Outdoor pregnancy photography
Pregnancy photography is a wonderful thing. Capturing this beautiful and transformative time in a person’s life. Add in the power of natural light and the results are stunning. In this blog post, we will explore tips and techniques for photographing pregnancy in an outdoor setting, allowing you to document this miraculous time with grace and artistry.
The power of the golden hour
The golden hour, which occurs during the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset, offers the most enchanting light for outdoor photography. The soft, warm tones and gentle rays of sunlight during this time create a flattering and beautiful atmosphere. Your pregnant subject will glow during the golden hour.
location
Location can change the whole dynamic of an image. Beaches, meadows and gardens are perfect to compliment pregnancy. If your location has a gentle stream or flowering tree, these can add a beautiful depth to your images. Find a scenic location where you are less likely to be disturbed. This allows your subject to relax and form a connection with their surroundings, giving you depth to your photographs that compliment the beauty of pregnancy.
Why not ask your subject if there is a location that holds a special place in their heart? Somewhere they feel comfortable or drawn to.
weather & Season
When selecting your location, pay attention to the weather. No one wants photographs on a windy beach.
The season is also important. Is it Spring with its beautiful blooming flowers and vibrant colours? The perfect place to do a shoot would be a meadow.
Is it autumn with its colourful leaves and warm light? Then a woodland would make for a serene location to shoot in.
All these factors are important for creating the right atmosphere for wonderful pregnancy portraits.
Dress & pose
What your subject is wearing can make a world of difference to how your pregnancy photography turns out. Encourage your pregnant subject to wear something that they feel comfortable and confident in. A flowing dress can accentuate their bump while creating a sense of elegance and grace. Ensure they consider neutral tones to not overpower the photograph. Solid colours or simple patterns that will not distract from the focus of the image. Try to move them towards colours that will complement their surroundings.
At the beach, white dresses and linen work perfectly with the tones of the beach and sea.
In the woodland or in the countryside, choose earthy colours, or blues and neutral tones.
Remember to check for phones in pockets or bent collars
When posing, encourage them to only use gentle movements, like walking, swaying or embracing their belly. These will add a dynamic to the photograph that can express the joy and anticipation of motherhood. Get them to embrace nature. To sit amongst the flowers or against a tree. To step into the stream or ocean, and relax as the water washes over them. Try to help them forget they are being photographed.
Emotion & connection
Involve partners and other children in the session. Encourage gentle embraces, kisses on the belly, or moments of shared laughter. These interactions create heartfelt images that reflect the love and excitement surrounding the pregnancy.
Remember to ensure that all outfits complement each other and work in a way that signifies a connection within the family.
Ask the subject non-intrusive questions about their pregnancy. Get them to reflect on how they feel. Capture that authentic emotion.
Think about candid shots. Ask them to interact or walk as if you are not there. Get them to tell jokes or share stories and capture the emotions that they invoke.
Creating a comfortable and supportive environment will allow them to relax and be themselves, resulting in authentic and emotive photographs.
play with composition & contents
It is recommended that before your shoot, you as the photographer should venture to the location to get to know it. This way you can guide your subject to the right place without wasting any time, helping to calm any anxiety that they might have.
Try to embrace nature in your photographs. Use it to frame your subject or image in a way that draws focus where intended. You can use pathways or streams to also guide your viewer’s eye.
Experiment with depth of field to create a separation between subject and background. Create a shallow depth of field to create a beautiful blurred background and a subject that stands out.
Vary your angles and perspectives. Don’t just shoot from in front of your subject. Get down low to capture the grandeur of the bump. Capture a larger scene to give a sense of scale to the surroundings.
natural light
Use natural light to your advantage during your pregnancy photography. Find where it interacts with the surroundings. Does it filter beautifully through the trees, dappling your pregnant subject and the ground? Does it cast a warm glow on them, or a soft light from an overcast day? Natural light can be used to create ambience and mood in an image, play around until you find something that feels right.
Post-Processing and Editing
Once you’ve captured a beautiful collection of images, post-processing can enhance their impact. Consider using soft and warm tones to complement the natural and serene feel of the photos. Adjust the exposure, contrast, and colour balance to achieve a harmonious and natural look.
Ensure that you do not over-edit. Keep the look as natural as possible. Crop or rotate to ensure that the composition of your images is on point. Straighten that horizon, correct those leading lines and ensure an even balance of empty space.
Conclusion
Whether you are a professional photographer or a partner wanting to capture the beauty of your partner’s pregnancy, natural light photography offers so much to an image. Helping you to capture the beauty, grace and emotions of pregnancy.
Leave a Reply