I’m excited to bring you an in-depth Q&A session with the wonderfully talented Karen Lisa of Karen Lisa Artistic Photography. This is a great treat, so read on!
Tell us a little about yourself and your photography.
I’ve been a professional photographer for five years now and there isn’t anything else that I’d rather do. I love connecting with my clients and capturing their memories for years to come! I love taking relaxed, but directed portraits. A little bit of light direction goes a long way, and once I have them loosened up I can suggest the way I want them to stand or interact and just step back and let the magic happen from there. I want people to remember who they were and how they felt about what was going on in their lives when they look at their photos – not that I told them to stand this way or say cheese.
Why should mamas-to-be take maternity photos?
Maternity photos are SO important because just like every baby is different, so is every pregnancy. Your body changes in ways you have yet to even imagine when you carry a baby inside you, and if growing an entire human being inside your body is not a reason to commemorate it with a photo session, I’m not really sure what is! 
I had maternity photos taken myself for a variety of reasons, all which I think are incredibly important – first, I wanted to be able to show my child and grand-children the way I looked while I was pregnant (kids are always curious – I was, and sadly my mom has very few photos of herself while pregnant). Second, I wanted to have images created which captured the love my husband and I had for each other as we prepared to welcome this new life into the world. This was partly for me, partly for my son and grandchildren. Finally, I wanted to be able to look back on the photos and remember everything that my pregnancy was all about and how excited I was as I prepared for the big day!
What is your style as a maternity photographer?
As I mentioned before, I have a pretty natural style and include both parents in the session. I use natural light and go for real, happy, and thoughtful expressions from my clients. My maternity sessions focus a lot on the couple rather than the actual belly. My clients come to me in the last few weeks of their pregnancies, and doing a session is one of the last big things that they do for themselves before they are off to the hospital or birth center to have their lives changed forever. I focus a lot on my couples as who THEY are – people who love each other, but now with extra belly.
What is your standby pose and other go to maternity poses?
Honestly, I don’t really have a standby pose, and I don’t tend to do a lot of posing in general – I direct my clients, but I like to step back and then let the natural expressions occur on their own. As I mentioned in the previous question, I run my maternity sessions more like a couple session but with extra focus on the belly. I really just go with the flow, and especially go with the location and the couple themselves, who truly dictate what the session will be like. I stay away from cheesy stuff as much as I can – absolutely no “dad listening to the belly” shots or anything like that. A solo belly shot is always nice, as is a natural shot with dad’s hands resting on the belly. Aside from that, I just try to capture lots and lots of love and happiness.
Do you photograph families during a maternity photography session?
My clients tend to be first time parents, but if they have other children I’d be happy to incorporate them into the session.
Any creative suggestions for fun and unique maternity shoots?
I talk to my clients to find out what kinds of things they’re interested in and see if we can incorporate it into the shoot somehow. At one recent session, my clients visit a beautiful garden venue for their Sunday breakfasts and enjoy walking in the gardens. We were able to do their maternity session in the gardens and it was beautiful and personal to them. Sometimes we start a shoot at the client’s home so that we can incorporate some casual shots of the nursery, pre-baby, and some of the mom-to-be’s favorite baby items, and then move on to another location. For me, the ultimate style of the shoot really just depends on my clients’ personalities and what they like to do.
Do you have any advice for self conciseness pregnant woman who are camera shy or concerned about stretch marks?
As far as stretch marks go, if you don’t want to show your belly, then don’t! I can’t remember the last time I did a maternity shoot showing off a bare belly, actually. As far as being self conscious, remember that first off, you’re hiring a professional who is going to make you look your best. Second, all pregnant women are beautiful! And third, a big reason to take these photos is for future generations – who aren’t going to care about stretch marks or bloating or anything that you THINK you’re looking at in the mirror. They’re just going to care that it’s you and that you had these amazing photos made up for them to see someday.
What clothing do you recommend for a maternity session?
Wear what makes you feel beautiful and fits you well! Sometimes at the end of your pregnancy that can get a little hard since you typically feel bloated, tired, and sore….but there’s always that one perfect maternity top or dress that you managed to find somehow and just don’t want to stop wearing – and if you have a particular dress or top like that which you absolutely love, then you should wear it! I fully believe this, because I felt beautiful in my maternity pictures, and they just happened to be taken in my favorite outfits.
When should pregnant woman schedule their maternity photography session?
I recommend any time from about 30 to 36 weeks, preferably somewhere in the middle. If you’re expecting multiples or are high-risk though, you may want to do it sooner rather than later to ensure you don’t give birth before your shoot!
Do you have any tips for the DIY mamas-to-be who want to take their own photos?
Of course hiring a professional is really going to be your best bet, but if you can’t afford it and have to take your own, then find a location that you like which isn’t too crowded and go either early in the morning – between 7-9am – or in the evening around 2 hours before the sun sets. That way you’ll get the best light.
Anything else you want to add about maternity photography?
Having maternity photos taken is just another amazing way to document your life as a family. If you’re pregnant or TTC, make sure you make a maternity session a priority when you figure out your baby budget. Also, most photographers have a package that includes a newborn or other first year sessions along with the maternity shoot, so make sure you ask your photographer about any packages that they offer so that you can save money on multiple sessions throughout the year.
You can find Karen at:
Thanks so much Karen for answering some maternity matters photography questions! I hope this gets expectant moms to start thinking more about maternity photos and how important they are in documenting their pregnancy journey!
And, don’t forget to leave a comment on any post this week to be entered to win a FREE maternity or baby digital layout from me!! Contest ends on midnight Saturday, October 16 EST and the winner will be randomly drawn.
Tara, thanks so much for interviewing me! I love your blog and your work. it is a pleasure to be a guest on your site!
Thanks for the wonderful Q&A – you rock!!