How to prepare for a maternity session

Maternity sessions are so beautiful, but it can be stressful when planning. I'm going to give some tips on how to prepare for a maternity session. I'm going to make this as easy as possible so that you go into your session breathing easy and excited! Here are common questions:

1. When should my session take place? I recommend between 30-34 weeks. Of course, if you are having twins you will probably want to do it around 20 weeks. Pay attention to how your body is reacting to your pregnancy. If you feel like you will be swollen and uncomfortable, waiting until 34 weeks might not be the best plan for you. On the other hand, some women don't really even show until closer to 34 weeks. Every woman is different.

2. Where should the session take place? I love this part of the planning! You might not have any clue where you would like these photos taken or you might have a location with special meaning to you. If my client has a home with a lot of natural light, I love to do it there. It's where you will be bringing baby home and where you spent so many months just waiting for baby's arrival. We can also get a hotel, BnB, or photograph it outside. There are so many options. I recommend that you look at inspiration photos and see what really speaks to you. If you like really clean and neutral, you and your photographer might want to rent out a simple studio space (your photographer might already have a studio, but if not, there are some that can be rented out). I am not afraid to move furniture around, clear out a room, and change the bedding for a client to make your home a better fit for this session.

3. What should I wear? Sky is the limit! Again, it really has to go with your inspiration for this session. You might want to do a sweet in-home session with your significant other in jeans and a t-shirt. A flowy dress, on the beach at sunset, might be exactly what you're looking for. I have a wonderful Pinterest board that I've started for clothing and posing ideas, specifically curated for maternity sessions. Please feel free to follow the board HERE.

4. Should I get my hair and makeup done? If you don't normally wear a lot of makeup or have your hair done, I would recommend keeping it closer to natural. You can find a great hair and makeup artist that can give you a natural look. I have plenty of clients that do their own hair and makeup or don't do it at all. Honestly, do what makes you feel beautiful because that's what's going to make you the most happy with the outcome of your photographs. I always have hair and makeup referrals on hand, but I'm also happy to have my client do it on their own. 

5. Should I do this session by myself or involve my partner? Both! Honestly, if your partner is into it then I would suggest having them for at least part of the session. It makes for some really intimate and sweet photographs: 

      6. What heirlooms should I purchase from my photographer? This is one of my favorite things to talk about! I used to just photograph sessions and hand over the digital files and that was it. Now, I make it a point to make sure that my families are getting heirlooms that they can display and share for generations to come. Maternity sessions can be displayed as gorgeous, framed wall art, beautiful fine art albums, museum matted prints...there are so many gorgeous ways you can display these. I have a few examples of what I offer my clients bellow:

        7. Do you have posing suggestions? I get asked this CONSTANTLY! I get it. You want to look and feel your best. I approach my maternity sessions much like I do any other session. I don't want it to be overly posed. I want to get you in your natural movements. I love when you feel the baby kick and go to look down, hand on belly, laughing. I love when you're moving your hair out of your face while looking out the window. You might be retouching your lipstick in the mirror and I catch that moment. I am here to help you get into some poses, but then I let you naturally do the magic, and trust me, you will. Here are some examples of some poses. Some I helped with, but most of them were just the grace and beauty of my client:

My biggest piece of advice is to not overthink anything that I wrote above. Hire a photographer that you love and trust. Go into the session without any expectations and just allow yourself to enjoy every second. This is a moment in time, before baby comes, that you'll never get to experience again. 

Why should you print your photographs

Why should you print your photographs? How did you view photographs as a child? Have you seen old prints from your parent's wedding? How do you feel when you physically hold those photographs in your hand? 

Visualize this:

You just had a really long day at work. You are driving home and thinking about everything on your "to-do" list. You walk up to your front door, insert the key, turn the knob, and the first thing you see is a photograph of your loved one's face. 

Now, visualize this:

You just had a really long day at work. You are driving home and thinking about everything on your "to-do" list. You walk up to your front door, insert the key, turn the knob, and the first thing you see is a blank wall. The only way you can view any photographs of your loved ones is on your phone or computer. 

Personally, I get overwhelmed thinking of all of the little tasks I "need" to get done. I let so many important things slide because "more" important things get in the way. That's where a professional comes in. When I first started photography I just wanted to photograph the session, hand over the disc, and be done with it. I started to notice that a lot of my couples, families, and boudoir clients had no clue what to do with these files. I would talk to them a year later and the files would still be sitting on their computer. This broke my heart and it was my job to come up with a solution. It's not fair to call myself a "high-end" photographer if I'm not putting in the work.

My goal, from start to finish, is to tell your story. I can't tell your full story if what I deliver just sits on a computer. Nothing makes me happier than helping the people that stand in front of my camera. It's my duty to make sure that they love the experience and continue to remember it year after year. It's my obligation and honor to walk them through each step of the process. I have families that book with me every year and order gorgeous albums and grandparent albums. This means that they will soon have a collection of yearly albums to document each year of their families lives. 

