Are you debating whether you should have maternity photos taken or not? Here are some things to consider as you decide.

Pregnancy is an epic time of life.

I know it doesn’t feel that epic when you’re lying awake at 3 in the morning for no reason. Or when you’re hungry but the thought of actually eating turns your stomach.

But think about what you’re doing for a second.

Between bouts of morning sickness and horrendous muscle cramps, you’re making a person! A whole new little person. A unique person with their own personality.

Will s/he be a little mini you, a miniature version of your partner? Maybe a good mix of both? You don’t know, and that’s so exciting! The anticipation is thick. Here’s a few reasons why you should get professional maternity photos taken.

You Are Beautiful

I know how you feel. Believe me, I’ve been there. You feel like a whale and everything hurts. You don’t feel pretty anymore, you just feel awkward and bloated. And you certainly don’t understand how your husband still thinks you’re sexy and beautiful.

I remember the first maternity photos that I took. The day before I was scrolling through maternity photos, planning some ideas. I showed a few to my husband and we both said the same thing, pregnant women look so…pregnant.

Fast forward a couple years to when I was pregnant with our daughter. I still had a hard time wrapping my head around how the pregnant body can be beautiful. I sure didn’t feel beautiful.

But my hubby made an interesting comment. He said now that his wife was pregnant, now that his little girl was being formed, he found the sight beautiful. The shape of my body didn’t bother him in the least. Because our special little girl was on her way.

I asked him if that applied to all pregnant women. He said that, amazingly, it did. Of course, he doesn’t have the same connection with other women that he does with me. But now that he was experiencing the emotions of having his own child, he realized how incredibly special the process is.

And he is so right. Now when I see a pregnant woman all I can think about is the special new life inside of them. There is nothing more amazing than that.

Documenting Pregnancy

I love taking photos of pregnant women. Their bodies come in all shapes and sizes, but every one of them is beautiful. And it is so important to recognize that.

I look back on my own maternity photos and am amazed by what I see. At the time I didn’t really like them, now I think I looked amazing and I’m so glad I have them to show my daughter one day.

So let me tell you something…You Are Beautiful! You might not love the way you look right now, but you will when you look back. And you will regret not having those memories documented.

It’s not about what looks good on the cover of a magazine. It’s about that precious bundle you’re carrying inside.

Amateur Vs Professional

You can, of course, document your pregnancy yourself. You can take selfies and have your husband and/or friends whip out their smartphones to photograph your burgeoning belly.

I wasn’t one of these, but many of my friends snapped shots of themselves in the bathroom mirror with their smartphones to show monthly (or weekly) updates. They then posted them on Facebook for all the world to see their excitement.

I still wouldn’t have posted them on Facebook for all the world to see, but I regret not taking those photos to track our progress. Our bathroom mirror is so small that it only shows the head and shoulders. But, in reality, that’s only part of the reason that I didn’t take them.

I didn’t really like watching myself get “fat”. But, like I explained above, my perspective changed later. Now I wish I had those fun photos to share with Kayra when she’s older.

You were probably expecting me to expound upon the benefits of professional maternity photography. I’m getting to that, don’t worry. But I first wanted to point out that amateur photos have their place too.

Photos for Your Wall

Your bathroom mirror selfies are fun, but they’re not the type of photo that you can blow up to an 11×14 and hang on your wall. Let’s face it, they’re just not…classy. I mean you did take it in your bathroom.

The vast majority of the maternity photo sessions I do happen on the beach. When you live 15 minutes from a world class beach like Manuel Antonio it’s kind of a no brainer. Ironically, I was so tired of beach shoots that we did my photos in the mountains 😀

Anyway, whether you go to the beach or the mountains or somewhere else entirely, it’s all better than your bathroom mirror. I realize you can also take your friend and her iPhone to a great location and get some pretty cool shots.

But, I promise you, there will be something missing.

You’ve probably heard the expression that the camera adds 10 pounds. It can, kind of, particularly if your photographer doesn’t know how to correct for it.

But by choosing the right angles and focal length, your photographer can eliminate this effect and make you look your best. Obviously that’s a huge plus to hiring a professional.

I could go into how professional gear is better than iPhones (for now anyway 😉 ). But the right gear isn’t what makes a photographer great at their job. Of course, it helps. But a great photographer can take an amazing photo with virtually any gear. It’s about what they know, not what they have.

Finding Your Professional Maternity Photographer

Ok, so now you know why you should get professional maternity photos taken. How do you find a photographer that you like? Don’t worry, it’s not too difficult.

If you live in (or are taking a babymoon to) the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area you can always shoot me a message. I’d love to document your pregnancy for you.

If you won’t be visiting Costa Rica, I’d suggest looking for a photographer on Instagram. Use location tags for where you live (or will be vacationing) and find a photographer whose work you love.

That’s the best way to ensure that you’ll love the final product. Check out their portfolio and make sure it lines up with the idea you have for your own photos.

Get Those Maternity Photos Taken, Girl!

You’re about to embark on the most amazing journey of your life. It will be difficult and there will be tons of challenges. But it will be so worth every sacrifice.

This is what makes maternity photography so incredibly beautiful. A professional photographer is capturing not only how you look (you radiant mama!) but also how you feel.

Go out and get those photos taken! I promise you’ll thank yourself later.

Don’t forget to leave me a note in the comments. Let me know what you think. Those of you who have had maternity photos taken, are you glad? Did you love how your photos turned out? If you didn’t have them done, do you regret it? I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time…

Cara