If studio sessions are more your jam, then get in touch! I am a professional photographer specializing in newborn, baby, maternity and family studio photography sessions within the Bay Area and Central Valley, California. My studio is located in Mountain House, CA and is fully set up to provide an excellent and comfortable photo shoot experience for you and your family. If you're looking to get beautiful images of your baby bump while feeling like the absolute queen you are, then click the button below to book your maternity photo shoot!
