How to Prepare for a Maternity Photo Shoot?
Congratulations, you are about to become a mother! What a special time in your life, one that will have permanent meaning for you and your family. You’ll want to capture this miraculous experience -- to celebrate your journey now and to share it with others someday.
A pregnant woman is one of the classic forms of beauty and, likely, you are glowing as a mommy-to-be. A photo shoot is meant to affirm your distinctive beauty as a pregnant woman so come prepared to shine and showcase your pride and joy.
To prepare for your maternity photo shoot, there are a few things you’ll want to think about:
Don’t be afraid to wear tight clothes to fully highlight your body in pregnancy
Bring along any photo “props” that are significant to you e.g. a child’s toy, a photo, a blanket knitted by a loved one
Be sure to be well rested the day of the photo shoot so that you will have the stamina to sit, stand, move around, change poses, etc.
Search for and check out various boards on Pinterest to get ideas about specific poses you might like
Wear comfortable but presentable shoes. This is not the time for flip-flops or sneakers.
How to prepare for an engagement session?
How to Choose the Right Wedding Photographer
Getting married? Wow, what a special occasion and you will want to capture your happiest day through a collection of picture-perfect photographs.
It’s great if you can get friends and family to take candid shots throughout the day but, to get a memorable set of photos of the main wedding festivities, you will need a professional wedding photographer. So, how do you choose the right photographer for your special day? Here are some helpful tips to help guide your decision:
- First of all, determine how much you will allocate for photography as part of your overall wedding budget
- Where does photography fit as a priority? Is it more/less important than flowers? The DJ? The limo?
- Do you simply want a few pre-determined photos or do you want an anthology of the entire wedding experience from start to finish?
- Setting a specific amount for photography will help you be clear about your photographic options
- Second, how do you want your wedding represented? What style of photography do you want to see reflected…Formal? Casual? Funky? Artistic?
- Start early. The best wedding photographers are in great demand and are often booked a year in advance. Once you’ve set the date, start looking.
- Tap into your network. Begin by asking for referrals from friends and family members who have recently had weddings of their own. You can also ask other providers you will work with – the caterer, wedding planner, florist, etc. Find out what they like best about each referral.
- Now, narrow your options by conducting interviews. In addition to perusing actual wedding albums (or digital links) from each photographer, develop a set of questions that are important for you. Here are a few questions to get you started:
- Looking at the photo samples, what do you like about the color, style, clarity, exposure, and composition? Do the subjects look natural or self-conscious?
- Describe your vision of the wedding activities. Does your vision seem to fit with his/her photographic style? Ask how s/he sees capturing your vision in photos. Do you and the photographer seem to be on the “same page?”
- What percentage of their photography work do weddings represent? When was their last wedding shoot?
- Is the photographer familiar with the wedding venue?
- Do you feel comfortable with the photographer’s personality? Will their shooting style fit well with the people involved?
- Ask about the photographic equipment being used and other important information. You may not be a professional photographer but you may gain valuable information from asking about equipment and formatting options. And you will gain confidence in your photographic vision by knowing exactly what you getting.
- When you are confident in your final choice, sign a contract that outlines all the photographic details of the event e.g. who will take photos, hours/locations/events to be involved, format for photo access and final delivery, etc.
With a photographer contracted, you’re ready to start documenting your wedding journey!
Georgetown - Maternity Photos by Eylul Gungor
Author : Eylul Gungor
Aids Sucks!
Keep the promise on Aids.
MARCH ON WASHINGTON
On July 22nd, 2012 thousands of advocates joined on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. to participate in the “Keep the Promise on HIV/AIDS” March & Rally as a precursor to the opening ceremonies of the XIX International AIDS Conference. Activities included keynote speeches from former U.S. Congressman Ambassador Andrew Young, civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, broadcaster and author Tavis Smiley, prominent democratic intellectual Dr. Cornel West and – in a special message from South Africa – the highly-regarded human rights activist and Nobel Peace Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu.