This session almost didn’t happen. And that’s exactly why it feels important to talk about.
Not because it was elaborate or planned to perfection, but because of what it represented.
This lovely couple very nearly didn’t book a maternity session at all! Life was busy, Christmas was approaching, and like so many expectant parents, it felt easy to assume there would be time later… or that perhaps it wasn’t that important.
But just before Christmas, they decided to come in. And I am so glad they did!
You Don’t Have to Be in the Photos to Be In the Photos
From the very start, mum was open and relaxed. Dad, less so.
He wasn’t particularly keen on being photographed and didn’t feel drawn to being front and centre. And honestly? That was completely okay.
This session became a beautiful reminder that maternity photography doesn’t have to look one specific way. It doesn’t have to be posed, performative, or centred on anyone who doesn’t want to be there.
We focused mainly on mum. On her body. On the quiet strength and softness that comes with carrying a baby. Dad stepped in gently where it felt right, a hand on her back, a close cuddle, the shape of his arms framing her. He didn’t need to look at the camera to be part of the story.
And the result?
Images that feel intimate, honest, and deeply connected.
Right before Christmas and right before everything changed!
Their session took place just days before Christmas, and their little girl arrived on New Year’s Eve!
That stage before your baby arrives, when your body is doing something extraordinary, but life still feels… normal. It’s such a short window, and it’s one that’s easy to overlook!
When they later returned for their newborn session, they shared something with me that really stuck.
They told me that, like many people, they hadn’t originally planned on booking maternity or newborn photos because of the cost. With a baby on the way, every decision feels weighted and practical (not to mention, expensive!).
But then they reflected on their wedding photography and how much they had invested in that. And suddenly, perhaps surprisingly, these images of their first baby (and the time before) now felt just as precious… if not more so!
Why I will always encourage Maternity Sessions
Maternity photography is still something people talk themselves out of. And I get it, I’ve been there myself!
We worry we don’t feel like ourselves.
We think we’ll just wait until the baby arrives.
We assume or feel that our partners have to be involved in a certain way…
Or we tell ourselves that the iPhone photos will do, and we’ll remember it anyway!
But here’s the truth.
Your body is doing something extraordinary, and it deserves to be acknowledged, documented, and celebrated.
Capturing this stage of life isn’t about trends or perfection. It’s about proof. Proof of where you were, what you’ve achieved, who you were becoming, and how much love existed before your baby ever arrived.
And whether your partner wants to be fully involved, quietly present, or not photographed at all, there is still so much value in capturing you!
More than just right now
Yes, professional photography is an investment. And yes, it can feel like a luxury in a world that demands everything instantly and cheaply.
But photographs are not disposable.
So much of what we know about our grandparents and great-grandparents comes from the photographs they left behind. The creases, the expressions, the stories held in physical prints. The pencil notes on the back… Not perfect. Not curated. Just real.
Long after the newborn clothes are packed away and the details blur, these images will remain. Tangible, lasting, and deeply personal.
We deserve to leave behind more than quick phone snaps left in forgotten folders. We deserve to leave behind stories.
If you’re on the fence about booking a maternity session, consider this your gentle nudge! Not because you should, but because one day you may be grateful you didn’t let this chapter slip quietly by.
