Maternity Photo Shoot with Yasmin Leonard Photography

Maternity photo shoot guide. I’m so excited to share all the pics from my maternity photo shoot with you guys! I’m actually pretty camera shy so I didn’t do maternity photos with my first born. A little over a year ago we did a family photo shoot with a Winston Salem photographer and I was so impressed with her pictures I really wanted her to shoot my maternity pics. Yasmin Leonard is amazing! She has a way of capturing all the natural moments that you want to remember and that was what I truly wanted. Nothing staged or stuffy, just some beautiful snaps to remember this time in our lives.

Find a Family Photographer You’re Comfortable With

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Really, I think the pictures speak for themselves. We shot these near our house right before sunset. I had ordered this dress and it just barely fit my eight months pregnant body. I loved it though, it made me feel beautiful at a time when I mostly wore sweatpants and my husbands tee shirts. Those last few months of pregnancy are brutal! You just want to hide and wait it out watching Netflix and eating everything.

But I managed to squeeze myself into a dress, throw on some makeup and get my boys into outfits they wouldn’t argue too much about wearing. We met Yasmin at our spot and she guided us through the whole shoot.

It’s so important to find a family photographer you are comfortable with! It makes the experience so much more enjoyable and you don’t end up with awkward pics of yourself trying to overdo it. Yasmin is so friendly and personable, she feels like a part of our family. She sets up the shot and then captures the magic of the moment without making it feel unnatural. She’s great at giving little pointers for posing and catching the subtle facial expressions, soft glances and small touches that make a picture beautiful.

Lighting is Everything!

For outdoor photos early morning light or sunset works best. I love sunset lighting, the golden hour when the sun casts the perfect glow. Make sure that you talk to your photographer about how your personal style. I love photos that are bright and airy for indoors. But some people prefer to play with shadows and dramatic contrast, especially when it comes to highlighting your bump. Give your photographer some examples of photos you love and explain what stands out to you and how you want to capture your body.

Relax and Have Fun

The best tip I can give you is to try and relax and enjoy the photoshoot. I’m not the most comfortable person in front of the camera so I know what it’s like to feel like a bundle of nerves when you’re walking around trying to pose but not really pose. But truly, your pictures will turn out beautiful if you just calm yourself, focus on your family and enjoy the moment together. Make each other laugh, keep it light-hearted and fun and your photographer will find plenty of moments to capture.