‘Whats your favourite thing to photograph?’ ~ I get asked this a lot!

I dont honestly know if its a ‘thing’ or if it for me is more about photographing a moment. A look. A smile. A tear.

I know, that I love photographing pregnancies! I actually adore it and I so wish more women would document this time in their lives. I’ve had three babies and I never felt that ‘glow’ or had the dewy skin or shiny hair. I guess my pregnancies were fairly average haha. I never felt a deep connection with my babies before they were born either. I was, of course, exited and I loved my ‘ little bean’ and felt incredibly lucky, but that sense of deep connection didn’t occur till I held my babies.

One thing I did feel was the beauty of growing a tiny little human. The wonder of that. And this is the thing I love the most about photographing pregnancies. Its documenting the start of something absolutely wonderful. Its a new life. Is anything more beautiful? Your body is doing that. That is remarkable and its beautiful. Funnily enough, when I look back on my maternity images I feel like I looked glowing, strong, serene and content!

Women often seem to think they need an occasion to have a photoshoot. Engagement, birthday, marriage and so on. They brush pregnancy photos off as unimportant or they fear it might make them appear vain! Some of my clients feel self-conscious and like they don’t look like themselves, and I love watching that feeling transform into empowerment and self love during the photo shoot. This is what happens. I show them how they look and more often than not they are amazed. A gentle guiding into posing and stature and boom, they love what they see. The light is shining bright in their eyes and they stand just a little bit taller. It’s natural not to want to invest in yourself if you don’t feel you look your best. I get it. But the thing you will realise during a photo session is that you DO look amazing. You are beautiful and you are creating a little life. Its worth documenting with a photo. It really is.

It’s also ok to feel beautiful and to want to savour this amazing time in your life. Some women exude serenity, empowerment and confidence. I salute you and I absolutely love it! Be proud of what your body is doing.

In summary, I guess my favourite thing to photograph, is the trust my clients put in my abilities to capture their unique self and beauty.

Here are a couple of photos from Victoria’s session. She is 30 weeks pregnant and didn’t really think she wanted maternity photos. I’m so glad she did and in 30 years to she will still cherish these <3

The below statement is written by Victoria and I think it sums this blog up perfectly

“Pregnancy is a thing of beauty and amazement for lots of people, I had had a very easy pregnancy no sickness nor cravings or swelling. However I did not feel good about myself, I had put on my baggy clothes and forgotten about myself, I didn’t feel pretty or my bump was big enough? That I shouldn’t get photos taken. Why? What was the need? But I couldn’t have been more wrong! No matter if you think you look far from glowing or glamourous, like a blown out whale or just had a tiny feed, you will only be pregnant a couple of times, if that, in your entire life. Anja made me feel confident/beautiful again she brought out the beauty, femininity and love that I was missing from my life by capturing just a few images. These photos I will continue to treasure and look back in for years to come smiling and remembering how amazing I managed to feel again”.