Allison Patel Photography, based in Richmond, has been a lifestyle family, maternity, and newborn photographer since 2011. Patel uses natural light in familiar environments, like clients' homes or chosen RVA locations, to document their lives. She specializes in spontaneous unposed photography that simplifies the process. Clients appreciate Allison’s professionalism, flexibility, passion, and natural and candid photos.
Amanda Rachael Photography is a Midlothian-based studio specializing in maternity photography for clients throughout Richmond, Virginia. Amanda is an award-winning photographer and mother of five who has over 15 years of experience capturing moments in the lives of her subjects. Her portfolio includes cake smash birthdays, headshots, seniors, and families. The pricing of all sessions includes a full selection of backdrops and props, as well as professional editing and a private online gallery.
Butler Portraits is a Midlothian business that has over 45 years of experience. Dan Butler is a fine art portraitist and his lakefront location has four studios. The studios are the Hollywood Portrait Park, the indoor Camera Room, the Lakefront Studio, and Butler Gardens. The portraits are hand crafted, hand glazed, and bonded with a canvas texture. Sizes include gift, albums, desk, personal, and display. Available finishes include Butler Commissioned Oils, Butler Hand Painted Oils, Renaissance Canvas, and paper Gicleé. Portraits Butler Portraits offers include maternity, children, families, high school seniors, love story, bridal, pets, and business. Clients appreciate Dan’s patience, talent, professionalism, and his way with children.
Casandra Lorraine is a Stafford-based photographer who specializes in maternity and newborn photography. She travels to her clients homes and brings her specially curated mobile studio. Casandra Lorraine utilizes handcrafted, beautiful props and knits. She is known for her attention to detail, and sun-drenched, vivid outdoor portraits.
Heather Dawn Photography is a fine art photography business that has served Richmond and surrounding areas for over six years. She specializes in photographing maternity, newborns, and families. She utilizes many great locations around Richmond for her family and maternity sessions and remains efficient with her newborns indoors in her home studio. Clients have the option to customize each session to their specific needs. Each session is designed with the client’s home, specific style, and personal desires in mind, creating an experience that goes beyond just a photograph. Maternity and family sessions take place one hour before sunset or one hour after sunrise and are 60 to 90 minutes long. Clients appreciate Heather’s patience, professionalism, editing skills, and calm manner.
J. Marcus Photography is a Richmond business that specializes in maternity, children, and high school senior photography. The maternity sessions are on location and are 60 minutes long. Clients will receive 10 high-resolution fully edited images including two 8”x10” prints and full printing rights. The turnaround time is seven to 14 days. The children/family package is also on location and lasts 60 minutes. It includes 15 high-resolution fully edited images including two 8”x10” prints and full printing rights. Professional lighting and props are also included. The turnaround time is seven to 14 days. The senior package is similar to the children/family package without the props. Dress rentals are available for a fee.
Korie Nordstrom Photography is a Richmond boutique studio that provides custom portrait photography specializing in outdoor high school senior portraits. Areas served include Henrico, Powhatan, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Glen Allen, Chesterfield, Goochland, Chester, and other areas. Along with senior photography, this private residential studio also offers maternity, newborn, children, family, and couples photography, both on location and in studio. During the pre-session design consultation, Korie helps clients with the location, props, clothing, and the concept. Photography is Korie’s passion and she is completely self-taught. Clients remark on her patience, professionalism, and dedication.
Marie Photography, LLC is a Richmond family-owned and operated business that serves the Tri-City area and Richmond. Shaquita and Devin’s services include maternity photography, newborn photography, children and family sessions, couples sessions, engagement sessions, bridal sessions, weddings, senior photography, and event photography. Sessions include a call beforehand and editing after the session. Clients will receive full printing rights for the images they order and access to an online gallery. Marie Photography, LLC offers several sessions including a bronze, silver, and gold portrait session, an investment portrait session, a mini portrait session, a baby’s first year package, and a cake smash session. Printing options include a variety of print sizes, canvases, and photobooks. Events such as family reunions, graduations, baptisms, and birthdays are charged by the hour. Wedding packages are customized to each couple.
