From Here To Maternity...Bella & Bump

 

Bella got in touch, keen to do a maternity-themed shoot, but one with a bias toward portraiture, rather than nudity. She privately announced her pregnancy during our last concealed boudoir shoot, prefacing this by saying she was likely to be taking a break from modelling.

She floated the idea of a maternity shoot around her second trimester, when the pregnancy was more established and she’d also feel comfortable announcing this to family and friends. I expressed an interest, though left it very much in her corner-everyone’s circumstances, experience of, and relationship to, pregnancy is unique.  

We initially toyed with the idea of concealed nudity. We’d seen beautifully captured examples using subtle use of low-key lighting but on balance, decided something clothed, yet still intimate and sensual was the best route. This is why clear pre-shoot communication and planning are pivotal. Model comfort is key. if not, it will be glaringly obvious in their body language and facial expression. Similarly, never try and cajole a photographer into doing something they are not comfortable with. 

I let Bella take the lead and as with our earlier shoots, everything flowed very naturally. I chose nature and colour for the maternity-specific frames, mono for added mystery/intensity using the urban backdrop. Ultimately, both of us were pleased with the results.  

Bella Pt2 Domestic Goddess

Bella came back to me, asking to do a second shoot. This time at her home. Now, I’ll confess to being particularly flattered by this invite. Our homes are at once the spaces we consider safest, but they are also where we can be most vulnerable. I am a very private person, and my home is my sanctuary. I am particularly selective when it comes to people crossing the threshold.  

Bella clearly felt comfortable with me (and vice versa) during our first shoot and we discussed something a little racier. Tasteful, but not the kind of themes typically associated with the great outdoors-especially given the wet and changeable conditions. Both of us commented that far from being closed-minded, we have become increasingly selective about the people and concepts we are happy to work with.

 

We continued the lingerie theme and four sets in total. Bella sent me a selection of themes and ideas she wanted to explore, which was extremely helpful as a pre-shoot template.   There was a decent amount of natural light in her home, but still required some help from a reflector and, for the kitchen shots, a Godox speedlight set to 1/125.

I’d taken these with my trusty A6000 set to ISO 400 and 33mm 1.4 Viltrox lens. In some respects, a 23mm 1.4 would’ve made some of the angles and shots easier but the lenses' wider angle can also give less flattering results, so I went for the 33mm with a 50mm 1.8 in reserve.