Maternity portraits: Exciting collaboration with European maternity fashion designer
Maternity Portraits
I don’t get a lot of spare time, particularly during the summer holidays when I have been juggling the care of my two children with a busy photography business, but last week I did get a day off!
I used it wisely. I escaped the studio and got out and about to do some experimental maternity portraits, along with my friend and fellow photographer, Gary Hill.
As you may know, maternity portrait photography is one of my core services and I love taking photos of gorgeous mummies-to-be.
Photographing a woman in her final stages of pregnancy is truly special.
The pregnancy ‘glow’ and the fully rounded tummy make for stunning portraits.
My maternity clients tell me that they love looking back on their pregnancy photos, long after their babies have been born.
Developing my portfolio of maternity portraits
So, in a bid to continue developing my portfolio of maternity portraits I took a day out recently with some beautiful pregnant ladies.
I recently collaborated with the amazing European maternity fashion designer, Mii-Estilo, and I had some of her gorgeous gowns for my maternity models to wear.
Designer maternity dresses
Based in the Netherlands, Ingrid of Mii-Estilo creates the most stunning maternity dresses. They accentuate every gorgeous baby bump and curve and come in the most flattering colours and designs.
I literally have fallen in love with her dresses, and so was thrilled to be able to use a number of them for my test shoots. I even got to use some of the dresses from her latest collection!
The gowns I used came in the most striking colours, for example, this rich red wine hue of this ‘Bordeaux Red Bellis’ Dress. It had an extra-long train – which I just loved too!
Experimenting with light and working in all weathers!
I took photos of my models in the forest and at the beach, to get a variety of shots.
The weather and the lighting were certainly a challenge! I battled strong winds and bright sunshine to get these great maternity portraits.
But that was the whole point of the day really. I had wanted to try photographing the ladies in difficult circumstances; at the times of the day when the natural light was harsh and therefore most challenging to work with, and in all weathers.
In this lovely beach shot, it was dark and spitting with rain so I think Beth did an amazing job!
In this one, this beautiful lady braved the gorse which was super prickly too!
And in this one, the sun was really bright but this portrait worked out brilliantly.
I’m thrilled to share the results of those test shoots with you here. I thoroughly enjoyed the day (big thanks to my lovely models Lindsey, Sarah, Beth and Kimberley), and I am absolutely delighted with the maternity portraits I took.
Which is your favourite? Do let me know in the comments!
KW Photography featured in Woman & Home magazine
Today I have some very exciting news. I am in the current edition of the national women’s glossy, ‘Woman & Home’ (March 2016 edition)!!!
‘Meet the new solopreneurs’
I’m featured as part of a positive article about women entrepreneurs and in the article I talk about my journey from working in print production for more than twenty years, to becoming a successful newborn photographer.
Woman and Home is a leading women’s magazine in the UK, read by almost 350,000 women each month. It covers lifestyle, fashion, business, home and travel stories and is genuinely one of my favourite magazines.
So it’s hugely exciting (and slightly embarrassing!) that I’m in the magazine myself!
I was interviewed for the article and then the magazine came and photographed me at my studio in Poole in mid-December.
While I’m never a fan of photos of myself (I prefer to be behind the camera, as most photographers do!), I’m really pleased with the pictures they took of me and the studio.
I was lucky enough to have the gorgeous baby Lucy join me in the photos. She was a complete star! Big thanks must go to her mum Gemma for bringing her in.
I wonder if any avid Woman & Home readers among you spotted me before you read this?! Ha ha! I would love to know!
Life after Redundancy: A Photographer’s tale
The whole thing came about when I heard that the magazine was looking to feature women who had a positive story to tell about being made redundant.
I’ve previously blogged about my redundancy story, but for those who don’t know; I was made redundant in February 2011 and while it was a shock and a massive blow at the time, I used the opportunity to embark on a completely new career.
I let my passion for photography lead me into a career in newborn photography and, well, the rest they say is history!
Since then I have carved out a niche in newborn and family portrait photography and almost five years later I’m extremely thankful for the way things have turned out. I get to work every day doing something I am so passionate about and absolutely love.
So that is my story.
If you’d like to see how Woman & Home have told it, do grab a copy of the magazine while you can. It’s available from newsagents and supermarkets now. I’m in the March 2016 edition (with Julie Walters on the cover) on page 145-146.
Once you’ve read it, please do comment and let me know what you think.
Until next time,
Karen x
