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.  

Rose

 

Rose is a very experienced model from a performing arts background. I’d seen her work and was very aware of her professionally for a few years. Serendipity and closer geographical proximity saw us arranging a shoot. This had to be rearranged on a couple of occasions, due to bereavement and other, unforeseeable events.  

We discussed themes beginning with boudoir and culminating with art nude.  

The graduation is part narrative but on a very practical level, respect for the model. While experienced photographers and models can quickly find rapport, especially if pre-shoot communication is of a high standard and conducted properly, gentle, tapered progression is always preferable. Basic decency and respect aside, it makes for a more comfortable, relaxed and fluid shoot-which ultimately tells in the images.  

Rapport quickly established; our shoot extended the two hours scheduled. I shot the mono images with my Fuji XT100 and 50mm 1.8 Viltrox lens. The colour were taken with my Sony A7 and 35mm 1.8 and A6300 with 23mm 1.4 Viltrox .  

One Location, Two Models

 

Some photographers seem to default to a set location, which to me can quickly become tired and doesn’t necessarily work with the model(s) concerned. I don’t but every so often, make exceptions. Mary wanted me to do some promotional portraiture and related business themed headshots. Krystal got in touch saying she would be in the area that week and essentially, asking if I was coming out to play...Spoiler alert, the answer was yes to both.  

On both occasions, I chose the Neptune quay area of Ipswich given the mix of peely paint porn, abandoned buildings, high quality murals and of course, the marina. Though I used some of the same locations for both, I deliberately avoided carbon copies. Krystal and I found a very obviously derelict looking building and steel door with obviously receding paint. She and I have worked together for years and enjoy the unbeaten path.  

Mary had only worked with me on one previous occasion, so I was wary of leading her away from the immediate area and where she felt most at ease. Often, it’s about making the best of your environment. Noting Mary had a faux leather “Brando” jacket, I posed her with this Kawasaki. Krystals very bold red dress saw us employ the phone box, the buoy while the tunnel and skate park made effect contrasts.  

There were some interesting alleys and features-suitably public but set back from potential, unwelcome intrusion.  This was another opportunity to use the full frame A7 and dedicated 50mm prime lens. Mary’s entire shoot was captured with the A7, Krystals a mix of the A7 and A6300 with wider angle lens.     

Bella Sensual & Concealed

I am often asked what differentiates boudoir from glamour photography. In a nutshell, I would say glamour is where a woman is typically sexualised and objectified, whereas boudoir has a wider narrative, of which the model is part of. More significant is both parties in mutual agreement over levels and tone.  

Bella is extremely comfortable with concealed and implied nudity but nothing more overt. Concealed, in common with art nude and erotic can mean different things to different people. I suggested a few concepts which Bella wasn’t unduly comfortable with, so we shelved them. We have worked together on several occasions, which makes these themes much easier.  

I have undertaken boudoir and lingerie themes where the model has towards the end, wanted to raise the level to topless. I will always gently decline, inviting them to contemplate this further, away from “the moment”. If after ten days or so, they still want to try topless, or indeed nude themes, they can get back in touch and we’ll do a shoot plan and arrange a mutually convenient date.  

Again, this reinforces the importance of proper shoot planning and clear communication around expectations and terms of reference-all ahead of the shoot. She approached me on Thursday, and we’d thrashed out a theme, lingerie, lighting, angles and locations that morning, arranging to shoot that Sunday morning.    

Our primary focus was sensuality, interwoven with more playful themes. Bella was keen not to have her nipples on view within the shots and as can happen, there were a few we spotted when reviewing every twenty minutes or so. These were accidental captures-we hadn’t noticed the sheet slipping at certain points.  

Comfort and complete trust between model and photographer are paramount and if either party is slightly uneasy, this will bleed through in the images created. Again, there’s a fine line between capturing something intimate (where the model has invited you into their world) and voyeurism, where someone has invaded it. Given the limited space and changeable lighting, I took those with her beneath the satin sheets using my full frame A7 and 50mm 1.8 lens, those of Bella with the maracas using the A6300 and 33mm 1.4 lens.     

Bella Almost Bare

 

Bella and I had been discussing a few implied nude themes. The sort that showed enough to be suggestive and sensual but within the boundaries of what would be acceptable to family and friends were they seen in the public domain. She and I often say an air of suggestion and sensuality is harder to capture, but more pleasing than gratuitous nudity. We had discussed a theme ranging from the “Sunday morning” white blouse and lingerie to something closer to the matrix and then some bolder implied nudes using flowers. I had expressed a desire to capture a mix of colour and monochrome. Bella has very even skin tone which helps, but the contrast was further accentuated by using contrasting pale white lingerie. 

Vintage Visions on a Wintry Day

It had been a while since Krystal, and I’d caught up and we both fancied a change from the day to day. She posed a vintage theme of lingerie; dresses and we’d even toyed with the idea of derelict buildings as a backdrop. Ultimately, and for several reasons, we elected to shoot from her home. Good thing too, given the torrential rains.  

 

Thankfully, her home had a reasonable amount of natural light and I’d brought flashgun, soft box, portable lighting, low light prime lenses, and reflector. I shot several frames outside, from her summer house in the drizzle. Thankfully, I had the A6300 body which has some weather sealing- shot at F1.8 with a Viltrox prime lens.  The other option is sheltering beneath a smaller umbrella and shooting. However, depending on the shutter speed and other settings, it runs the risk of some camera shake, resulting in blur. 

  

Indoors, given the low cloud, I alternated between the 6300 mounted on a tripod and the A6000 with prime lens and Godox flashgun. Coffee, breaks, chat- general and business the two hours flew by. Doesn’t it always when fun’s involved. I loaded up the car and headed back to post -process our chosen favourites.