maternity
for now, I wait
Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.
Photographs are a big event for families. And there are a lot of expectations. You spent so much time finding the right photographer, scheduling your session, figuring out what to wear, where to go, and then the big day comes and things don’t always seem to go the way you thought they would. It’s a universal truth that the more you plan for something, the more things seem to go sideways. But here’s the truth: while photographs are something you may only do once a year, it’s something I do all the time. There a few key things to making sure your experience is a memorable one and you get the images you’ve always wanted. Here are a few things I wish clients knew before their session:
If there's one single universal truth, it's that kids are unpredictable. Some kids love being photographed. Some don’t. Some explore. Some cuddle. Some, don’t. It’s all up to them. And it’s never my goal to force them into doing something they don’t want to do. Instead, the goal is to capture them as they are. As they want to be; as you remember them. Interacting with you and loving on you the way only they can do.
Don’t worry about your hair or saying “cheese!” In fact, you don’t need to worry about anything at all. When your session starts, let me do the work. I’ll direct you and your family, I’ll double check your hair, I’ll make your kids laugh. Spend your time focusing on your kids and I’ll take care of the rest. The best images happen when you’re enjoying the experience.
For many clients, wardrobe is the most daunting part of the photography experience. After all, it’s one thing you can plan and prepare for at home before you ever see me. And what you wear matters. I am picky about a lot of things, and, because it can effect the aesthetic outcome of your images, wardrobe is certainly one of them. But here’s the secret: what you wear pales in comparison to the emotion that comes through with genuine connections. Breath into the moment and let the rest fade away. Ultimately, the most important thing is connection.
I know that these images are meant to last you a lifetime, and I take that responsibility seriously. I want these images to live on in your home and get passed down from mother to daughter to granddaughter. I want you look back on them fondly and think of the silly story that it took to get the image. I want you to smile when you look at your children’s gap-toothed smiles and chuckle about how wonderful they are.
Moms, I’m talking to you now. You are beautiful. I know it’s not always easy to think of ourselves that way (I include myself in that group), but we are. When our families look at us, they see a mom, wife, friend. They don’t see the little things about ourselves that we’re always nit-picking. Don’t left self-consciousness get in the way. Get in the frame. Get portraits of you with your children. Then make sure you tell them how happy you are that you have them.
Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.
Planning for a new baby can be overwhelming, but planning your maternity session shouldn't be something to worry about. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I hear about maternity sessions and some of my favorite tips for enjoying the process.
When should I hold my session?
I recommend scheduling sessions for when you are between 30-36 weeks pregnant. If you are pregnant with twins or triplets it's best to hold your session a bit earlier while you're feeling comfortable. If you're nearing the end of your pregnancy though it's never too late! We can hold your session right up until the end if necessary.
Where should I hold my session?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. I offer the option to hold your maternity session either in my studio or outdoors, and I think both locations are beautiful for their own reasons. I recommend looking over images from maternity sessions and saving the images that speak to you the most (pinterest is great for this). Once you've saved them in one place, take a look and see if you've saved more from indoor or outdoors sessions, and make your final decision from there.
What should I wear?
For sessions held in the studio, I offer a complete line of curated wardrobe pieces for mothers available to borrow for sessions. Most clients select something from the studio wardrobe as every piece is chosen to flatter moms and photograph beautifully. If you prefer to make your own selection I recommend figuring out the style you'd like to go for (boho, traditional, or intimate) and selecting pieces to match.
How should I do my hair and makeup?
I recommend keeping hair and makeup simple and neutral. Hair is generally best left down, with loose curls. I recommend soft, neutral makeup (avoiding bright lipsticks and dark eyeliners). Some clients choose to work with a professional hair and makeup artist, while many clients do their own hair and makeup. Some clients even choose to eschew makeup altogether and go for a completely natural and casual look. Do what makes you feel best and most beautiful.
Can my partner and older kids join in the session?
Yes, absolutely. I encourage partners and siblings to take part in sessions (after all, the new baby is part of their story too!) and we will always capture some images of you on your own as well.
What should I do with my maternity photos?
I recommend displaying your images in a way that will make the images most accessible to you. My personal favorites for maternity sessions are boutique glass boxes and albums. Both allow you to store many images from your session together - so they remain safe and accessible for years to come. One of the best parts of having a maternity session is being able to pull out the images from your session with your child years from now - they’ll love to see what it was like when they were growing in your tummy.
Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.
Maternity sessions should be a fun experience, filled with the love and anticipation of meeting your new baby. Even though you might be looking forward to your session, it’s easy to get bogged down in the details of planning and deciding what kind of images you really want. My goal is to make the process of getting the images you want as easy as possible; simplifying it and identifying what means the most to you and your family. There are three basic options for sessions, deciding between them is the first step in planning your session:
If you happen to be pregnant when the weather is good an outdoor session might be the perfect fit for you, particularly if you love being outdoors with your partner or family. Surrounded by the great outdoors at one of my favorite locations in northern VA, your images will be filled with the lush greenery of nature. Outdoor sessions are great fit if you love landscapes as the backdrop for your portraits. It’s an opportunity to get outside and feel the wind and natural elements during your session.
A traditional studio session is perfect if you want classic, timeless images. Offering a beautiful simple background, it’s perfect for portraits with a classic feel that will never feel dated or like a trend has since passed. For traditional portraits I recommend classic gowns and dresses that will highlight your bump. If you like studio images without a formal look, casual pieces like a flowy top or tunic are a great way to get the same feeling in a casual way.
Also called boudoir maternity, intimate portraits are perfect if you want to literally show off your baby bump. This is a beautiful option, and you can get a variety of images by combining traditional and intimate maternity portraits during your studio session.
All dresses pictured here were borrowed from the studio wardrobe, available to all clients for studio sessions.
Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.
mother’s dress borrowed from the studio wardrobe, available to all clients for studio sessions
Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.
