I said it out loud for a behind the scenes story on Instagram before a maternity session not long ago:
“I love me a big belly.”
And I meant it.
There is something absolutely beautiful about a pregnant belly. Not because pregnancy is always glowing and graceful and magical. But because for this incredibly short stretch of time, a woman’s body is doing something extraordinary—and I don’t think we need to make it sound like anything other than what it is.
I don’t want to hide the belly or the feelings that come along with it.
You’re pregnant. Let’s celebrate it.
Give me the big belly. Give me the beautiful dress stretched around it. Give me bare skin and wind and movement. Give me your partner’s hands wrapped around you. Give me the little kid who isn’t remotely interested in gently kissing Mom’s belly because there is something much more exciting happening approximately six feet away.
Give me this part of your story.
Because it doesn’t last very long.
You Don’t Have to Know How to Pose
This is usually the part where women tell me they’re awkward in front of the camera.
Perfect.
You don’t need to arrive knowing what to do with your hands, where to look, how to stand, or which side is your “good side.”
That’s my job.
We’ll move. We’ll laugh. We’ll chase beautiful light. I’ll give you direction when you need it and space when you don’t. And yes, we’ll absolutely make a few gorgeous portraits where everything is intentional and you feel like the magnificent pregnant goddess you deserve to be.
But I’m also watching for everything that happens in between.
The way your partner looks at you.
Your hand finding your belly without even thinking about it.
The wind catching your dress.
The laugh that happens right after I tell you to do something that sounds completely ridiculous.
Those are usually the photographs that feel like you.
This Body Deserves to Be Remembered
Your body doesn’t need to be perfect before you step in front of my camera.
It doesn’t need to be smaller, bigger, rounder—anything other than what it is.
It doesn’t need to be less swollen, less tired, less anything.
Years from now, I don’t want you to look at these photographs and remember what you thought was “wrong” with your body.
I want you to see what I see:
You were carrying your baby.
You were strong.
You were beautiful.
And for one very brief moment in your life, you had one glorious, magnificent, wonderfully big belly.
And lucky for you…
I love me a big belly.
So, When Should We Take Maternity Photos?
There isn’t one magical week when every pregnant woman suddenly becomes “maternity-photo ready.”
Generally, somewhere around 28–34 weeks is a beautiful window. Your belly has made its grand entrance, but hopefully you’re still comfortable enough to walk around, move, laugh and enjoy yourself.
But every pregnancy—and every woman—is different.
If you’re carrying multiples, we may want to photograph you earlier. If you’re feeling fantastic later in your pregnancy and want to wait for that beautiful, round belly, we can do that too.
The goal isn’t to photograph you at the “right” week.
It’s to photograph you when you feel ready to celebrate this part of your life.
What on Earth Do I Wear?
This is probably one of the first questions I get before a maternity session.
My answer?
Something that makes you feel beautiful.
That might be a dramatic dress that catches every bit of Colorado wind we can find. It might be jeans and a simple top. It might be something fitted that shows every curve. It might be bare skin with a beautiful piece of fabric wrapped around you.
You don’t have to dress like anyone’s idea of what a maternity portrait is supposed to look like.
Remember who you’re dealing with here.
I want the belly.
Colorado Gives Us a Pretty Incredible Studio
One of my favorite things about photographing maternity sessions in Durango and the San Juan Mountains is that we don’t need four walls and a backdrop to create something beautiful.
We have mountains.
Wild Flowers.
Lakes.
Aspens.
Big skies.
And that ridiculous Colorado light.
We’ll choose a location that fits you—not simply a spot that’s pretty on Instagram.
Maybe that’s an open meadow at golden hour. Maybe it’s beside the water with the mountains behind you. Maybe it’s somewhere quiet where we can slow everything down and create something a little more intimate and artistic.
The location is part of the story, but it should never overpower the person standing in it.
You are still the photograph.
Yes, Your People Can Come
Your maternity session can absolutely include your partner, your children—or both.
In fact, I love it when they do.
Because this isn’t only the story of a changing body. It’s the story of a changing family.
We’ll make the beautiful portrait of everyone together.
And then we’ll let things happen.
Kids can move. Partners can laugh. Someone will probably stop following directions. That’s usually when things start getting interesting.
And somewhere in all of that, I’ll be watching for the little moments you didn’t know were happening.
Before Everything Changes
That’s really why I believe maternity photographs matter.
Not because pregnancy needs to be documented perfectly.
Because it needs to be remembered.
There will come a day when this baby is no longer tucked safely beneath your heart. You’ll know their face. Their voice. Their personality.
You’ll barely be able to remember what it felt like when they were still inside you.
But you’ll have the photographs.
The big belly.
The hands wrapped around it.
The way your partner looked at you.
The person you were right before everything changed.
So if you’re expecting a baby in Durango, Telluride, Ouray, Silverton or somewhere else in our beautiful corner of Colorado, come find me.
Bring the belly.
I’ll take care of the rest.
