Why Maternity Photos are Worth it - Even if you don't Feel Camera Ready

“I'll just wait until the baby gets here.”

I understand why moms say it.

You're tired.

Your body doesn't quite feel like your own anymore.

Nothing in your closet fits the way it used to.

Maybe your feet are swollen.

Maybe you're uncomfortable.

Maybe pregnancy hasn't looked or felt anything like the glowing version you imagined.

And now somebody wants to photograph you?

It can be tempting to skip maternity pictures completely.

But there's a reason I think they're worth having.

You Won't Be Pregnant With This Baby Again

Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, this pregnancy belongs to this child.

You'll never again be pregnant with this exact little person.

Right now they're close enough that you feel every kick and movement.

Soon they'll be in your arms.

And then somehow, unbelievably, they'll get bigger.

Maternity photographs preserve the tiny stretch of time between waiting for them and meeting them.

Your Child May Love These Photographs Someday

There's something incredibly special about showing a child what life looked like before they arrived.

That's you in there.

We were waiting for you.

Your brother couldn't stop talking about you.

Your sister kissed my belly every night.

Dad used to put his hand right here when you kicked.

Those stories become tangible when there are photographs attached to them.

You May See Yourself Differently Later

Right now, you may notice every little thing you don't love about your pregnant body.

Years from now, those probably won't be the first things you see.

You'll see how young your older children were.

You'll see your partner beside you.

You'll remember your baby's movements.

You'll remember wondering what they would look like.

You'll remember the anticipation.

Time has a funny way of changing what we notice in photographs.

Maternity Photos Aren't About Pretending Pregnancy Is Perfect

Pregnancy can be incredible.

It can also be hard.

Maternity photography doesn't require us to pretend otherwise.

We're simply saying:

This happened.

This mattered.

This was part of our family's story.

You don't need a perfect pregnancy to deserve photographs of it.

You Don't Need to Feel Camera Ready

That's something I really want expecting moms to understand.

You don't need to lose five pounds.

Obviously.

You don't need to suddenly become comfortable posing.

You don't need to know your best angle.

And you don't need to look like the maternity photos you've been saving online.

Come as you are.

I'll guide you.

We'll choose flattering poses, beautiful light and a setting that works for you.

One Day, These Will Be the “Before” Pictures

This is probably my favorite part.

Right now, your maternity photographs feel like the main event.

Then your baby arrives.

Suddenly those images become the before.

Before you knew their face.

Before you heard their cry.

Before you held them.

Before you knew exactly how they would fit into your family.

And that's when maternity and newborn photographs become incredibly special together.

One tells the story of waiting.

The other tells the story of finally meeting.

So Are Maternity Photos Worth It?

I think so.

Not because pregnancy is always glamorous.

Not because every woman feels amazing while she's pregnant.

And definitely not because social media says you need them.

They're worth it because this chapter ends.

Your baby comes.

Life moves forward.

And photographs give you something incredibly powerful:

A way to go back.

Next: Let's Finish the Story

You've planned the maternity session.

You've documented the anticipation.

Now let's talk about what happens after that baby finally arrives.

Next: From Bump to Baby—Planning Your Maternity and Newborn Photos Together

TAQ Photography offers maternity, newborn and family photography for families throughout Buckeye, Verrado, Goodyear and Arizona's West Valley.