What a time to be pregnant! Life as we know it is at a halt because of a global pandemic. For many expecting women, getting to enjoy normal pregnancy traditions such as Gender Reveals, Baby Showers, and Maternity Photo Shoots can be hard to make happen right now. Thankfully, I’ve been able to figure out how to make each happen as we celebrate our little girls soon arrival. I was blessed to be able to get out and take maternity pictures at our Herman Park, but some women may not feel comfortable doing so right now. Another great option is to have photos taken of you at home! If you know someone you trust that can make a quick visit to take some photos, I’d suggest doing so. These are moments that you can’t get back, and that you surely can’t reschedule.
Today I’m sharing some of my favorite pictures from an at-home shoot done with a great friend and photographer Sara Ascencio. Even better, Sara is going to share some quick tips to make your at-home shoot work for you! Keep scrolling for her advice and some encouragement on how to find the silver lining during this time.
This dress featured is the Nautical Set from Tiff.Marie Maternity! Check them out for some cute and comfy maternity pieces.
TIPS FROM PHOTOGRAPHER SARA ASCENCIO
#1 Turn off all artificial light and get as much natural light in as possible.
Open the blinds, curtains, and even doors if you have to go get as much natural light as you can inside of your home. Make sure any and all artificial lights such as TVs, electronic diffusers, Hue lights, etc are turned off. This will help you have the best lighting possible for your photos and avoid any colored shadows.
#2 Make sure to have a neutral background and remove any strong-looking objects from the frame.
You may have to move around some chairs or random objects in order to help you have a more neutral background. That is exactly what we did in order to get this image! There was a table and two chairs by the wall, and we moved it to the side to have a clear background. Try to position yourself or the main subject next to a plain wall. This ensures that the main focus of the image is the subject and that other things do not distract from the main subject.
#3 Make sure your image is properly framed.
The one thing that can make your images stand out and look better is good composition. Make sure the subject is centered, properly aligned, and that the camera isn’t slanted so that the final image doesn’t look crooked and is perfectly straightened. You may simply be taking casual photos at home and you may not have a lot of experience with photography, but being intentional about the framing of your images can make the biggest difference!
SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOR EXPECTING MOMS
When things don’t look the way we want, it’s easy to get discouraged. I’d be lying if I said the pregnancy during a pandemic has been easy. I’m an extrovert and all I want to do is be with my people. But there is always a silver lining. Just keep your eyes open and look for it. I truly believe that if we can make it through this.. we can make it through anything. You are stronger than you may realize! You’ve got this!
