Murrieta Maternity Photographer: A Very Personal Outdoor Maternity Session
One of my favorite things about planning maternity portraits is figuring out how to make the photos actually feel like the people I'm photographing.
This session definitely did.
When we started planning these outdoor maternity photos in Murrieta, I knew we would have plenty of beautiful options with the natural landscape. What I didn't expect was to photograph my very first maternity session with a Harley Davidson.
And yes, Mama actually rode her motorcycle to the session.
We photographed this session in September, when this Murrieta location had such a pretty mix of colors. There were still beautiful greens in the trees, but the open fields had already turned those warm golden and brown tones that photograph so well in the evening.
That gave us several completely different looks without needing to leave the area.
Outdoor Maternity Photography in Murrieta
We started with a lighter, softer look. Mama wore white, which looked beautiful against the dry grasses and greenery.
I especially love that these portraits still look like her. Her tattoos weren't something to hide or work around. They became part of the photographs, and the simple white clothing let both her and her belly stand out against the field.
If you're trying to decide what to wear for outdoor maternity photos, you don't necessarily need an elaborate maternity gown. A simple outfit can photograph beautifully, especially in a location that already has plenty of texture and color.
Yes, Your Partner Can Be Part of Your Maternity Photos
I always encourage partners to join in for at least part of a maternity session.
You can still have plenty of portraits that are just about Mama, but including your partner gives us another completely different part of the gallery.
I don't want every couple photograph to be both people standing next to each other and smiling at me.
We'll do some of those, of course, but I also want movement, laughing, walking, and those closer portraits that don't feel quite so posed.
You also don't have to dress exactly alike. Coordinating usually photographs much better than perfectly matching. Here, white, denim and neutral tones worked beautifully with the grasses and kept the overall look relaxed.
Bringing Something Personal to Your Maternity Photoshoot
And then we brought out the motorcycle.
This was a first for me, and I loved it.
A maternity photoshoot doesn't have to look like anyone else's. If you have something that is genuinely part of your life, I'm always open to talking about how we can work it into your session.
For this couple, that meant a Harley Davidson.
Mama changed into black, her partner added the purple plaid, and suddenly we had a completely different feel from the light white outfits we started with. The motorcycle looked right at home against the dry golden field, and the darker wardrobe gave this portion of the session a little more edge without taking the focus away from the pregnancy.
I think that's an important distinction when bringing a personal item into portraits. It should add something to the photographs without becoming the whole photograph.
And really, how often do I get to photograph a pregnant woman on her own Harley in the middle of a Murrieta field? I'm pretty sure I'm going to remember this one.
You Don't Have to Choose Just One Look for Maternity Photos
Another thing this session shows really well is how much changing your clothing can change the feeling of your portraits.
We went from a long white maternity look, to black with the motorcycle, and then to jeans and a simple white top.
The jeans and white top might actually be one of my favorite looks from the session because it's so simple. Her belly is the focus, but the portraits still feel casual and like something she would actually wear.
This is why I like having time for different looks during maternity sessions. You don't have to decide if you want everything to feel elegant or everything to feel casual. We can create variety.
When Should You Schedule Maternity Photos?
If you're starting to plan your own maternity photos, one of the first questions is usually when to schedule them.
I generally recommend photographing maternity portraits during the later part of pregnancy when your belly is beautifully defined, but before you're so close to your due date that being on your feet, walking around an outdoor location and changing clothes becomes uncomfortable.
My current maternity information recommends approximately 27 to 35 weeks as a good window. Temecula Family Photography
That isn't a hard rule, though. Every pregnancy is different, so we'll choose a date that makes sense for you.
It's also a good idea to reserve your session earlier than the actual date you want to be photographed. That gives us time to plan the location, clothing and anything personal you'd like to incorporate.
A Maternity Session Can Still Feel Like You
This is probably my favorite thing to take away from this particular session.
Maternity photography doesn't require you to suddenly become a completely different version of yourself for the camera.
If you love the idea of a dramatic maternity gown, we can absolutely do that. If you'd rather wear jeans, bring your motorcycle and have your partner standing next to you, we can do that too.
The best starting point is simply telling me what you like.
For this session, we were able to create soft maternity portraits, relaxed couple photographs and something completely different with the Harley, all at the same outdoor Murrieta location.
By the end, we had a gallery with quite a bit of variety, but it still felt cohesive because the location, colors and the two of them tied everything together.
Planning Your Own Outdoor Maternity Photos in Murrieta
If you're looking for a Murrieta maternity photographer and aren't sure yet what you want your session to look like, you don't have to have everything figured out before contacting me.
That's part of what we'll plan together.
You can choose an outdoor maternity session like this one, a studio session at my Murrieta portrait studio, or even a beach session. Partners and children are welcome to participate too. My website currently shows all three maternity options, along with examples of the different styles of maternity photography I offer. Temecula Family Photography
And if there's something you want to bring that makes me say, “I've never photographed that in a maternity session before,” please tell me. After this Harley session, I'm definitely listening.
Thinking about your own maternity photos? Come see more of my maternity photography and tell me what you have in mind. I'd love to help you plan something that feels like you.
