That baby bump is growing, and you’re glowing! Maternity pictures might be the last thing on your mind. However, we urge you to consider a portrait – especially if it’s your first pregnancy or you know it will be your only one. We have worked for more than a decade with maternity clients in and around the Broad Run, VA area. They all love their maternity portraits more than they ever imagined! We think you will too!

Some women feel great during their pregnancies, while others don’t. Either way, there are things you can do to prepare for your session with a portrait photography studio. Together, we can craft an artistically beautiful portrait you will appreciate and enjoy for many years.

We provide all the information you will need to have a delightful experience during your portrait session. However, we wanted to take the time to offer some tips through our blog!

When to do maternity pictures

Usually between a woman’s 31st and 36th week of pregnancy is an ideal time. You’re not yet feeling too uncomfortable, and it allows you enough time to review and order your portraits.

Your session is your session!

We want you to share any ideas you have with us before your session. We suggest telling us during your initial chat. If you have thoughts on poses, props, clothes, or a location you’d like, share them with us. Let us know. Each client is different, and this session is all about YOU!

Three’s good company!

There is no need to come alone. You can bring your husband and your older children if you like. We can even include them in the session! We can do the pictures with your children first so that you can arrange for someone to pick them up following their portraits.

What to do with your maternity portraits

What do you plan on doing with your portraits? We offer a vast array of high-quality products, and we’re happy to show them to you. However, it’s a good idea to tell us in advance of your session what you plan on doing with your pictures. As a maternity portrait, we have some flexibility. It can make a difference if you plan on displaying the picture in your private spaces (dressing room/master suite) or if you plan on displaying them in the public areas of your home (living room, etc.). Perhaps you want an album or a portrait box.

It is your body! Relax!

The more relaxed you are, the better the portraits will turn out. We want you just to enjoy the session and let us do all the work. An experienced maternity photographer knows how to make sure their client feels comfortable. They will go out of their way to ensure you feel safe and relaxed. We know that our bodies change in many ways during pregnancy, and women aren’t always comfortable with those changes. We’ll talk about your comfort levels and poses which can ensure you feel comfortable.

Clothing before you arrive

Some maternity clothes will leave marks – such as elastic waistbands. We recommend not wearing any such clothing that day before your session, and that could include things like your bra, socks, tight underwear, etc. Just wear loose clothes.

Strike a pose

We should discuss individual poses and ideas for your maternity pictures. We can discuss what types of poses you are comfortable with, colors, lighting, if you’d like a more conservative look, or a romantic soft look, etc. We want you to love your portrait, so we’re happy to work with your vision for it!

More than one outfit

We suggest to clients that they bring more than one outfit to their session. We’ll give you some guidance about fabrics and styles. We also provide outfits as well. The best pictures are ones where the belly is visible or at least outlined under the fabric. It is all about that baby bump! If you have any flowing garments or wraps, bring them along! It’s good to experiment with several outfits during your session.

Extras and Props!

Bring any props or accessories you like: a piece of heirloom jewelry, earrings you love, baby shoes you’ve purchased, something from your childhood, etc. Be as creative as you like! If you need ideas, just ask us!

Let us be your photographer in the Broad Run, VA area for your maternity pictures! We have years of experience working with women during their pregnancies to capture their beautiful bodies.

Baby Photography, Baby and Newborn Photographer, Maternity Pictures

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located in Sterling, VA, near Broad Run, VA. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

There isn’t much vanity during pregnancy. Most women don’t realize how beautiful they look during pregnancy, especially if they’re not feeling well. However, our work taking maternity pictures in the Broad Run, VA and Northern Virginia area gives us the opportunity to show how truly beautiful pregnant women are. We can assure you that every single one has something beautiful about them! Having said that, though, this article by Terri Isidro-Cloudas from American Baby caught our attention recently. The highlights are below. You can read the full article here if you like.

Try some of these tips to help you look and feel your best during your pregnancy:

Keep it simple.

Keep everything simple – your outfits, your jewelry and your accessories. As your curves begin to show, stick to clean cuts with simple lines and no busy or large patterns. If you want to add pattern, do it with a scarf.

Accentuate the positive.

For many women, pregnancy is the first time they find themselves voluptuous. Enjoy it! Accentuate it! How about a top with a nice sexy neckline?

Hair.