Marty Otanez Photography is an editorial style photographer based in the Richmond area. She specializes in motherhood and brand photography, supporting and empowering women by capturing the various stages of their lives. Ms. Otanez has experience with maternity and newborn photo shoots, shooting at scenic locations and within unique sets. Her work in brand photography primarily consists of directing and executing clean product photography for purses, apparel, bags, and other markets within women's fashion.
Rebecca Sable Photography serves clients in Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding areas. Mrs. Sable is a former nurse who specializes in family, newborn, and maternity photography, capturing organic family images in-home or on location. Her work is characterized by the relaxed poses of her subjects and the use of natural light and brilliant whites softly contrasting with pastel shades. Session times and digital packages are priced separately.
Relish Photography by Lee offers a variety of services, including maternity photos, to customers in the Richmond area. This husband and wife business specializes in wedding sessions but can undertake any project. Expectant mothers are provided with coaching and in-depth consultative services, and they can obtain a range of fine art prints and custom-designed albums. Relish Photography by Lee works with everyone regardless of their physique, ethnicity, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Maternity photography is series a of photographs taken of soon-to-be mothers later in their pregnancies. These photos may be of just the mother, or they may include the father and other children. Often, maternity photos are whimsical and artistic, as they're meant to capture the beauty of pregnancy.
What you wear for maternity photos depends on the style of the photographs being taken. Mothers who want to show their bare belly for maternity photos may want to opt for a basic crop top or sports bra with comfortable pants on the bottom. Those who prefer to stay covered up might want to consider an elegant gown.
Often, women will pose with their hands, or the father's hands, placed on their growing belly in maternity photos. Photos might be taken from the side to show a profile of the mother's shape or straight on to capture the joy on the subject's face.
According to Fash, portrait photographers, including maternity photographers, typically charge between $100 and $250 per hour when photographing subjects. That cost normally equates to anywhere from $25 to $100 per edited image. On average, a photoshoot takes one full hour, whether indoors or outdoors.
There are several types of photoshoots that are popular with families and maternity photographers.
As a photographer, you need to have experience and proper training to work in a hospital setting. Most hospital photographers have some training in medical terminology as well as experience and training in how to safely work with new mothers and babies.
Using the right fabrics and colors in maternity photoshoots is key if you're looking for a glow effect. Encourage your subject to dress in light colors, such as pale pink, white, or ivory, and ensure that she's well-lit when photographs are taken. After the photoshoot, using the right editing tools can help you enhance the glow of fabrics and other photo elements.
Most maternity photographers prefer working with prime lenses for outdoor maternity sessions. Lenses should range from 35 mm to 50 mm to avoid wide angles that may distort the subject's arms or legs. You may also want to consider a macro lens, which can provide greater focus for close-up photographs.
Maternity photoshoot contracts include details such as shoot dates, times, and locations. Frequently, payment information and cancellation or rescheduling terms as well as detailed information about copyright ownership and transfer of use rights are also included. Additionally, be sure to include details about cancellation policies.
It's important to take maternity photos when the mother is farther along in her pregnancy and her belly is round. Typically, the best time is between the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy when the mother is showing but not so close to her due date that she's uncomfortable or at risk of going into labor.
Maternity photoshoot props are widely available online through websites, such as Amazon and Etsy. You may also be able to use other photography props in maternity shoots, or if you're particularly crafty, you can search for do-it-yourself tutorials online and make your own.
Instagram is a great way for maternity photographers to gain exposure. Using hashtags such as #maternityphotography and #maternityphotoshoot can help people find your profile. If you don't have a consistent, visually appealing feed, photography pages may be quick to dismiss you. In addition to keeping your profile beautiful, keep an eye on the pages you want to be featured on and follow their style and any guidelines they post closely.
When you gain a new client, it's important to understand what they want from their photos. In addition to questions about when they're due and if they know the gender, be sure to ask what they plan to wear, how much skin they want showing, and if they have inspiration photos.
Maternity photos are a great way to capture memories for new families and households that plan to welcome a new, tiny member. A maternity photo helps parents look back on their pregnancy fondly and remember the excitement they felt while awaiting their new arrival.
