A Little Prep. A Lot of Magic.

Your maternity session is about documenting this incredibly temporary version of you.

Your body is doing something wild right now. It may feel beautiful and powerful one day and completely foreign the next. You do not need to arrive at your session feeling confident, glowing, well rested, or perfectly put together.

You just need to arrive.

I will take care of the posing, direction, light, little details and all the “what do I do with my hands?” stuff.

This guide will help you take care of everything else.

Start Thinking About Your Wardrobe

You do not need to have everything figured out before your session.

Start pulling anything you are considering and bring options. We can go through everything together and curate your final looks once you arrive.

Think about pieces that show your shape rather than hide it:

• Fitted dresses or bodysuits

• Oversized button-down shirts

• Bras, underwear and lingerie

• Jeans worn open below the belly

• Simple tanks or tees

• Sheer or textured pieces

• Robes, fabric and draping

• A favorite jacket

• Something sentimental

• Nothing but your belly and beautiful light

You also have access to pieces from the Dark Moon client wardrobe.

For maternity especially, simple can photograph incredibly well. You do not need an elaborate outfit for every look.

Think About What You Want This to Feel Like

Your session can be soft and intimate, bold and editorial, sensual, minimal, emotional, playful, or a mix of everything.

Save anything that catches your eye, but do not worry about recreating someone else's photographs.

We are using inspiration to understand what you are drawn to so we can create something that feels like you.

THE WEEK OF YOUR SESSION

Hydrate

Pregnancy already asks a lot of your body, and being well hydrated can help you feel your best.

Start being intentional about water in the days leading up to your session rather than trying to make up for it the morning of.

Take Care of Your Skin

Keep your skincare routine simple and familiar.

This is not the week to experiment with a new peel, facial, self-tanner, retinol, wax or aggressive skincare treatment.

Moisturized skin photographs beautifully, so give your belly, arms, legs and chest a little extra love.

Hair Removal

Hair removal is completely optional.

If shaving, waxing or other hair removal is part of your normal routine, give your skin enough time to calm down before your session.

And if it is not part of your routine, you absolutely do not need to start for your photos.

Nails

Your hands will show up quite a bit in maternity portraits, especially around your belly.

You do not need a professional manicure, but clean, tidy nails or a simple polish are perfect.

Do not forget your toes if we may be shooting barefoot.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

Tonight is about making tomorrow easier.

Lay out your wardrobe and accessories so you are not searching for things in the morning.

Remove tags and stickers from anything new.

Pack any sentimental items you would like to incorporate.

Charge your phone.

Drink some water.

Eat a good dinner.

And then, as much as pregnancy allows...

rest.

Please do not skip meals or restrict food before your session because you are worried about looking bloated.

You are growing a whole entire human.

Eat.

THE MORNING OF YOUR SESSION

Eat Breakfast

Please come fed.

Your session involves standing, sitting, lying down, changing positions and moving through different sets. Pregnancy can already make your energy and blood sugar unpredictable.

A good breakfast with protein and carbohydrates is your friend.

Bring a snack if you think you may need one.

Drink Water

Bring your water bottle with you. We can take as many water and bathroom breaks as you need.

Wear Something Loose

Avoid tight socks, leggings, bras, underwear or anything else that may leave deep marks on your skin.

A loose dress, sweats or comfy clothing is perfect for arriving at the studio.

Comfort wins today.

If you are having hair and makeup done…..

Come With a Clean Face

If professional makeup is included in your session, arrive with a clean, moisturized face unless your artist has given you different instructions.

If you have any sensitivities to makeup or if you have a base coat that you love and would like to use, please let up know ahead of time so we can be mindful and prepared.

Come With Clean, Dry Hair

Unless otherwise instructed by your hair and makeup artist or photographer, please arrive with clean, completely dry hair with minimal product.

WHAT TO BRING

You do not need to pack your entire closet, but options are always welcome.

Consider bringing:

• Your wardrobe possibilities

  • you will have access to the client wardrobe, but I highly recommend bringing at lest two looks from home that you feel really good about.

• Nude and black underwear or thong

  • This is very helpful for under dresses or for suggestive nude images…the lower profile the better.

• A nude and strapless bra if you have one

  • If you want a little extra support under dresses.

• Jewelry and accessories

• Heels if you want them

• A button-down shirt or jacket

  • I love this look for maternity and if is also a great opportunity to incorporate something form your partners closet.

• Favorite jeans

  • even if they no longer zip or button, bring them along.

• Sentimental items

• Ultrasound images if you would like to incorporate them

• Water

  • I do provide beverages but I always recommend having a water bottle with you.

• A snack

  • If hunger strikes, a snack is always a good thing to have on hand. Posing is a lot of work.

• Lip balm

  • If you are not having your hair and makeup done, I always recomend bringing a lip balm or lip color you love.

• Anything that makes you feel a little more like yourself

And if you are unsure about something?

Bring it.

We can decide together.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BODY

Pregnancy changes your body quickly.

You may arrive feeling incredible.

You may arrive feeling swollen, tired, uncomfortable, or emotional.

You may feel all of those things within the same ten minutes.

There is room for all of it here. I have been through multiple pregnancies so I fully understand all that comes with it. We move at your pace so communication is key here. If something hurts, pulls, pinches, makes you dizzy or simply does not feel good...let me know. Your comfort and safety are the most important thing to me.

There is no photograph worth making you uncomfortable.

YOUR BELLY

Please do not worry about stretch marks, veins, linea nigra, scars, texture, belly buttons that suddenly have minds of their own, or any of the other things pregnancy can bring.

Those things are normal. These things are proof that your body is doing something truly amazing. That is reason to honor and celebrate.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO SLOW DOWN

Maternity sessions move differently.

We may take more breaks.

You may need to sit.

You may need water.

You may need a snack.

You may need to pee approximately 47 times.

You may suddenly decide a position that sounded completely reasonable five minutes ago is absolutely not happening.

That's okay.

We will work with your body instead of asking your body to work for the photographs.

IF YOUR PARTNER IS JOINING YOU

Keep their wardrobe simple and complementary rather than perfectly matching.

Neutral colors, denim, black, white, earth tones and simple textures tend to photograph beautifully.

Avoid large logos, busy graphics and anything that competes with you.

Most importantly, they do not need to know what they're doing either.

I will direct both of you.

Their biggest job is simply to show up ready to be close to you.

ONE LAST THING

You do not need to practice poses.

You do not need to lose anything.

You do not need to fix anything.

You do not need to suddenly become comfortable in front of a camera.

That part is my job.

Your job is to show up, let yourself be taken care of for a little while, and allow us to document this version of you before she changes again.

I cannot wait to create something beautiful with you.

Much Love,

Lisa
Dark Moon Studio