{raleigh maternity session} raleigh maternity photography | clayton nc maternity photography

One of my favorite types of sessions to do are maternity sessions. I love capturing a family in some of the last moments before they welcome a new member. Sometimes it is the last time they will be a family of two, or three, or four. They will have to adjust to a new dynamic and assume new roles. Also, I just really love watching their family grow. I love to meet a new family while pregnant and then snuggle their baby a few months later. It really is a great job!

When families inquire about maternity sessions, there are a couple of tips I usually always share. First, we like to take maternity pictures in the last trimester. It gives that belly a good chance of being very prominent and it celebrates that you are getting close to meeting your sweet babe! Second, I usually recommend mom wear a long dress, or something very form fitting. Third, if you have an older sibling, I always try to incorporate them into the session. This is a big deal for them too! And finally, the best time of day to photograph families is the hour before sunset or the hour after sunrise. In North Carolina during the summer, this pushes sessions at the wee hours of the morning (like 8am) or late into the evening (8pm). The late days make it difficult on small children who are usually heading to bed around 8pm. I am always game for an early morning session before the heat and humidity hits!

This particular session was around 10am, so we had to be creative with our location in the Oak City. Luckily, we found some great shade and there was so much variety in the landscape. I love the wardrobe styling that this family chose too - solid & simple. You don’t want to be too distracting with color choices or patterns. Enjoy this summer maternity session in Raleigh, N.C.