The journey of pregnancy is a miraculous and beautiful thing, but it doesn’t always feel that way. While you may be enjoying some perks, like glowing skin, long thick locks, and a cute baby bump, you’re also going to experience the downsides of pregnancy – swollen ankles, newfound tiger stripes (my wife swore by this stuff), and a wave of emotions.  Sounds fun, right? As an expectant moms body works hard at creation, it’s completely normal to not look or feel 100%. They may question whether they should take maternity photos at all. As they scroll through Instagram, they can feel “huge”, especially as they compare themselves to that perfect-looking Insta-mama.  She walks twelve miles every day and brags about it in her stories, so it’s hard not to feel inferior as you polish off that tub of ice cream.

If you don’t feel like you’re rocking this whole pregnancy thing, you should still have maternity photos taken. Even though pregnancy can have its less-than-enjoyable moments, your body is doing an incredibly beautiful thing. You’ll never regret documenting this change with maternity photos.  Here are three good reasons why every mommy-to-be should schedule a maternity photo session.

1. You’re going to miss your bump, believe it or not!

From the moment your pregnancy test reads positive, you start dreaming about meeting your newborn and holding them in your arms. At first, it feels like the days are inching by, and you find yourself saying things like “I am so tired of being pregnant.”

You’ve probably complained about your aching back, sleepless nights, and frequent heartburn to all your friends and family. “There is no way I’m going to miss this,” you state matter-of-factly.

But as time goes on, you’re going to miss that bump!  It won’t be at first, but as the months pass and your baby starts to crawl, you’ll scroll through your monthly pregnancy photos on your phone while absentmindedly rubbing your belly.

You may find yourself uttering those words you never thought you would: “I miss being pregnant.”

The truth is, while pregnancy is hard, there is something simultaneously special about it. You’re growing a new life, and you’re the only one your baby is depending on. You feel their every hiccup, every kick, and every headbutt to your ribs. You’re completely connected.

Once it’s over and done with, you’ll find yourself wandering down nostalgia lane and remembering all those baby kicks (and the ability to eat whatever you wanted guilt-free. My wife was obsessed with Chipotle!) So, it’s especially important to capture these moments because you won’t be pregnant forever, and your pregnancy will fly by quicker than you anticipated.

Having maternity photos to look back on will be a standing reminder of that magical time when new life was gestating inside your belly. When you see those beautiful pictures of yourself, you will always smile.

2. You’ll be surprised at how beautiful you feel

 You’ve probably heard the phrases “You’re glowing!” or “Pregnancy suits you!” from various people throughout your pregnancy.  Between the cankles, the urge to eat everything in sight, and the fact that none of your clothes fit anymore, pregnancy doesn’t always make you feel beautiful.

In fact, most women experience a decline in self-confidence as their pregnancy progresses.  Your ever-growing tummy may seem like the perfect excuse to avoid taking photos for a solid nine months, but it’s just the opposite!

You see, at the end of the day you come to realize the beautiful truth – you’re growing a human being – and that is enough of a reason to celebrate!  Dressing up in a way that accentuates your bump, putting on some makeup, and pampering yourself (hello, pedicure!) for a photography session may be just what the doctor ordered for a case of the pregnancy blues.

When you see your pictures after the shoot, you may be surprised at just how beautiful you look.

3. You’ll love looking back at your photos as your child grows

When you first hold your newborn in your arms, time starts to fly!

One minute you’re learning how to properly swaddle, and the next, you’re chasing a toddler through the aisles at Target.

You’re going to miss the calm days of pregnancy where you didn’t have to keep tabs on the diaper bag or wipes every time you head to the store. You’ll miss that your baby bump couldn’t talk back to you when you get into a debate with your toddler over whether they should eat pancakes for every meal.

As your child grows, you will find yourself reminiscing about your pregnancy days and how quiet the house was. You’ll love reflecting on how you had such a tiny human growing inside you, and your maternity photos will be a wonderful reminder of a time that’s so far gone.

Your children will enjoy seeing these pictures when they’re older, too. They’ll absolutely love seeing how beautiful their mama was when you were carrying them in your belly.

They won’t notice those few extra pounds or how tired you look under your eyes. They’ll focus on something more important than that – the love in your eyes and the joy that was radiating from you.

Your photographs will be treasured!

Scheduling a maternity photo session should be on every mama-to-be’s checklist.

By having maternity photos taken, you’re giving your child a glimpse into a world they’ll never be able to see for themselves – They’ll have physical proof of how excited you were to meet them.

As hard as it might be to envision now, time passes quickly. It won’t be long before your child may be showing these pictures to their own child. Your grandchild who might only know you as the gray-haired grandma who is always quick to offer a hug and a treat will have the opportunity to see you in another light.

That’s a tremendous gift to give your child and the children who come into your family after them. And it’s a great present to yourself and your spouse as well. It’s something the whole family will cherish forever.

MOTHERLY PORTRAITS

Antonio specializes exclusively in fashion and fine-art inspired maternity portraits. For more of MOTHERLY PORTRAITS please visit our maternity gallery. For bookings and information on maternity photography please reach out to us by filling out the contact form here.

2021