My photographer friend, Claire, asked me a few weeks ago if she could take some maternity photos of me. Um, yes. Just for future reference the answer to that question is always yes. So this past Sunday we drove to this beautiful location she had scouted earlier and here are the shots she got. Sorry for the maternity photo overload…it was so hard to narrow it down!
A couple things to note–This dress was actually loaned to me by another good friend. It was her mothers maternity dress back in the day and I LOVE it. It’s such a great dress in general and fits my personality and this photoshoot perfectly if I do say so myself. (And I do.) Second, if any of you locals are looking for a great photographer please go to Clair’s FB page, where you can check out more of her work and find her contact info to schedule a shoot. As you can see, she does some lovely work.
I haven’t told Claire this directly, so I’ll go ahead and say it here, but I really, really love and appreciate that she asked me to do this. One of my favorite feelings in the world is that feeling I get when someone brushes my hair…and I often find myself having that same ‘hair brushing’ feeling when someone does something kind for me, or serves me in some way. This whole photoshoot was a hair brushing moment. That relaxing yet elevating feeling… heavenly. Claire and our friend Maren who was acting as assistant just oooh’d and ahhh’d over me the whole time, telling me how beautiful I looked and basically making me feel like a maternity rock star. Every woman should have that experience during her pregnancy. And each time I even look at these photos, I get another hair brushing moment all over again. So thank you Claire.
Also, as is often the case by the time you get to baby #3 it seems that I’m too busy with my other chillins’ and life in general that I just don’t have the time to devote to thinking and planning for this baby as much as I did with the other 2. I’ve already explained that since we’ll be moving when the babe is 6 months old, I’m not doing a nursery. I already have most of the stuff I need this time around, minus a couple things, so there’s not much nesting going on at all. Thus having these beautiful photos to commemorate and document this pregnancy has really helped to make this pregnancy feel special–which it is. Thanks Claire.
So I’m also toying with the idea of having Claire come and document the birth. Depending on the situation this may or may not be feasible, but I really like the idea. Did any of you have your births documented? Were you glad you did? Thoughs, feelings, advice?
Beautiful Miggy! Love love love them. You make pregnancy look esp hot
Thanks Liz! You look amazing as well and I can't wait to see this little lady of yours anyway now.
These are GORGEOUS! I LOVE them. And I love that they made you feel like a maternity rock star. when I took maternity photos I felt like an elephant no matter WHAT anyone told me. Perhaps someday I can be nicer to myself and come out with some beautiful momma pics just like these! You are beautiful inside and out, and like only perfect photos, your inside beauty is evident in these photos!
Aw, thanks E. I miss you guys and wish we could all just live happily ever after in NYC. And I'm sure you looked amazing in your photos as well–did I see these?
:]
Yes! You should invest in birth photography! When I was pregnant with my first (Ryder – you did a Spotlight on him in May!), I had found the idea online. I searched all over for local photographers, and suprsingly enough (in Utah), it was hard to find. After having maternity photos taken, I approached the photographer on the idea – she was interested, although had never had the opportunity before. I loved the maternity shots, so I went for it – and am so so grateful I did. She stayed tucked along the walls, and was never in the way – the shots she took are absolutely priceless to me. If you're interested, she posted some to her blog: http://blog.heathermickey.com/?p=1029 . She was able to capture things that neither my husband or I could have done (my hand squeezing his back – on that post – is so representative of those hours of labor).
I would have hired a photographer with my second pregnancy, but due to having twins, I was required to deliver in the O.R. ("just in case"), where I was only permited one "guest" – and, my husband took that spot! The same photographer came to the hospital to take some photos the next morning (the boys were about 16 hours old) – and, while the photos she captured are wonderful, they just don't capture the emotion of their birth.
Hire Claire (or whomever!). You won't regret it!
Kayleen–you're really pushing (get it?) in the direction of having a photographer there…that would be amazing to have those shots forever.
Miggy, you are so pretty!
Thank you so much!
Such beautiful photos and I love the dress!
And, totally not on topic (sorry!), but have you seen this? It's a skype advert featuring two friends with limb difference. Saw it and thought of you and your blog readers! (I promise this isn't a spam link)
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ariellecalderon/commercial-for-skype-could-make-you-cry-like-a-baby
Aaaaaand now I'm crying. That was great. Thanks for sharing.
It otally got me too, and I always say I'm tough! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
PS – also, as a long-term reader who rarely comments but loves your spotlight feature so much, I want to say thank you for everything!
When I delivered the second time my husband was in Afghanistan so I hired both a doula and a birth photographer (AND hubby skyped in !). Both were wonderful. The photographer was never in the way and was able to capture the most gorgeous photos of me and the baby and even my husband on the computer next to me. I absolutely cherish those photos. The first time around a nurse took photos with our camera and while I appreciated her effort, she got too much of my 'business' in most of the shots, rendering them useless to me.
Also – you are gorgeous!
So cool you got to share that moment with him even across the globe…and yeah, I don't want someone too in my business….but I wouldn't shy away from a few shots from that angle? Would I? I don't know! But I definitely want plenty of photos I can show other people. 🙂
Lovely photos!
Thank you!
Beautiful pictures.
I have never hired a birth photographer but I wish I had. I am now done with having children 🙁 but wish I had those moments on camera. Good luck in labor!
Good to know, thanks Jocelyn.
Love these photos so much! I totally know what you mean about the hair brushing feeling. Good analogy. such a great feeling when it is literal and figurative!
I had a birth photographer at my most recent birth when I had my fourth baby. I am soooooooooo glad I did it! It was worth every penny. I still get all teary just looking at them and how she was able to capture the raw emotion of the event. It seemed that with my three other births, even though they were completely unmedicated, the memories were a little foggy after awhile. I love having the photos to look at and remind me of such an important, amazing, and empowering event of my life! I hope you decide to do it. You will not regret it, I promise!
P.S. Your maternity photos are absolutely beautiful, you are glowing!
These are so, so incredibly lovely. You are radiant.
Birth photography! It's been such a topic of discussion around here. We have things arranged with Mike's sister, Emily, who is a photographer in Brooklyn to come and document our birth. The nice thing is that she's family and it will probably be an incredibly bonding experience for all of us. That being said, I know myself well, and I am giving myself permission to change my mind the day of- it's such an intimate and sacred thing and I don't want to feel self-conscious or distracted in any way. Good luck with your decision!
document the birth. totally worth it. you look gorg.
beautiful as ever, my friend
Oh. My. GORGEOUS.