Arizona Family Photographer: A Salt River Maternity Photo Session

At the beginning of the year I held a model call to do a Family Maternity photo session. After sorting through the applicants I landed on the Winterrose family of 4, soon to be 5, and in early February we headed out to the Salt River to take some pictures of this sweet growing family…and growing baby bump as well.

Location, Location, Location

Arizona has some pretty epic vistas from the Grand Canyon to Sedona to signature saguaro cactus everywhere you look. I wanted to choose a location that wasn’t too far from the greater Phoenix area but still offered some jaw dropping beauty. Fortunately for me, I don’t need to really drive any further than 30 miles and I have my pick of beautiful scenery. For this shoot I chose the Goldfield Recreation Area on the Salt River in Mesa, AZ. What I love about this spot is that there are flat desert trails to meander on which meant I had cacti and desert scrub galore to frame my photos. It’s also a very short walk, and I do mean short, to the edge of the Salt River which offers opportunities to step in the water (although we didn’t this time) or to search for shells or tadpoles (which we did) and watch the sunset over Red Mountain.

Another very important thing to keep in mind while working with pregnant mamas is their physical wellbeing. For this shoot I knew a few things about Samantha (gorgeous mama) that meant I needed to keep walking not too strenuous. Goldfield Rec Area provided me with plenty of flat spaces to explore as well as a paved path down to the water and a flat (albeit rocky) beach area to play on. Check, check, and triple check!!

The Importance of a Maternity Photo Session

So many people wonder why maternity photography has become such a thing now. I’ll give you 4 solid reasons right now! One, you’ll be surprised at how beautiful you feel. Yup, you’re gaining weight but you’re also creating a human being and if that isn’t beautiful I don’t know what is. Two, you’re gonna miss that bump. Ok, maybe not 12 week morning sickness bump or 38 week I’m so done with this bump but you’re definitely gonna miss 27 week flutter kicking and glowing bump. Three, you can show as little or as much skin as you like! And four, you’ll love looking back on these photos as your child grows up. I know my own kiddos love looking at my maternity photos and listening to stories of when I was pregnant with them. It makes for great traditions, looking at photos and telling stories.

What to Wear for a Maternity Photo Session

Samantha was such an ideal client when it came to wardrobe. Not only was she willing to let me dress her but also helped me craft a beautiful ensemble for the whole family. First, I gave her this beautiful boho lace gown from Agneshka Maternity. Honestly, I bought this gown at the end of last year and THEN decided to do a maternity session. I nearly wept for how beautiful it is! And when Samantha put it on…oh my goodness I almost couldn’t even do my job! From there I decided on a color palette for the family and then made a trip to my local Once Upon a Child store. Yup, I could’ve ordered brand new but honestly I found so many options of things that were so gently used that I found no need to order something at full price. So I purchased a few dresses for Faye (2) to try on and a few tops for Everett (4) and mama supplemented with shoes and pants and the most adorable knee high socks on a a toddler I have ever seen. Samantha pulled some options from dad’s closet and after trading some pics via text and email we had an entire family maternity photo session wardrobe assembled. Voila!!

Memory Making

This family was so much fun to work with! They showed up eager to play and experiment and wander. What I loved about this was that not only was I getting the chance to record Samantha at about 32 weeks pregnant, but also their last few weeks together as a family of four. So while I was capturing solo pics of mom, I’d turn around and catch Dad (Channing) peering, alongside his babies, into the water watching the tadpoles or plucking shells from amongst the rocks. I fluffed the lace gown while Faye sat astride Mama’s belly (for how much longer who knows) and played with her curls. I captured Everett listening to his baby brother, ear to Mama’s tummy. And I witnessed the love between Samantha and Channing that holds all this beauty together.

Thank you Winterrose family, working with you was a joy and a pleasure. I pray that you relish the time you have left together as a family of 4 and that your transition into a family of 5 is smooth sailing. May you love and serve one another as you love and serve this sweet little one.

Arizona Family Photographer | Shannon Ly Photography

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