Pregnancy portrait

[Snowgirl]

I've been asked by a good friend to do some portraits of her in the latter stages of her pregnancy. I've NEVER done this before so am looking for advice on poses and focal point for lighting - face or tummy?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[BPerron]

I've been asked by a good friend to do some portraits of her in the latter stages of her pregnancy. I've NEVER done this before so am looking for advice on poses and focal point for lighting - face or tummy?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I would see how comfortable she is with her body...Some women love to show bare skin, while others do not...then you can kind of think where to go from there as for poses. You want to showcase both the tummy and the face with lighting and poses....

[Art Scott]

Take a look at the bookstores in your area...B/N and Borders both have ahd great books on this subject from some of the finer pro 'graphers of our times....
Also GOOGLE can be very friendly for this....:D

[Scott_Quier]

FWIW urbanaries is my hero when it comes to this sort of thing (and that may be one reason NOT to look at these threads :D)

But, a little google work goes a long ways. Here are some of the first results I got.
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=481328&postcount=7 (this is probably one of my favorites)
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=46388
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=85435
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=60143

Hope this helps

[cmorganphotography]

FWIW Lynne Hulbert (urbanaries) is my hero when it comes to this sort of thing (and that may be one reason NOT to look at these threads :D)

But, a little google work goes a long ways. Here are some of the first results I got.
http://www.dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=481328&postcount=7 (this is probably one of my favorites)
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=46388
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=85435
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=60143

Hope this helps

How did you bribe the boyfriend from the fourth link's photo shoot?

[Scott_Quier]

How did you bribe the boyfriend from the fourth link's photo shoot?
None of these are mine. Suggest you direct PM to the poster of the images.

[cmorganphotography]

None of these are mine. Suggest you direct PM to the poster of the images.

Ah, yes. I dropped the ball there. Sorry about that.

[Scott_Quier]

Ah, yes. I dropped the ball there. Sorry about that.
No worries - I just wish my photography was as good as urbanaries':D

[cmorganphotography]

I realize this has been posted a while ago.
Having thought about doing these portraits myself... I've come to three conclusions and one thing I really like.
1) Do what the woman is comfortable with and don't let anyone tell her otherwise, it is best that someone pregnant be comfy, relaxed, and happy for such a wonderful time and for her and the baby's sake [and your pictures. :D ] Don't let the daddy push you around either!
2) DO what YOU are comfortable with and don't compromise. Having a meeting with the parents or the woman beforehand and have a google search/snack time meeting. Look at pictures, or if you're like me, draw pictures for her/them and if they make happy noises put them in the yes pile and confer with them generously during the photoshoot.
3) Be completely honest. While you're shooting if something does look right, or a colour isn't working, whatever it is: be sensitive but he honest. She'll appreciate you are trying to make her look the best she possibly can during such a special time where the slightest thing can make them emotional. Pregnancy isn't easy.

One thing I really like everytime I see it in a pregger portrait is the "cupping" the belly gesture while the mom looks down on the baby. One hand above and one hand below in alternate positions [think a yin yang] with some soft light on the face. I always like that pose.

There's m'two cents.:D

[RustingInPeace]

http://c2-photo.smugmug.com/photos/187322087_3ZcNd-L-3.jpg

http://c2-photo.smugmug.com/photos/187318350_FhrLf-M-4.jpg

http://c2-photo.smugmug.com/photos/187319820_bfjQr-M-4.jpg

http://c2-photo.smugmug.com/photos/187313947_Cz8Jh-M-4.jpg

http://bp0.blogger.com/_DHAC8FnMnis/SFlVWfMA7uI/AAAAAAAAAto/Jnw9aST0tOA/s1600/210083178_jF754-XL-1.jpg


I could not access this photo from my client proofs (that one is touched up top right to fix shadow)
http://bp2.blogger.com/_DHAC8FnMnis/Rxly9JtPohI/AAAAAAAAAlY/VipQCRBcfAI/s400/IMG_7429_edited-2CG.jpg