Simple is good with hair, as well. Consider shortening the length for easier styling. If it’s already short, you might want to grow it out a bit for a different look. Whatever you decide keep it easy to care for!

Improve your posture.

As newborn and baby photographers, we can tell you how important your posture is throughout pregnancy and after the baby is born. As your body changes and weight begins to shift, maintain your posture to avoid back aches! Try to keep your hips and shoulders in line as you walk, and keep your back straight by tucking a pillow behind you when you sit. Without good posture, your back and joints can begin to bother you.

Nurture the skin.

Take special care of your skin during your pregnancy. Changing hormones can mean changes in your skin. Be sure to moisturize and maintain a daily cleansing routine.

We look forward to welcoming you into our Broad Run, VA area studio for your treasured maternity pictures. Remember that all women are beautiful when pregnant. That’s why it’s a remarkable time to do a memorable, heirloom portrait.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Maternity Pictures

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located in Northern Virginia, near Broad Run, VA. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

As photographers specializing in newborn and baby photography in the Northern VA area, we are often asked for recommendations regarding baby-related items. One of those items is nursery furniture.

Cribs are one of the first things moms-and-dads-to-be purchase once they find out a baby is on the way. But are there reasons to choose a high-end convertible crib for your baby?

Although there are many choices out there for cribs, one of the most cost effective choices you can make in a crib is to choose a convertible one. Many convertible cribs have options which allow them to grow to a full bed for lifetime use: a crib; a toddler bed; and a day bed or full size bed.

This convertible crib is Cleopatra by Romina Furniture.
 

 
This convertible crib is Alexa by Natart Juvenile.
 

 
Both Romina Furniture and Natart Juvenile offer lines of convertible cribs, as well as matching dressers and other furniture.

We recently visited and spoke with Tina Coulson, Store Manager for Great Beginnings Baby & Kids in Chantilly, Virginia. She explained to us why quality, materials and workmanship matter.

As with most things in life, quality is often commensurate with cost – but the value is just as important! Tina was quick to share why she recommends Romina and Natart to her customers. One of the main reasons is because both use only solid hardwood for superior strength and durability, as well as high resistance finishes to reduce scratchability.

Tina pointed out to us two different cribs on her showroom floor. One was from Natart, and the other was a lovely but less expensive crib. She explained that both had been on the floor for the same length of time, and both had had customers leaning over or against them to get a better look. However, the Natart crib looked brand new and had no scratches. The other crib showed some scratching.

Tina explained the reason for that. “When people lean over the cribs, of course their belt buckles and metal pieces on purses come into contact with the finishes. Both Romina and Natart have high resistance finishes on their furniture, so they keep that new look for much, much longer. The durability of this baby furniture makes it the best value.”

Tina cares very much for her customers and wants them to get the crib they want. “I don’t care if they choose a less expensive crib or the most expensive crib. I only want them to choose a crib they love. All of our cribs are of fine quality, and any one they choose will be safe, durable and will last. Scratches can be buffed out. If they love that crib, then that’s the one they should get.”

Tina added this regarding convertible cribs, “Many of my customers love the convertible cribs because that means they won’t have to purchase new furniture once the baby outgrows the crib! They can just convert the crib to a toddler bed, and then to a full size or daybed once the child is older. Romina and Natart also have additional furniture to match, such as dressers, side tables and bookcases for some of their collections. Because the pieces are so durable, they will last through the different ages and stages as the child grows.”

So yes, Romina and Natart cribs are more expensive as far as upfront cost. Because they are high quality, more durable and are convertible for lifetime use, the value for money is more than worth the initial higher cost.

Our newborn clients often choose to hang beautiful portraits of their new baby in the nursery, many times over the crib itself. Your baby will never be this small again! Those newborn portraits stay with and follow the family as it grows and changes through the years. Much the same as with high quality nursery furniture, newborn and family wall portraits are an investment upfront; however, the durability and the museum quality of our portrait finishes, rated to last 150 years, makes them an excellent value for money.
 

 
Great Beginnings offers a wonderful variety of baby furniture in a wide variety of prices. Great Beginnings is also the exclusive seller of baby furniture by Romina and Natart in the D.C. Metropolitan area.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy and Joriana Belcher, a mother-daughter baby photography team located in Sterling, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.

Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,

Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits