I believe I’ve mastered the art of looking at least 50 lbs. smaller in all of my pictures. Or shall I say all pictures that make it onto Facebook or framed in my house. I’m notorious for positioning myself in the middle of a crowd and announcing “hide my hips”. During my pregnancy I didn’t even consider taking professional maternity pictures but I’m thankful my husband snapped a few photos around the house. After looking at the stunning baby bump pictures in the Plus Size Birth gallery I’m full of regret.
Thanks to my pregnancy and birth experience I’ve learned that my body is pretty darn amazing and BEAUTIFUL at any size! I no longer feel the need to hide behind people to take photos. Plus my 25 lb. son sure doesn’t provide much coverage. So don’t be full of regret like I am and go get some gorgeous maternity shots taken! Even if you just keep them sacred for you and your family.
I was recently introduced to Grace Castellanos, an up-and-coming talented photographer in Denver, Colorado. I asked Grace to write a guest post and she was generous enough to offer any local followers of this blog an incredible deal on a photography session. Along with the post below you can see more of Grace’s work on her website and Facebook page.
Hello all! I am Grace Castellanos, a local Denver photographer, who owns Acoma Street Photography (http://acomastreetphotography.com). I specialize in portrait work and offer maternity, newborn, family, engagement, wedding, and “Just Because” sessions. I love all aspects of photography and the chance it gives me to share the special moments of other people’s lives.
Where to begin! Let me start by saying that I completely understand being uncomfortable in front of the camera. I am sure I am not alone in dreading the unsolicited Facebook tag or looking through photos with the sole focus being if I am ok with how I look rather than if it is a good picture. Given the opportunity, I will always step behind the lens rather than be the subject of a photo. However, there are times in life to embrace the opportunity to have someone document your life and pregnancy is one of those moments. Capturing you on your journey to motherhood is a gift that is not only for you, but is also for your unborn child, your partner, your family, and your friends. I would recommend that every mom invest in a maternity session and newborn session so that they have lasting pictures of an incredible time in your life.
I will reiterate the old cliché of beauty coming in all shapes and sizes because it is TRUE! There is a unique beauty to every face and every body shape that shines through when you accept it and celebrate it. Expecting you to love every little flaw is a tall order, but I encourage you to try! We are such harsh self-critics and it’s so important to stop the internal negative mental dialogue. I would tell you, like I remind my clients, that when you relax and enjoy the process than the pictures are so much better! The other trick I use is to ask my clients to concentrate on something that makes them happy; for maternity photos this is a great technique. When I am photographing pregnant women, I encourage them to think about all the positive things you wish for the child they are about to welcome into the world. The expressions that I’ve seen on women when they do this are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
Advice to plus size moms before the shoot:
- Pick an outfit or outfits that make you feel great! If you feel beautiful, you will look beautiful.
- Don’t stick with black! Contrary to popular belief, color and pattern are your friends and make the photos more interesting.
- Know your body! What angles do you like? What is your favorite feature? Play it up whether it be by using jewelry to highlight a pretty collarbone, a belt to show off a tiny waist, or a pop of color where you want the eye drawn.
- HAVE FUN! Be creative! You will get the standard shots and they will be gorgeous, but when you take risks and make it personal, the photos are 100 times better!
- Send examples of photos you like to your photographer. It helps me so much to see the kind of images you like of yourself and of other similar sessions!
- Don’t stress out! Photographers want you to love your photos and most will do what it takes to make sure you are happy with the results.
Photographing moms-to-be, newborns, and families is such a joy to me. I love getting a sneak peek of the dynamics between a couple and the way each individual family interacts. If you’re in the Denver area I hope you will consider booking a photo session with Acoma Street Photography. I am offering a special deal on a 1-2 hour portrait session of your choosing (maternity, newborn, family etc.) plus a CD of images for $50 to readers of this blog. I hope that I get the chance to meet some of you and document your unique journey!
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