Why Choose a Beach for Your Maternity Photo Session?
Nothing is more quintessential Southern California, then a beach. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in the world in Orange County, CA. Whether it’s Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar or others, you’re bound to find a beautiful backdrop for maternity photos.
Beaches provide such beautiful lighting, natural beauty, and a calming atmosphere that make it a perfect setting for maternity pictures. Read through this post for your ultimate guide on how to plan your Perfect beach maternity photo shoot.
What to Wear for a Beach Maternity Shoot
When planning wardrobe for any of my clients sessions, I always recommend that they wear something that they feel beautiful and comfortable in.
Tight Maternity Dresses
When it comes to Maternity dresses, typically tight body conscious dresses look very flattering with the baby bump. Mama should show off the beautiful body that is housing the growing baby inside of her.
Flowing Maternity Dresses
Some moms prefer more dramatic dresses with big skirts and those are beautiful as well. The most important thing is to make sure that mom feels comfortable and beautiful. When doing a session at the beach, you have to expect that the dress will also get sand and seawater on it so you will want to make sure you bring dresses that are easily Washable. That’s one of the most important things I think about when I buy dresses for my client closet.
Belly Showing Maternity Dresses
Some mamas love their belly so much that they want to show them off. Outfits that show a pair of belly are always beautiful. Two piece outfits with a small top and a long skirt or dresses with slits in them to show off the belly are great for the beach.
Colors of Maternity Dresses
You want to take into account the color palette that you choose when taking pregnancy pictures on the beach. You can choose natural colors that mimic the beach tones like blue, beige, and brown. Some people like to go bold and contrast the color of the water by choosing red, yellow, or green color. Whichever pallet you choose, be sure to have coordinating outfit for any partners and other children.
Casual Clothes
There’s something to be said for keeping it casual on the beach for your beach pregnancy pictures. A cute white tank top and jeans are the perfect combo. It’s also an easy way to match with your partner.
Best Time of Day for Beach Maternity Photos
There’s really only two times of the day that you will want to take maternity pictures, sunrise, and sunset.
Sunrise lighting for maternity pictures
When taking sunrise pictures, you will want to be at the beach 30 minutes before the scheduled sunrise and one hour afterwards. That’s when you’ll get the softest light. Sunrise pictures can be tricky because many beaches will have coastal fog. You may not get the actual sun, but the lighting will still be prettiest. With sunrise pictures, you are also almost guaranteed to have little or no crowds. That is one of the big bonuses.
Sunset lighting for maternity pictures
For sunset pictures you will want to be at the beach one hour before scheduled sunset and up to 30 minutes after. Sometimes it’s good to wait for the sun to actually go down because that’s when you will get the prettiest colors in the sky if they are going to happen that day. If it’s a clear day during the sunset, this is a good time to get old colorful pictures on the beach. You will also be able to catch a couple of sunrays filtering into the Images. Sunset is the most popular time at the beach so be prepared to use creative angles to avoid crowds or to sharpen your Photoshop skills with removing them.
How to Prepare for Your Beach Maternity Session
Planning around tides
When planning for your beach maternity session, you will want to be sure to check for the tide conditions. Not many people think to do this, but it can make a huge difference in your photo shoot. You can check the tide online on numerous sites. Believe it or not a beach can look completely different at high tide and low tide. You want to make sure you plan for the aesthetic that you were aiming for.
Planning around weather
We are lucky to have the beautiful beaches of Southern California. That doesn’t mean that we will have perfect weather on your scheduled shoot (but the odds are in our favor). It tends to be cold and windy close to the shore on most days. During the summer though, it can get extremely hot, even at the shoreline. So you’ll want to check your weather app ahead of time to be prepared.
Things to bring to your maternity photo shoot
Your photographer should send you a list of specific things to bring for your shoot. There are a few items I usually suggest bringing as well. These items will make for a more comfortable and seamless shoot.
- Bottled water – hydration is important, especially if you’re walking along the sand.
- Towels- no matter how much we try to avoid the water, somehow we end up in the ocean.
