Tips For An Amazing Maternity Session in Austin.

Look beautiful for your maternity session! Motherhood is a special time of your life and for many women, (although we may not feel like it) we are at your most natural, feminine and beautiful self. During your pregnancy, your hair is rich and thicker, your breasts are fuller, your skin is glowing, and your body has more curves. For many expecting mothers, there’s no better way to remember their pregnancy and chronicle their journey to motherhood than a professional portrait session with Giselle Salazar Photography. Here are a few tips to help you look and feel your best in your maternity photo shoot.

PHOTOGRAPHER

The most important element of looking beautiful in your photos is the photographer. Find a professional photographer with strong technical skills and experience in pregnancy photography and holds a specialization in it. A professional maternity photographer will know how to light, pose and photograph you in angles that flatter your face and body. We take pride on our extensive experience and knowledge when it comes to maternity photography. We are also very fortunate to have an amazing team ready for you with styling hair and makeup to add more glamour and pizazz to your maternity photos.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER.

STYLE

Choose a photographer whose style most resonates with you. We specialize in timeless, classic, glamorous high fashion images when it comes to studio photography. If you are looking for a more organic and natural feel, we also offer outdoor sessions. We have so many beautiful locations to offer in the beautiful state of Texas.

QUALITY

Explore their portfolio as well as their recent sessions. Are there flattering poses or good angles in their work? Are there a variety of mamas with different body types and do they look great? Are the images sharp, properly exposed with good lighting and framed well? Also do they have anything different and unique they offer in their sessions?

Look for consistency in their work. This is the best way to differentiate an amateur from a professional. An amateur photographer’s portfolio may show nice images, but those images are a compilation of one or two accidentally good images from many sessions. The professional will show quality images consistently in both their portfolio AND recent work on their  social media and/or blog. If you hire an amateur to shoot your session, you accept the risk that there may only be one or two good images from your session vs. the 20-30 great images that a professional will provide in your gallery. When you hire with quality in mind, you buy the assurance and the peace of mind that your special moment is captured perfectly before it is lost in time.

EXPERIENCE

While years of experience may not necessarily equate to quality, very often the photographer with years of experience has had the time to hone their skills.

PRICE

While price is an important factor, it should not be the most important one. Like any quality products or services out there, good photography is expensive. Why? Because it is not easy to create quality images and products, Bad photography is more expensive. If you don’t like your photos, you wasted your time and money.

SERVICES OFFERED

Are you looking for a photographer to take a few “quick shots” for you or are you looking for a photographer who will go above and beyond for you? To make your photography experience a unique one? to sit down and talk to you about your vision before your session, plan backgrounds, wardrobe and makeup that’s unique to you and your vision? Does your photographer offer beautiful ways and products to display your images or just a digital download that you might not have time or energy to print your images.

WHEN TO COME IN FOR THE SHOOT

For expecting mamas with singletons, a good time to do your maternity photos when you are 28 – 34 weeks along in your third trimester (around 7 – 8 months pregnant). Your belly is showing beautifully round but you are still comfortable to pose. For expecting mamas with twins (or more), come in earlier around 26 – 30 weeks as twins tend to arrive much earlier than singletons.

PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP AND HAIR

Very stress free as we offer some of the best professionals in the field when it comes to makeup artistry, we also offer hair styling to make the process as seamless as possible.

POSING

A great photographer should direct you in posing so you can look your best. Maternity session these days have evolved into an experience that empowers and puts emphasis in celebrating your pregnant body. If you always dreamed of doing something for yourself and celebrate how amazing you are with a beautiful photo session, booking a maternity session with Giselle Salazar photography is the best way of doing so. We will guide you through maternity poses that empathize the beautiful curves of your body and for those mommas who want a little something extra, we can offer some editorial and high fashion posing ideas.

WHAT TO WEAR

We will plan wardrobe and styling when we meet for your design consultation. Here’s a list I provide to my clients.

• Neutral strapless bra and seamless underwear
• Black bra and panty set (for those black background belly shots)
• White/ivory bra and panty set (for those white background belly shots)
• Coordinating outfits (for significant other/husband and/or children. Choose a color palette that match your chosen outfits from my client closet and coordinate your outfits accordingly. Visit my Pinterest Board to get some ideas!)
• Any favorite scarves, accessories, jewelries, etc.
• Any sentimental items

We specialize in maternity and have maternity dresses, wraps and accessories in their studio available to use. The benefit is you don’t have buy maternity dresses that you will only wear a few times. One dress can run you anywhere from $100 – $1000 each!

LOCATION

Consider the location of your shoot and the advantages/disadvantages of them.

INDOOR (e.g. in the home)

Advantage in the home is comfort and connection to familiar surroundings. You don’t have to worry about the weather outside. Disadvantage, you have to clean your house so it will look good in the photos. The lighting may not be optimal.

STUDIO

Advantage is convenience and control, take advantage of creative lighting and effects. You can shoot anytime regardless of weather.

OUTDOOR

The natural beauty of a pregnant woman in a beautiful outdoor backdrop is simply breathtaking! The parallel of a mother about to bring to life into the world and Mother Nature is a powerful one. The disadvantages are that the shoot is weather-dependent and shooting hours are limited to the golden hour of sunrise or sunset when the quality of natural light is at its best. Reschedules can happen and may trigger the rescheduling of other related appointments (e.g. professional makeup and hair artist, florist, venues, etc.) Remember your sunscreen and bug spray! Be prepared to walk/hike to the location and change outfits outdoors.

Giselle Salazar is a premier Maternity, Newborn, Family  and Glamour photographer based out of , Salado TX and serving Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Temple and surrounding areas

A member of Professional Photographers of America and Portrait Masters Professional Photographers of America, Giselle Salazar prides in capturing your beauty during your maternity session and offering a Unique experience

Follow us on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK. Once you are ready for your photography experience CONTACT US to book your session!