Let's look at the difference. 

Here is what I used to deliver to my clients, with an email that said something along the lines of, "Thank you and enjoy the images."

The issue is that these would then sit on my client's computers. This means that any time they wanted to view their precious memories, they had to get to a computer and stare at a screen. 

Now, let's look at the difference of what my client's now get:

If my goal is to tell your story from start to finish, then I need to help from start to finish. This means phone calls to go over what the session will entail, helping with wardrobe choices, picking a location that will work for your end goal of what products you want in your home, photographing your session in a way that memorializes what your life is really like during that time, editing your photographs, and then helping you pick the perfect heirloom that fits your life perfectly.

This is a boudoir client of mine, and fellow photographer, who sent me photos of what her framed prints look like in her room (photos of room by Jenny Cruger Photography):

I know it's overwhelming to think about putting art in your home and that's why I want to help with the process. My clients hire me based on trust and knowing that I'm going to give them the best possible experience and finished product. 

I would love to help you fill your home with incredible memories!

The perfect birthday gift in Sea Island Georgia

What if you could come up with the perfect birthday gift for the most important people in your life? 

Memories are what we cherish the most, but they tend to fade over the years. Stories get altered when passed down through generations. Older family members might start to have a hard time remembering certain occasions. As we get older, we start to lose the ones that mean the most to us. There are so many beautiful celebrations in life that are worth remembering. 

A perfect example: My mother asks for the same thing every year, which is, "I just want some photographs of you and your sister." I decided to surprise her two years ago and she came home to a gallery wall of framed photos from a secret session we did. She was beside herself and many tears were shed. She said that she loves looking up every day and seeing her precious family on her wall. I honestly can't remember many gifts that I've given her over the years, but this one has stuck out the most because of her reaction on that day and every day since then. 

Jennifer contacted me on a Saturday and I was photographing her husband, Landon's, 40th birthday a week later. We chatted on the phone and she explained to me how important this celebration was in their lives. They live in Colorado, but travel to Sea Island, Georgia every year for vacation. They decided that this year that they would incorporate Landon's birthday into their yearly vacation. We talked about how Jennifer wanted the actual party photographed, but then we discussed the possibility of incorporating a family session into her coverage. I'm so glad that we did. These photographs and moments are so dear to my heart because they are the only tangible thing that is left from this celebration. Jennifer and Landon's girls will only be this age once and they are growing so fast. These are photos that they can share with their future families. These are stories they will be able to look through for lifetimes.  

What I love the most about this entire day was the fact that I got to see a small window into their lives. I was there while they were getting ready for the party, all the way through to the toasts and tears, during. To be able to tell a complete story of the day is something that resinates with the very intention I have when photographing people. I'm honored they let me in, to encapsulate some of their memories. 

Planning by the incredible (and gorgeous blonde you see pictured bellow): By Sutton

How to choose the perfect wedding accessories

Finding your wedding dress can be hard enough, but then you add in the task of finding the perfect accessories to go with it. I love using resources, such as Pinterest, to help give me style inspirations, but that can become overwhelming and cumbersome.

I think the best thing to do is keep it true to you and your every day look. For example, if you're someone who has a classic wardrobe, you might opt for a classic veil. Let's look at some examples of veils (and of course, you have to also choose the length and detail).

This one keeps it classic, but I love the detail in the trim:

Here is a very thin veil. This style is one of my favorites because it is so simple that it doesn't take away from the dress. I feel that you could pair this veil with absolutely any style of wedding dress or even a gorgeous pantsuit. (Veil courtesy of Vocelles):

A classic mantilla is always beautiful and keeps with certain traditions (mantilla courtesy of St. Patrick:

Another classic look: 

This floral veil was a showstopper!

Or, you can go with something off the wall and gorgeous, such as this creative veil from Jurgita Bridal: 

Now, let's take a look at bridal headpieces. These are such a great way to add a little extra to your look. The great thing about them is that you can wear them with or without a veil. They bring this whimsical element that is sure to be a showstopper. 

Here are a few examples of some favorites that I've photographed over the years:

(Courtesy Jurgita Bridal)

(Courtesy Vocelles; A Bridal Shoppe)

I love this embellished headband. (Courtesy Vocelles; A Bridal Shoppe)

These next two are hair pieces that look like flowers. I love how one bride used it as her "something blue"!

This bride opted for real flowers and the outcome is gorgeous!

If you don't want to wear any bridal head pieces, you do have other options. You can wear gorgeous statement jewelry, like the cameo necklace pictured bellow:

Or, you could skip all of the accessories and make a statement with your hair!

Whatever you decide, just remember that it's your wedding day and you should stay true to you. 

For more inspiration, head on over to my Pinterest!