subject: Variety in Maternity Photography [print this page] It's been said that variety is the spice of life, and I believe that this certainly applies to maternity photography. How many times have you seen the standard hands-clasped-over-belly photo? It's a classic to be sure, and it's certainly stood the test of time, but photography is a creative field, and there's plenty of room for additional variety when it comes to maternity photography.after all, writers don't limit themselves to one set of words or phrases, so why should photographers?
When talking about variety, the first area that comes to my mind is poses the sky's the limit when it comes to creative, interesting poses (although the comfort and ability of the mom-to-be to get into certain pose is a factor that needs to be considered.) Try to think about your model's interests: is she a yoga enthusiast? Yoga poses can convey a sense of strength, tranquility or inner peace. Is she a runner or biker? Poses that accentuate the strong line of her legs along with her belly can be provocative and eye-catching. Use your imagination and take some time to ask questions and gather her input and I can assure you that you'll come up with interesting and exciting alternatives to the standard hands-clasped-over-belly pose.
Another area that seems to be untapped is the use of colors. While black and white and sepia are classics, and should definitely be included in your repertoire, it doesn't hurt to push the boundaries a bit. Chances are that as a photographer you're used to seeing more young women with colorful tattoos: Why not utilize these bright colors and incorporate them into matching or contrasting backgrounds that attract the eye and provide added excitement? Do she and her partner have matching tattoos? Use them to build an exciting, unexpected image. You can use colorful fabrics or items of clothing; interesting paintings or posters, or even brightly colored flowersthe only limit is your imagination.
Don't be afraid to let your model express her sensuality in her maternity photos. This is an exciting and emotional time in her life, and she'll want images that capture her beauty and her sensual nature. Tasteful, artistic nude or partial nude shots can be done in black and white or sepia for a very artistic and classic look. The key is ensuring that your model is comfortable, because as you know, anything done out of her comfort zone will look awkward and forced, so discuss it with her, and don't be afraid to start out slowly and build up to nude or partial nude as your model warms up to it. Having her partner present or even involved my help, as well.
Another way to add variety might be to take some maternity photos at an earlier stage in her pregnancy. Consider that at around 5 months she's starting to show and glow as the baby bump develops and the radiance and excitement that she feels are becoming evident. Photos at this stage can really capture her sense of joy and anticipation. Another advantage is that at earlier stages she can more easily get into a variety of poses, so you won't be as physically limited. Many women enjoy documenting' their stages by doing some shots every month or two. This is a great way for them to have a visual record of their pregnancy, and it's something that she'll enjoy showing her child down the road.
Let's not forget our good friend Photoshop: What about making a drawing with thin or thick lines in black and white or sepia? Try color crayons or find edges you may see that using gradient maps with bursts of colors can sometimes excite even the most conservative model.
Keep some if these ideas in mind when you're planning or doing your next maternity photo shoot, and see if they don't help to spur your creativity! No matter what we think about maternity photography alternatives, show your model the possibilities, but let her choose.
