The Art of Pregnancy Photography by Jennifer George Page B

can be difficult. Occasionally, there are days when the moms just don’t feel good and the session must be rescheduled. Also, the window of opportunity is relatively small to begin with. Kevin likes to photograph them just after the eighth month, when they are large enough to really look pregnant but are still somewhat mobile.
PROFESSIONAL REFLECTION
“These are the times when women are the most beautiful in their lives; it’s a truly amazing and rewarding thing to be able to capture.” —Kevin Kubota
    In the studio, Kevin often prefers to capture black & white portraits, since the backgrounds are very simple and the image is all about the form of the body. Also, black & white photos can be a little more forgiving: he once photographed a woman pregnant with twins, and her belly was so large that it was literally purple from stretching. This, he decided, was definitely a black & white shot! When shooting outdoors, Kevin’s preference is typically to shoot in color.
    What techniques and technical advice does Kevin share? “I love my Nikon 85mm f/1.4 lens. I also use my 70–200mm f/2.8 lens when I need to get farther away—like across a river! I think the shape of the body is more pleasingly represented with an 85mm or longer lens (with his Nikon, there’s a 1.5x lens magnification).”
    Marketing . Kevin notes that booking a couple’s wedding photography and creating great wedding portraits can easily lead to pregnancy, baby, and family sessions down the line. When he first considered branching into maternity portraiture, he simply sought to photograph pregnant women who had that special glow. “Some pregnant women feel beautiful and radiant when pregnant; others don’t feel very attractive at all,” Kevin says. “I can usually tell right away. I would just ask them (or my wife would, if possible, as it’s less awkward for them) if they’d like to do some photos for my portfolio,” he adds. Simply initiating this contact and creating beautiful images for these women resulted in word-of-mouth marketing and a growing client base.
    TERRI LEE
    Background . Terri owns and operates Starlight Photography in Mission Viejo, CA. A photographic instructor, Terri has also been awarded a fellowship from the Professional Photographers of California in recognition of her service to the photographic industry. In 2004, Terri conducted a program at the Professional Photographers of California’s Western States Convention called “A New Life: Maternity and Newborn Photography.” In 2005, she was named PPA’s Photographer of the Year and was awarded her Photographic Craftsman degree from the same organization.
    When Terri first began her work as a professional photographer, she concentrated on wedding photography.
    Many of her happy bridal clients became maternity portrait clients. As her skill level and portfolio began to grow, Terri’s satisfied pregnancy portrait clients referred their pregnant family members and friends.
    Other referrals have come obstetricians’ and other physician’s offices. Terri provides local doctors with portraits that enhance their waiting rooms’ and examination rooms’ decor in exchange for placing her marketing pieces in the waiting rooms. The practice has provided mixed results, but it seems to work best in offices that serve a predominance of her target market. Terri’s business is low volume by choice, but she is always pleased when her targeted marketing brings her the kind of client who will adore and appreciate what she has created for them.

    Photo by Mike Lee.

    Terri used shadows almost more than highlights to show the sensuous form of this pregnant woman. Fabrics are her favorite device, as they allow her to draw attention to certain areas and hide others. Photo by Terri Lee.
    Personal Satisfaction . It is of the utmost importance to Terri that her clientele approach their photography session with high expectations and confidence. Her studio provides a safe, calm, and nurturing