Celebrating a baby baby on the way with a stunning maternity photo session at The Glass House
Celebrating a baby baby on the way with a stunning maternity photo session at The Glass HouseMaddy and Chandler are first-time parents with a precious little guy due this fall. We celebrated the amazing adventure of parenthood with a breathtaking maternity photo session at The Glass House in Conroe, TX. Neutral shades and soft greens make this photo session a dream come true!
Endless natural light in a peaceful, dream-like setting
The Glass House is a clear glass greenhouse that features white marble floors, beautiful chandeliers – and a clear glass ceiling! If you’re dreaming of an indoor maternity session with endless beautiful natural light, you’ll fall in love with this location just like Maddy and Chandler did.
We met on a Wednesday an hour before sunset, surrounded by tall trees on a not-quite-so-hot July evening. The Glass House features flowy while curtains along two walls, which break up the windows that enclose the space. During this session, we used every inch of the inside and outside of the greenhouse, including an area just outside with tall trees and greenery in the background.
Maddy kicked off her maternity photo session in a long super light gray one-shoulder dress with ruffles across the chest and a delicate tied bow just above her bump. She and Chandler wanted a chic casual maternity session; they’re a sweet, laid-back couple just overjoyed to meet their son this fall!
Indoor maternity studio sessions vs. outdoor maternity sessions
Maddy said she and Chandler were a little concered about an indoor session feeling too formal or stiff, and that’s a concern I hear often from parents who can’t decide between indoor and outdoor options.
It’s true that some photographers who shoot in-studio favor very structured, predictable photo sessions; you’ve probably seen these kinds of images where people are so posed that they almost look stiff. Some mamas like this style, but I personally tend to favor a more relaxed approach to maternity photography, even if we’re in the studio.
That’s exactly what I explained to Maddy when she shared her concerns with me. Honestly, my approach to indoor maternity sessions is no different from outdoor photos; I take my clients through the exact same prompts and poses in both settings! So, if you’re worried about in-studio maternity photos looking boring, stiff or overly posed, you can relax because that’s not my style at all! Everything I shoot inside, I’ll shoot outside and vice-versa.
The benefits of indoor studio maternity photo sessions are pretty obvious, especially given the heat and humidity of Houston summers. So many clients have told me that they’re worried about sweating through an outdoor session, especially during June – August. It costs a little more to rent studio time at places like The Glass House, but it’s a great option especially for mamas who are closer to their due dates or those who have health issues that may be exacerbated by heat.
On the other hand, I always keep pregnant mamas out of direct sun and in the shade for outdoor photo sessions; we only meet in places where there are plenty of places for you to sit down for a little break when needed. I’ll admit summer sessions are quite warm, but that hour definitely flies by!
Maddy got her gorgeous sneak peek the day after her maternity session!
The best of both worlds: indoor & outdoor photos in one location!
Maddy and Chandler wanted both the comfort of an indoor photo session, with the option for outdoor photos once the sun started setting. That’s my favorite part of shooting at The Glass House – you have access to the clear glass greenhouse and the gorgeous area outside it!
We broke up Maddy’s maternity session by moving inside and outside throughout the session; this created such a diverse photo gallery of more than 100 beautiful photos for her to enjoy!
It also helps that you can photograph inside The Glass House along all four walls and get a different look and feel on each side. The front and back walls feature the flowy floor-to-ceiling white curtains. There is a beautiful mirror on the front wall, perfect for mama-only photos of Maddy holding her bump. Alongside the other wall is a wooden peacock chair, which we used for seated photos, as well as a place for Maddy to take a little break when needed.
Mama-to-be in soft earthtones
Maddy spent half her session in her soft gray dress and then she changed into a flowy ivory dress with gold and blue hoop earrings for a little pop! This dress pops against the soft greens that surround The Glass House, and it was also a beautiful choice for mama-only shots in front of the gold mirror.
I love to use mirrors for maternity and newborn sessions because it’s a creative way to capture mama in more than one way. I can photograph Maddy from the side, looking into the mirror, and you can see her cute baby bump both ways in one image! All I did was vary how she held the bump and where she was looking for this series of portraits that turned out so perfectly!
Up next: a baby boy arrives!
Maddy and Chandler are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their son, scheduled to make his debut this fall! I hear they’re super excited to welcome him with a beautiful nursery created just for their little guy! All of the sweetness will be captured here in just over a month or so!
