Is maternity boudoir a thing? Absolutely! Read on, friend…
A couple years ago, I attempted boudoir self portraits for the first time. Self-portraits aren’t simply a likeness, they’re an exploration of how one wants to be seen. I expected to try and convey a certain version of myself to the camera: could I make myself beautiful or sexy? I’ve always been the girl-next-door type. Unexpectedly, those first boudoir self-portraits actually changed how I see myself. In the time since I took those portraits, I’ve learned to embrace my “flaws” more; to be more open, to be more accepting of myself, and to truly seek and show the beauty in every one of my clients.
READ: “I Shot My Own Boudoir Portraits, and Here’s What Happened”
Fast forward to today. I’m now 9 months pregnant. Once Jeff and I found out we were expecting, I knew that I would want to attempt another round of selfies, but this time of the maternity flavor. Maternity + boudoir + self-portrait — quite the exploration! My maternity boudoir would be the perfect marriage of my passion (boudoir photography) with my current status (mama-to-be).
Maternity photos come in all different styles. What most people picture is a lighthearted portrait focusing on the purity of motherhood. A bright, outdoor location; mama holding baby shoes or making a heart with her hands on her belly. As a boudoir photographer that focuses on helping women discover that they are powerful and sexy, I knew that I wanted my maternity boudoir to have a different feel. I wanted to show that a pregnant woman is powerful; that she is still a wife, a lover, and most of all, a woman. Motherhood adds a new dimension to her identity but does not erase these other selves.
Traditionally, most maternity portraits (of any flavor — boudoir or otherwise) are done around 7 months. It’s when the belly is finally big and round, but before mama is too big, too swollen, and too uncomfortable to hold a pose. Well, during my 7th and 8th month, I was slammed with boudoir sessions, so I didn’t get around to doing my own until a week shy of 9 months! Even with my bigger-than-usual belly, I am completely in love with these portraits — not only in how they portray me, but in how they portray motherhood.
Here are a few of my favorites from the first half of my shoot:
Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon!
Hair, makeup, and photography: myself
Wardrobe: Frederick’s of Hollywood
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