How to Have Absolutely Stunning and Beautiful Denver Maternity Photography
The Ultimate Guide to Maternity Photography for Moms-to-be in the Denver Metro Area
Do you want stunning and beautiful maternity photography in Denver? Not sure where to start?
Then you’re in the right place.
This is a guide for everything you’ll ever need to know about maternity photography in the Denver area. It’s an ultimate guide in fact.
So scroll down and I’ll help you learn exactly how to get the maternity photography of your dreams.
And don’t forget to get your freebie, before you go!
Hi and Welcome!
I’m Sara and a maternity, newborn, and family photographer in the Denver metro area. Mom of two (including my fur baby). And enjoyer of the outdoors, even if it’s just looking at it from my couch. You can learn more about me here.
In this guide, I’m going to show you how to navigate the world of maternity photography, so that you can be confident in your choices and be proud of your maternity photos. Interested in me as your photographer? You can see more about my maternity services here.
What You’ll Learn in This Ultimate Guide to Denver Maternity Photography
What is maternity photography anyway and when should I have it?
Why should I take photos of my baby bump?
Where do I find my dream maternity photographer?
How do I find the perfect place for my maternity photoshoot?
How do I find the made-for-me gown?
What do you bring to these kinds of things anyway?
The What and When of Maternity Photography
What is maternity photography anyway and when should I have it?
Maternity photography is exactly what it sounds like, photographs while you’re pregnant. But beyond the simple definition it gets a little more complicated.
You can have maternity photography taken at any time of your pregnancy. Some moms-to-be want to have photos taken to announce their pregnancy. It can be fun to do that because you haven’t started showing yet, so it’s your last chance to get a couples session done before your family grows. It can also be a great way to get a professional’s input into designing a session that really shows off your and your partner’s personality.
Other moms-to-be will wait to take any photos of their pregnancy until they are showing. The timing of that depends on circumstances. If you’re going on a babymoon, I’d schedule it for then. If you’re going to do it at home, then I’d aim for 32-36 weeks of gestation. That is when your bump is the most prominent and you can still move around. We’re also not flirting around with full term yet. You can read more about maternity session timing, along with details on how this timeline changes for multiples and high risk pregnancies on my blog post - When is the Absolutely Perfect Time to Take Maternity Photos?
I also have a calculator that helps you decide your specific timeline as part of my 5 Things You Must Know Before Reaching Out to a Colorado Maternity Photographer. You can get the freebie here.
The Why of Maternity Photography
Why Should I Take Photos of My Baby Bump?
That’s the ultimate question in the end, isn’t it? Why should I get maternity photos done? Here’s something I realized when I became a mom. My daughter’s existence in my life didn’t start on her birthday. In my mind, she existed long before that. I’m not sure of the day or the moment when I first began to feel like a mom or she began to feel like my child, but I can pinpoint it enough to say that it happened when I was pregnant.
And I wasn’t one of those moms that connected with her child much during her pregnancy. In fact I don’t feel like I really fell in love with my daughter until a few weeks after her birth. But now that I look back on my pregnancy, her birth, and her early years, I feel her presence in my memories during all of those stages. I became a mom during my pregnancy and she became my daughter at the same time.
So, long story short, this is a stage of your kiddo’s life. This is a chapter that you’ll think of as part of her existence within your life. And it is a part of her story. So capture it. Don’t disregard it as just before she is here. Consider it already the start of her story.
That didn’t convince you enough? Then check out my blog post that dives into this topic in more depth - 5 Often Forgotten But Important Reasons - Why Should I Take Maternity Photos?
The How of Maternity Photography in Denver
Where do I find my dream maternity photographer?
That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? At least if they paid you for all the time you’ve spent trying to find one, you might have a million dollars by the end of it. I’m not going to lie. It isn’t easy. Then again, you’re on a maternity photographer’s website, so you must be figuring it out pretty well. To save you some time with your future researching though, here’s the cliff’s notes version of how to find the right maternity photographer:
At the end of the day, old fashioned Google is the best place to start. Search terms like “maternity photographer,” “maternity photos,” or “Denver maternity photographer.” And start searching through the results.
Pinterest is good for more things than designing nurseries. It can also help you to find the photographer whose style you like. Look up terms that are geographically oriented, because Pinterest isn’t going to assume you’re just trying to find someone local like Google does. So try terms like “Denver maternity photographer,” “Boulder maternity photographer,” and because the vast majority of population is in the Denver area, “Colorado maternity photographer” will also help.
Friends
Personal recommendations are always helpful. It tells you more than reviews or a website can. So if you know anyone that has had a baby lately, ask them for recommendations. Also, if you’re working with a birth professional, like a doula or a midwife, ask them for recommendations.
I have a whole blog post devoted to the topic of finding your dream maternity photographer. I encourage you to check it out for tips and tricks on how to find and decide upon a maternity photographer. Here’s the post - 5 Easy Steps to Finding Your Dream Maternity Photographer. And, be prepared when you do find the right fit and get my freebie below:
Get Your Freebie Guide!
