I've been reading some fellow preggers' posts about maternity photos and it's made me think of whether I want some taken. When I look at my bare belly, I have to say I get a little freaked out at how weird it looks. It's just odd to see myself with this huge buddha belly - and I'm so pale that it makes it look freaky. But at the same time, I want this big weird belly documented. I'm learning to love this big belly because my little girl is in there growing and making it expand. I want to be able to look back at what I looked like pregnant with our first baby girl. I want her to be able to have documentation of how excited we were for her arrival. Even if she doesn't care about seeing them, I want them for me.
The only thing holding me up is the cost. We already are realizing how expensive it is to bring a baby into the world with all of the stuff we have to get to prepare for her arrival. We also are spending a lot of money for our birthing classes and a birthing doula (once we choose one - we need to get on that!). Is this really a cost I can justify?
Here are a few links to some fellow bloggers maternity posts:
My Life in Transition
Bigger by the Belly
Baby Making Machine
So as of right now, I'm on the fence. I have a couple photographers in mind who I'd LOVE to do it, but the price is holding me back. If I can find a photographer who we like who we can also afford, I'm totally going to jump on the opportunity. If you know of any Baltimore area photographers who do this type of photography at a more affordable rate, let me know!
Ladies - would you invest in having these types of photos taken?
I am definitely going to have maternity photos done. I am lucky that I know a few people who are photographers and they'll give me a deal but I'd pay full price for a shoot anyday. You only have your first child once!
ReplyDeleteMeh. I wasn't planning to do any, but I think I may just get together with a couple of my girlfriends and take some pictures for fun. They'll dress me up and do my hair and then we'll make them black and white or whatever. This way its free and a fun memory with my two best friends also. I definitely cannot afford to hire a pro!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be doing maternity pictures. We don't know how many times I will be pregnant and I want to capture as much of it as I can! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any photographers that charge reasonable rates... however, if you guys learned your camera enough - you could have Ian snap a few shots!
ReplyDeleteOr since I am trying to get back into photographer, maybe I could give it a shot (but you'd have to keep in mind that they would be professional level quality). :-)
I've been reading your blog for a little while but had yet to comment, felt compelled for this one :)
ReplyDeleteI chose not to spend the money on pregnancy pictures, figured what do I seriously need those for? I regret it SO much! Now everyone's regrets can be different but I truly wish that I had documented that time in my life. A few of my friends have done it and they all loved the experience and love that they have this photo memory of such a wonderful time in their life. Think about it this way, we photo document all the important things in our lives...grad, engagement, marriage, baby's birth and the list could go on. Why not pay proper attention to your pregnancy?
One other note, check if the photographer you are interested in offers a package deal where you get the pregnancy shoot, newborn shoot and some birth announcements.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think once the baby is born, you'll probably want professional baby or even family shots? What will you REALLY do with photos of you with a huge belly? You know? I think it's obviously great to capture this special time in your life, but do they have to be professional? Like Kim said, you have a great camera so maybe go ahead and use that, and save the professional shots for the cute lil baby after she's born...pictures that you can frame and look at forever!
ReplyDeletei'm late to comment on this, but here are my thoughts.
ReplyDeletei didn't have barely any shots of me pregnant with my first little guy. since then, i've taken up photography and have done maternity shots for a bunch of mama's. now, i'm in my second pregnancy and i haven't gotten any of my own done. not that i don't want to ... but i'm just a slacker. i know if i gave birth tomorrow without having some shots taken, i would regret it.
if cost is an issue, maybe try to find someone that is just starting out. i'll try to snoop around and see if i can find anyone. are you on facebook? i know a lot of photog's have fan pages and maybe you can search on there by location? good luck though! you wouldn't regret doing it ... but you might regret not doing it.
I was going to have our wedding photographer do maternity shots for us, but I was lazy on scheduling and then -- BAM -- Em came two weeks early. I'd like to for our eventual next one, but then it'd be more a family shoot since Em will be in them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, with our next one we'll do a newborn photoshoot before they're 10 days old. We waited till Em was a month old, and she wasn't the super sleepy newborn we would've liked.