There is a reason I am BEHIND the camera taking photos. I hate getting photos of myself. I can pick out every single ridiculous imperfection in the photo of me that anyone could ever imagine. But yet it doesn’t stop me from getting them taken. Cause I know someday, someone, maybe myself, will love looking at that photo. And if not, then it’s a photo of a certain time in my life and I can look at it and think “what was I thinking with that hair?” or “wow I am so glad I don’t dress like that anymore” . Everyone in my family is the same. Insecure. “Need to lose a few more pounds” or “I can’t cause I have no makeup on”……doesn’t matter how great any of us look. We are naturally insecure about our body image…….Most people will never see me without makeup on. ever. But the funny thing is, I don’t see ANY imperfections when I am actually taking (and editing) photos. I just see incredible beauty in every single thing about pregnancy and newborns.
I can tell you all the reasons NOT to get maternity photos. I get it. Who the heck wants to PAY to not only feel absolutely ridiculous getting photos done, not sure how to sit, or to smile or what to wear (and of just us too boot?!?! ok the family ones feel a little easier, but seriously to get all dressed up, hair done, for pictures of just ourselves? weird hey!?!?!)…..but then……….to get photos done when we are an extra 25-80 pounds heavier than normal! How the heck can you feel glamorous?
I promise you can. And wether its professional photos, or just plain old simple iphone photos, PLEASE TAKE TONS OF PICTURES WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT. You will NEVER regret having them. (better yet, throw on some makeup and a cute dress and make your hair REALLY pretty and take a few photos while pregnant!).
I have never, to this day met anyone that didn’t come back to me after their maternity session and tell me they weren’t so happy they had them done and that they loved them. They all have gone out of their way to come back to tell me that. EVEN The ones that “didn’t want them” or “Bobbi, I am sooooo insecure that I almost didn’t book this with you, so I’m trusting you” (I have heard that a LOT!). But again, I’m not saying book professional photos, or book with me. Use your phone to take a few, or go to any photographer you want, just take some photos while you are pregnant!
Here’s my story of why I choose to have my maternity photos done. Here’s the reason why I have a giant canvas in my living room of my HUGE pregnant belly. Any why I LOVE IT. Maybe it’s cause I am 6.5 months pregnant with my 3rd and all the emotions are coming up again, maybe it’s just cause I think if by writing this post that just one of you will decide to snap that extra photo of yourself while sporting that incredible baby bump……..but this is why I do it. Not for me. but for my kids. Mostly my daughter when she is pregnant herself and is “just like me” and wants to know everything about what my pregnancy was like from her mom. I didn’t get that chance. And here is a very very condensed version of it.
4 years ago, my mother collapsed in her living room. Out of the blue she became paralyzed from the neck down. Not even her lungs would work, so she was on life support. I remained at her bedside for 8 months in ICU completely devastated. 4 months into this, I found out I was expecting my first child. I had all the questions in the world for my mom, but no way to ask her. I could have, but between the drugs and the health issues, I’m not sure what answers I would have gotten ;O) Then I had a team of doctors in Vancouver tell me that I should abort my child due to health risks of my own child and a chance of spina bifida and “baby may end up on a ventilator and paralyzed too”. But I knew life wasn’t that cruel, my brother was also in a wheelchair cause he was hit by a car as a small child. There was no way life could be that terrible to one family. I knew I was at my limit already watching my mother and I knew they were wrong. My husband and I left the meeting and ignored the entire conversation with them, as much as we could. I can say this was the first time in my life I was completely and utterly amazed at my body and the miracle it grew inside. Not only was my baby born healthy and perfect, but my entire outlook on life (and my body, as well as everyone elses bodies, including my mothers) had changed. It was when I was pregnant with my daughter, watching how crazy life “can be” and realizing I needed to do what was in my heart before I don’t have the chance. This is when I needed to leave my stressful banking career behind and start a new chapter in my life. To enjoy life. To enjoy being a mother and to truly take this amazing LOVE I had and make life amazing. This is where my photography journey began……once I seen the miraculous beauty in pregnancy and babies and just plain old life itself and how important it is capturing all those incredible memories on images.
My mom is still alive and she’s doing just fine. She is my rock. And 3 of my pregnancies later, she has always been there, even if it’s just a phone call away. She is still on a ventilator and still has a body that will no longer function how it once did. She has a wheelchair to get around. She has full time nurses and has to live in a specialized long term care facility in Vancouver and can no longer live close to her family like she once could. She will never be able to “hold” my children. But She is very lucky. And so am I. And I am so very thankful she has met all my children and is able to watch them grow into amazing little people. And I am thankful I can talk to her for hours and hours and still ask for advice from her. Cause at one time, not that long ago, I didn’t think any of this would ever be possible.
But I can say. I would DIE to see pictures of my mom while she was pregnant with me. When her body still worked “normally”. When she could walk. I would love to see how my body resembled hers or how big I was in her tummy. How pretty she looked while she was pregnant. It would mean everything to me. What if……we aren’t around when our daughters have babies of their own? What if they don’t have us to ask? Wouldn’t you want them to at least have a photo? What if they too felt “much too big for photos” and just needed an image of their mom to give them the confidence they need to love their bodies? I know its not for everyone. But I can say, my maternity photos are my favorite photos I have of myself. I remember every single emotion I had when I look at them. The fear, the excitement. The way the baby felt inside. These pictures are priceless to me.
Thank you for sharing your comments with me. And just for commenting the winner of the Tim Hortons card is Kristel R. and the winner of the Gift Certificate from Bobbi Sloan Photography is Tyne D. Congrats! Please email me at bobbisloanphotos@hotmail.com to arrange pickup!
And thanks again for sharing!
Much love,
Bobbi Sloan Photography is a custom portrait Newborn, Baby and Maternity Photographer in Penticton – Oliver BC and area, specializing in Newborn and Baby Portraiture, Maternity, Family and Child photography. She is a studio light and natural light photographer covering the South Okanagan (Oliver BC and surrounding areas including Osoyoos, OK Falls, Penticton, Summerland and Okanagan Valley in British Columbia). Bobbi is an accredited member of the Professional Photographers Association of Canada. Bobbi Sloan Photography is also available for travel. Booking 2014 Newborn Portraiture and Maternity Sessions.
phone 250.689.2475 Bobbisloanphotos@hotmail.com
Such perfect advice. It is SO important to capture these amazing moments. Hiring a professional maternity photographer is a must, and YOU are the perfect maternity photography artist!
Such a great article. I WISH I had done maternity pictures. I have four kids and hardly any pictures at all. I was so terribly sick and felt awful the entire time that I just never did. I regret it so much now. Maternity photography is a wonderful thing!!