Outdoor maternity sessions - all you need to know

I get plenty of clients booking in for outdoor maternity sessions to capture this exciting milestone. In Cornwall there is such a strong connection to the outdoor lifestyle, many couples and families decide to have their photos taken at the beach or countryside which is awesome! I love to shoot outside!

There are a few things to be prepared for before an outdoor maternity session in Cornwall. We all know what the weather can be like - unpredictable at best! And depending on time of year it can stay pretty damp even if we get a sunny spell.

If we’re heading on to the beach, chances are we will encounter some wet sand, puddles or even waves at the waters edge.

So what should you wear on your feet?

In summer at the beach, it’s bare feet all the way for everyone, as much as possible. Kick your shoes off, embrace the sensation of the sand and water in your toes. Of course you can keep flip flops on or trainers if we’re on a pebbly beach or sharp rocks, but I usually choose locations that are less challenging especially for my pregnant mamas.

In winter, I’d advise wearing some kind of waterproof footwear and bringing along an extra pair. Don’t wear your best leather shoes! It is actually quite rare that feet appear in any of the shots, and if you’re wearing a maxi dress it’s likely to cover up most of your feet anyway. I’ve had mums wear Uggs before, which can even be kicked off and on if necessary.

You don’t have to worry too much about it - if footwear is an issue I’ll just avoid shooting full length portraits.

Can pets come to the session?

Absolutely yes! I will send some special prep info just for dog owners to read through prior to the shoot but your pets are welcome to join in the session. They are important members of the family too, after all!

Do I need professional Hair & Make up?

This is entirely up to you. Some ladies want to have the full photoshoot experience and to look and feel extra beautiful and confident. Many of my clients do their own hair and make up.

If you’re booking an outdoor session you do have to keep in mind that it could need to be rescheduled without a lot of warning (we usually call it a day or two beforehand if forecasts aren’t looking good). This might cause issues with hair and make up artists booked.

You could book a lesson with a make up artist who can teach you how to apply the make up yourself. I’d be happy to refer you, or if you did want to book someone I can help with this too.

There are some great YouTube tutorials as well - even if it means investing in some new make up you’ll still feel gorgeous and like you know what you’re doing.

It’s winter - can I still have my maternity photoshoot outdoors?

Absolutely! Can I let you in on a little secret? Most of the photos in my portfolio were done when it was freezing cold outside. Even late into spring we can get a cold breeze at sunset and most of my pregnant ladies have to be quite brave!

You can wear something warm on your feet and I always bring warm blankets to wrap up in between shots. I am always on the look out for warm additions to my client wardrobe and have got a very cosy cardi that has been used in many outdoor sessions and kept people toasty.

What if it rains during our session?

Sometimes the forecasts get it wrong, or we are unlucky with our timing. If it’s a passing shower we just take shelter and wait it out. If it’s a relentless drizzle I’m happy to embrace it into the session or reschedule, depending on what you prefer to do. This has not happened before as usually this type of thing is forecast and avoidable.

If you’re thinking of an outdoor session and there was anything else you wanted to know, get in touch! I’m always happy to answer questions and help if I can.