5 Things You Must Know Before Reaching Out to a Colorado Maternity Photographer
Included:
Know when you should be booking and having photography done during your pregnancy and your child’s first year with my Custom Photo Timeline calculator. Think online due date calendars just for your maternity and newborn photography.
Don’t find out when it’s too late and you’re already in front of the camera with the wrong photographer for you. Find out what you should consider before you even reach out to a potential photographer to know if they are the right one.
Don’t feel like you’re in Thailand without a phrasebook. Know the important lingo before you start the conversation.
Plus Much More!
Preparing for Your Maternity Photo Session
How do I find the perfect place for my maternity photoshoot?
Finding the perfect location for your maternity session is half subjective and half objective.
First you should find a place that speaks to you as a mom-to-be and as a family. Places that you are drawn to either because they hold a meaning for you or you find them beautiful are places you should gravitate towards. If you don’t have any specific locations in mind, think about features that you’d like to appear at the location, whether it be water, mountains, wildflowers, or something else.
But not all beautiful and meaningful places will be suitable for a maternity photoshoot. There are certain features a photographer needs in a location. So before you fall in love with a location, makes sure to talk it over with your photographer. And, if you don’t have any idea of locations, your photographer will also be a great resource for finding the perfect location you didn’t even know existed.
To get the brainstorming juices flowing, I have included links to all of my location overview blog posts below. These are locations I have personally photographed at and find to be exceptional.
Location Ideas for your Maternity Photoshoot
How do I find the made-for-me gown?
It might sound superficial, but having the right gown or outfit for your maternity photoshoot is one of the most important factors. It really is all in the details. A gown needs to make you look breathtaking and it also needs to complement the setting. A photography composition is dependent upon all components working together and, since you’re the focus of that composition, what you wear is a pivotal part of that composition.
There are so many things that go into choosing the right gown or outfit that I have a growing list of blog posts about it. I recommend perusing the blog posts below based on your needs:
During Your Photoshoot
Here is your must bring list for your maternity photoshoot:
Water
Mosquito Repellent, if it’s that season
Layers, if it’s the other season
Comfortable shoes to change into when not taking photos
Underwear that works for your gown(s), if you’re working with a photographer who has client closet. This should definitely be something you talk to your photographer about prior to your session.
And just relax. The photographer will know what to do.
What do you bring to these kinds of things anyway?
After Your Maternity Photo Session
I’m looking at the beautiful images, what do I do now?
Yay! You’re finished with your maternity session and now get to see beautiful images from it. This could be in an online gallery or during an in-person sales appointment, depending upon the photographer’s process.
Before you go into your ordering period though, I recommend thinking about your goals with these photos. Are they just for sharing on social media (I hope not!) or are they for passing down to your little one and future generations?
In the case of passing down to future generations, you need to be strategic about the preservation of these images. To ensure that you preserve them well for future generations, it is recommended that you do two things. The first is getting these images printed. Computer files can get lost or get corrupted and computers and hard drives fail all the time. So make sure you are printing these images, so that you aren’t solely relying on the file.
When it comes to printing the images, make sure you’re doing it with archiving in mind. If your photographer offers printing services, take them up on it. Professional level labs (labs that only professional photographers can work with) have a much higher archival quality than consumer level labs. So, I recommend printing anything that you want to pass down as an heirloom through your photographer.
Also, make sure that you are storing at least one set of prints in a cool, dry, dark place. Light, water, and heat all do a number on prints.
Second, make sure that you are getting the high-resolution digital image files. You need these in case something happens to the possessions in your home. Think of any natural disaster that can happen in your area and you’ll know why you want digital image files. And, before you do anything, store a copy of those image files off site. That could be keeping a hard drive in a safe deposit box or storing things in the cloud.
Lastly, make sure you’re sharing those images as far and as wide as you can. Sharing your excitement and love through images is the best way to celebrate it. But don’t forget the photographer while you’re doing that. We all run small businesses that work almost exclusively on referrals. So make sure to tag us and spread the word, so we can stay in business.
Before You go - Get Your Freebie Guide!
5 Things You Must Know Before Reaching Out to a Colorado Maternity Photographer
Included:
Know when you should be booking and having photography done during your pregnancy and your child’s first year with my Custom Photo Timeline calculator. Think online due date calendars just for your maternity and newborn photography.
Don’t find out when it’s too late and you’re already in front of the camera with the wrong photographer for you. Find out what you should consider before you even reach out to a potential photographer to know if they are the right one.
Don’t feel like you’re in Thailand without a phrasebook. Know the important lingo before you start the conversation.
Plus Much More!
After Baby Arrives
The baby is here. Now what do I do?
Move into the world of newborn, baby, and family photography, of course! Each family is different in how they capture their family after pregnancy. Some do an indoor newborn session, which can happen as early as one week after baby’s arrival. Some do an outdoor newborn session, which can happen as soon as one month after baby is here. Some do a family session a few months after. Some do a series of family or milestone sessions throughout the first year. And some wait until the first birthday to do a family session.
It is completely up to your preferences. The only thing I recommend is to think about it while you’re still pregnant, because some of those sessions above need to be booked before baby arrives. And some photographers will give you a price break if you book them at the same time you’re booking your maternity session.
