Preparing for your Outdoor Maternity session
WHAT TO WEAR
Clothing plays a big role in creating the soft, natural feel you see throughout my outdoor sessions. Light, neutral tones photograph beautifully and help keep the focus on your family and your connection with one another.
Soft colours such as cream, beige, and warm earthy tones tend to work especially well outdoors. These shades reflect light beautifully and work well with the landscape. I recommend avoiding black or very dark clothing where possible, as darker tones absorb light and can appear quite heavy in outdoor photographs.
For mums, flowy dresses and soft fabrics work wonderfully. Think relaxed pieces that move easily and feel comfortable to wear — anything that helps you feel confident and like yourself is always the best choice.
You’re also very welcome to choose something from the studio's Mother’s Wardrobe. I have a small collection of dresses available for mums to use during their session. If you’d like to borrow one, simply let me know in your styling questionnaire and we can arrange a time for you to try on a few options at the studio beforehand.
PARTNERS & CHILDREN
For partners and children, aim for a coordinated look rather than everyone matching exactly. Light neutrals and earthy tones photograph beautifully together and create a relaxed, timeless feel.
Keeping outfits simple and timeless helps create a cohesive look across your images.
If you’re ever unsure about outfits, you’re very welcome to send me a quick photo — I’m always happy to help guide you.
HAIR & MAKEUP
You may wish to have your hair and makeup professionally styled, or to do it yourself — the decision is yours. But if you’ve chosen a stylist from my recommended list, they are mobile and will come to your home. When booking your appointment, I recommend asking to be ready about an hour before your session start time. This gives you plenty of breathing room so the day feels relaxed rather than rushed.
To prepare for your stylist’s arrival, please have a clean, moisturised face and completely dry hair.
If you’re doing your own hair and makeup, aim for a soft, natural look that feels like you.
A FEW LITTLE THINGS TO REMEMBER
A little preparation goes a long way in helping you feel relaxed and confident during your session.
• Keep your skin well moisturised in the days leading up to your session. If you’re planning to show a little skin, a gentle exfoliation the day before can help your skin look smooth and fresh.
• Lip balm is your best friend — pregnancy can make lips quite dry. Using balm regularly in the days before your session will help keep them soft and photo-ready.
• Drink plenty of water and have a light snack beforehand so you arrive feeling comfortable and energised.
• If you’re borrowing a dress from the studio's Mother’s Wardrobe, please avoid wearing perfume on the day.
• Bring a hair tie or clips with you. Wellington weather can be a little unpredictable, and it’s always helpful to have the option to quickly tie hair back if the wind picks up.
Pro tip: If you do tie your hair back, a tiny amount of conditioner smoothed over flyaways can help keep them under control — and it leaves your hair feeling beautifully soft afterwards.
A FEW THINGS TO AVOID
To keep your photos looking timeless and natural, I recommend avoiding:
• Black or very dark clothing
• Bright or fluorescent colours
• Large logos, graphics or text
• Busy patterns that draw attention away from faces
Simple, soft clothing allows the focus to remain on the moments you share together.
What if the weather is awful?
If the weather turns wet or wild, don’t worry—we have options! I always keep backup days reserved in case we need to reschedule. Alternatively, if you'd prefer not to wait, we can move your session into my Tawa studio instead. We'll keep in touch and if the weather’s looking iffy on the day, we’ll make a decision about what to do together.
THE FINER DETAILS
Little details can make a big difference in your photos.
Hands are often gently resting on baby bumps or holding little hands, so it’s a good idea to check that everyone’s nails are clean and any polish isn’t chipped before your session.
Small skin blemishes can easily be retouched, however adjustments to things like wardrobe, makeup, nails or hair require more detailed editing and may incur additional editing fees. It’s always best to get these details just how you like them beforehand so everything looks beautiful straight from the camera.
Outdoor sessions are all about making the most of that beautiful natural light — and unfortunately, the sun waits for no one!
Please arrive dressed and ready to start at your scheduled time. If you're late, we may lose precious light, and there's nothing we can do to get that time (or glow!) back. Sessions will still end at the originally scheduled time, even if we start late. Thanks so much for understanding — I want to make sure we capture every magical moment we can!
