MATERNITY
PHOTOGRAPHY
FAQ’S

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY SESSION?

Maternity sessions are a celebration of this special time in your life and I love to include personal elements for you and your baby in your portraits to ensure images are unique to you. We will start with some relaxed, hygge style images to help you feel at home, followed by some gorgeous silhouettes and traditional images too.

Please see the full maternity session information here for details and photos from my sessions.

when should i book my MATERNITY session?

I recommend booking your maternity photography session when you have had your 20 week scan so we can schedule a date based on your due date.

when will my session take place?

I feel the ideal time for your session is around 4-6 weeks before your due date, depending on how you are feeling, and how many babies you are expecting. 

do we need to bring anything?

All of this will be detailed for you in a handy checklist once you have booked as there are plenty of pieces you can bring to personalise your session and celebrate the impending arrival of your baby!

how long does a session last?

Sessions last up to an hour, starting with my relaxed, hygge style session on the bed in my studio in relaxed clothing and using your sentimental items and then using my plain backdrops to create beautiful images. I also have a few maternity gowns if you’d like more glamorous images - these are available on request. I also ask ladies to bring a black polo neck jumper or a lace bralette to wear with black knickers as this creates a really lovely look to the silhouette photos I include.

HOW MUCH skin IS 'ON SHOW'?

This is entirely up to you. I think it's lovely to show your bump off if you feel confident in doing so (I can offer delicate editing of anything you aren't happy with) and if you wish to celebrate your pregnant body and show off even more we have a lovely secluded studio where your privacy and dignity will be maintained throughout the session. We can discuss this before your session and on the day too depending how brave you feel!

can i take my own photos?

If you have someone with you, they are welcome to take a couple of behind the scenes photos of me photographing you during your session to remember this special time, however these shouldn't be close ups as these are the images you have paid me to take and a phone photo will not do them justice!

Please do not take any photos of any other elements within The Cabin, both for privacy reasons but more so as seeing the cabin for the first time is all part of the experience of booking a session with Mama Bear Photography, so we like to keep some details a nice surprise for future clients. 

can my partner and other children be included in the photos?

Yes! I love involving siblings and partners in the photos! The Cabin is only a small space, so we can discuss your individual situation upon booking as it may be preferable to have someone bring your other children towards the end, or at the beginning, of the session to ensure you can relax and enjoy having a bit of time focusing on your bump.

The camera on my phone is really good, why should i hire a professional?

Professional maternity photography is a fantastic way to celebrate a pregnancy and can often be overlooked. I myself took photos of my bump on my phone most days throughout both of my pregnancies which is so nice to look back on but I wish I had some really beautiful, glamorous images of myself, as well as those more relaxed, sentimental images to remember this amazing time. A camera phone is great for every day moments, but they cannot replace quality, beautifully crafted imagery that is meant for the walls and albums and this is what professional photography will give you.

Do you edit the images?

During your session, I will likely take around 100-200 photos. This consists of numerous angles of each pose and often very similar images, re-takes due to blinks, focusing on different areas and so on. Using my creative discretion, I only delicately edit the very best images including removing unsightly blemishes, colour correcting, detail enhancing and creative development to create the final portrait.

how many images will i get?

Images are not included in the session fee and are available to purchase separately. For a maternity session, you will have a minimum of 15 images to choose from when ordering.

DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE AN IMAGE PACKAGE BEFORE I BOOK?

You don't need to choose any package when you book your session. When you receive your online gallery you choose your images and your preferred collection as well as any additional prints. products or wall art.

do you share images on social media?

With maternity images, due to the sensitive nature of the image, I always wait for you to view your final gallery before discussing those I would like to add to my website or social media pages and ensure you are completely happy with me using those images before doing so.

How long does it take before we can see the photos?

Within 1 week of your session you will receive an email link to an online, password-protected gallery full of beautiful images from your session. These will have a basic edit on them for viewing purposes to allow you to choose your favourites and let me know those you’d like to order. At this point, you can also choose artwork or display pieces and once your invoice is paid your chosen digitals go into my editing schedule to be delivered back. to you 3-4 weeks later. Prints, artwork and albums will be delivered after this according to their different time scales.

If we order wall art or prints, how long will my order take?

This all depends on the specific products ordered and individual timescales however I would generally say between 4 - 6 weeks after you receive your digital files and your order will be fulfilled. All can be discussed further individually and I will keep you updated along the way too.

how do we receive our order?

The price of my products includes delivery, this could be in the post for smaller orders or we may hand deliver larger orders to prevent any damage to the pieces and you are also welcome to collect your order by appointment. All will be discussed with you individually upon ordering.