Family of four waits to meet their sweet baby boy in this bright family maternity photo session!
A baby brother is on his way for sisters Shay and Sianna! These sweet girls can’t wait to meet him early this summer! We celebrated this family of almost five with a beautiful garden-themed family maternity session in Humble, TX.
Waiting to welcome Nathan
Amber reached out just after Houston’s big freeze in February, saying she and her family had just moved here from California. With a little boy on the way, she was excited to celebrate her third pregnancy in a brand new area. After her last two maternity sessions in the beach in San Diego, it was time for a completely different setting!
Amber wanted a location filled with floral accents and soft greens, making this sprawling outdoor garden a perfect choice. Fortunately it recoverd beautifully after the freeze, with most of the trees filled out and flowers in bloom.
Not only were Amber and husband AJ celebrating this pregnancy in a new state, but also they were overjoyed for their girls to have a brother on the way!
Bright coral and soft whites
Amber selected neutral shades for her family, with AJ in a soft blue plaid shirt and her girls in white dresses. She wore three dresses: bright coral, soft white and a pale pink.
We started off the session with Amber in my flowy white chiffon and lace dress, which photographed so beautifully with her dark hair and amazing makeup. The white of her gown pops against the soft green background of this location, and the dress is so flattering with her basketball baby bump!
I added this lace and chiffon gown to my client closet in early 2021 and it’s quickly become one of my favorite options for both maternity and newborn photo sessions. It’s flowy in all the right places, complimenting particularly taller mamas. The lace bodice is feminine and light, with a chiffon skirt that falls perfectly on pregnant and postpartum mamas.
Next, Amber changed into my bright coral dress, one of the boldest options in my client closet. With a dress as show-stopping as this one, Amber’s family photographed perfectly next to her in their very neutral outfits! This session is a great example of a mama who pairs neutral colors with a pop of color to create a wonderfully diverse photo gallery!
Working with toddlers during a family maternity session
AJ and Amber have two sweet girls who were absolute angels for this evening maternity photo session! There is nothing sweeter than little girls in white dresses, snuggled against mama’s baby bump.
When I’m working with young children, I usually try to get family shots completed first since typically kids do best the first 15-20 minutes of a photo session. If the kiddos are in good spirits and want to smile for photos throughout the hour-long session, that’s wonderful! But if they tire of photos quickly, mama’s must-have shots are out of the way in the first few minutes, and she can relax knowing those essential family shots are done!
Luckily, Shay and Sianna were more than happy to show off their precious smiles all evening, so I worked with them for almost the entire hour! For family maternity sessions with toddlers, I try to capture mama with each child individually, as well as all of her kiddos together, so she’ll have photos of life before baby.
Couples photos during a family session with toddlers
Getting photos of just parents can be challenging with toddlers and young kids! Sweet Shay and Sianna did so well, standing or sitting near me while I worked with their parents.
However, if you have a young child who is a little more active, sometimes it’s helpful to bring along another family member or friend to help out during your photo session. This is a great idea, especially if your child is shy or slow to warm up/take direction from a new person.
Making just a few moments for couples photos, particuarly during a family maternity session, is one of my most favorite things. As a mama of three little girls myself, I know how challenging it is to fit in time with just your spouse! These photos are a lovely reminder of the love that existed between you and your husband before you welcomed your children!
Up next: waiting to welcome a brand new baby boy!
Amber, AJ, Shay and Sianna are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Nathan early this summer! When he makes his grand entrance, I’ll capture sweet moments of this family of five, overjoyed to welcome their first boy!