- Comfortable shoes- shoes don’t really matter in a beach maternity shoot because you will be barefoot. But you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes to get to the location.
- Garbage bags for sandy clothes- if we end up with wet, sandy clothes, it’s much easier to carry them home in a garbage bag to contain the sand.
Posing and Prompting Ideas for Beach Maternity Photos
When I do maternity pictures on the beach, I try to use all the elements as much as possible. If there are rocks, I’ll use those to sit on, stand on, or lean against. I like ending the session with the pregnant mom getting in the water as much as she’s comfortable with. Depending on the time of year and the temperature of the water, that may not be too far haha.
If the expectant mother’s partner is present for the shoot, I will usually have them take a walk along the shore line. I also like having them snuggle with each other on the rocks or in the sand.
A favorite maternity photo session
I had to highlight one of my favorite beach maternity session that I’ve ever done. I think part of it was so special because I met this mama when I was in doula training. Yes, I am a labor and delivery doula. Knowing that she was so passionate about becoming a doula and then becoming pregnant herself was just so special.
She also happens to be stunning and has a very handsome partner as well. I knew this shoot was going to be magical. She wanted to show her belly and I just happen to get a new dress from Reclamation I was excited about. I love using their maternity dresses because they give the perfect amount of Intimacy without being too vulgar.
As you can probably tell by the pictures, it turned out to be a stunning Maternity photo shoot. I was able to use multiple maternity dresses and designs because she had a great baby bump. I was able to play with colors and neutrals as well and she looked amazing and every single one.
Tips for Booking Your Own Beach Maternity Photo Shoot
Time it right
I always suggest maternity pictures should be taken between 28 to 32 weeks. This is the time when mama has a nice bump showing and still has enough energy to be doing photo shoots. If we wait too long, sometimes mom is a bit drained of energy and could be in nesting mode and not as eager to leave the house for a photo shoot. Don’t wait until you are 28 weeks long though. You can book your Maternity shoot as far in advance as you’d like so that you have enough time to prepare.
Photographers style
Before you put your photo shoot, be sure to look through several photographers website or Instagram feeds to make sure they match your style. You may be requesting a beach photo shoot, but there are actually quite a few styles within that genre. Make sure to talk with your photographer beforehand and show them examples of the vibe that you are going for. That will make Everybody happier with the outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plan my maternity photo shoot?
I like to schedule Maternity photo shoot when mama is between 28 to 32 weeks pregnant. This seems to be the time when mama has a good belly but hasn’t entered the exhaustion of the third trimester.
Should I have my partner in my Maternity photo shoot?
It’s always a personal choice whether or not you want to have your partner and or your other children as part of your maternity photo shoot. It’s also up to your partner and whether or not they are comfortable being in pictures. Ultimately the session should be about you and the remarkable thing that is happening within your body. Having a partner in a couple of pictures isn’t a bad idea.
Can I bring my dog to the beach Maternity photo shoot?
It will depend on which beach we are shooting at. Some beaches allow for dogs on a leash and some beaches. Don’t allow for any dogs at all. If you would like to have your dog part of your maternity photo shoot, be sure to check the beach rules before you go.
What happens if it rains during my scheduled beach photo shoot?
As a rule, I don’t cancel sessions due to rain until about an hour or so before the session. But, if it is actually raining, then I would suggest that we reschedule. If it just happens to be cloudy, I wouldn’t suggest that we reschedule. Weather on the beaches can be unpredictable. One day there’s a beautiful sky with a pink sunset and the next day, there’s a super cloudy gray sky. No matter what the skies look like, though, the proper posing and editing can make every beach Maternity session look warm and inviting.
How do I book a Maternity session?
If you are interested in booking the maternity session with Freebird Studios, simply fill out the contact form here. You will be sent pricing for the different packages that I offer. We will book the session based on your due date. In order to confirm a booking, I only require a $50 deposit. The remainder of your payment is not due until your gallery is delivered. I also offer discount pricing for Newborn pictures and subsequent photo shoot. Looking forward to hearing from you.
