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The Intimate Motherhood Session Guide

Raw, Organic, Emotive Photography Sessions that celebrate your connection, love, and season of Motherhood.

Bare Motherhood Sessions


The time before your baby arrives is something so unique, an experience like no other, and one that should be celebrated as your body does it’s amazing work.

My intimate motherhood sessions are a gentle and relaxed way to enjoy each other’s company, to capture the love between you and your child(ren). These sessions represents motherhood stripped down in it’s rawest form and in my eyes, there is ART in these sessions. Beautiful and Breathtaking ART. So let’s have a dance party in our undies, share tickles and giggles, connect together through skin to skin, document the bond and power of nourishing your child. Anything goes during these sessions and my job is to simply step back and document everything that represents your motherhood journey.

These type of sessions can take place in a dreamy private outdoor location or at your home for a more lifestyled, intimate feel, or in my small at-home studio room.

Part of your session experience is talking through what to expect, the best location for the season, the best time for indoor lighting, and clothing that photographs well.  Ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident for your session is a top priority and will shine through in your photographs. I will make sure that your gallery contains a beautiful selection of images of you & your child(ren).

I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS

I won’t ask you to say cheese – unless you want me to of course

You don’t have to be half or fully naked for these sessions, only unless you want that style of images.

I will never post your images without your consent. I will provide a model release form for if you have images you’d be okay with me using for advertisement.

I won’t let you feel lost and awkward – you are safe in my hands

I won’t offer stock standard posing

I won’t judge you or hold any expectations of you

I won’t stop until the job is done.

I will guide you, I will love you, I will play games with you, I will try to win your kids over, I will find the most beautiful light , I will make you laugh, & most of all I will collect precious moments for you.

The final question I want you to ask yourself is this – do my values and artistic appreciation and understanding align with India’s in a way that we can work cohesively together to work towards the same goal – to produce photographs that tell our story and celebrate our life? If the answer to this question is YES! LETS DO THIS!

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Getting Started:


My Why:

WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE REAR VIEW, YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THE BEST TIMES.

When you hear songs from your youth, you want to be transported to a time of dancing all night and the freedom you felt. When you smell your favorite dish you want to be taken back to your mothers kitchen when you were 10. Do you remember a time when you were young and free, when you travelled with your love, when you kissed hard, when you became engaged, when you carried your first child, when your journey of motherhood began.

There is a point in all our journeys when memories do start to become distant and real. When you see your children grow before your eyes as the long days become short years. Nostalgia from the past and the bitter sweet steps you take through the present seem slightly heavier than before. You tread more carefully now, life becomes precious and you start to realise its the little things that count, its the baby steps now, the days spent with your family that make you feel full and alive.

One day – this day – will become a beautiful memory in your rear view too. A memory can be stored away safely in that vault in your head or in your heart or it can be captured and displayed in a photo album. That is my why! To help you preserve these precious memories so that you and your children and generations from now, have photographs to reflect on and to love. Photos that showcase the rawness of motherhood and the intimate bond between you and your child(ren). They are just as important as the typical outdoorsy sessions.

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What to expect

Not one session takes the same amount of time, because no family is the same. I shoot until I know I have what I need. If it’s just Mom and a young baby in her arms then it might be really quick. Or if toddler number 2 is shy or having an off day, then it’ll take a little patience and time. Generally nothing goes over an hour though. I want it to stay fun and engaging for everyone!

I’ll find us an amazing location, if for an outdoor location, and let you know when the magic ‘golden hour’ is on your chosen date. My favourite locations all revolve around where we can find the best light and open space to roam. I’m always on the hunt for new gems and it definitely changes with the seasons. Sessions come with around 70+ digital images in an online gallery, delivered in an average of 2-3 weeks. You can also expect to see some previews within a few days of your session!

 1 Booking

Upon emailing/ messaging me, we will discuss a perfect date and time that will work out best for us both! The Session Agreement form and a retainer fee needs to be submitted in order to officially get on the schedule. Once we do that, you are in and we will begin the fun part of planning out your session experience together! 

2. Client Resources

Once your session has been scheduled and I’ve received your retainer fee, I will direct you to my client questionnaire so that I can get to know you all better. I will give you information on my exclusive client Facebook group. Also I have information listed below to my What to Wear guide and suggested retailers to check out while shopping for your session!

3. Planning

The first step in my planning process for each session is having you fill out my in depth Client Questionnaire. This is where you’ll be able to input your thoughts and ideas for the session as well as tell me more about you and/or your loved ones. Once I receive this, I will be able to suggest some of my hand picked locations (if outdoors!) and will begin helping you in the styling process. The more you tell me about your ideas and style for the session, I’ll be able to make unique suggestions based off of your answers! 

4. Session Day

I believe that focusing more on feeling and less on posing creates meaningful and moving images. Due to this core belief, I’ve come up with a method of ‘posing’ that combines direction and prompts to foster authentic emotions and make sessions more enjoyable. Most sessions last approximately 60 minutes, but some may last longer depending on the age of the children and other various factors. My philosophy is not to limit you to a strict time frame, but to go with the flow and take as much time as we need to create the images you want. 

5. Image Delivery 

Regular sessions take up to 2-3 weeks. Once they’re finished, you’re images will then be fully hand-edited with my professional software. Once you’re images have been edited and are ready for you, you will be sent an online gallery via email for downloading your photos immediately. Every collection comes with personal usage and printing rights, so you can share with friends and family via email link or on social media, create beautiful albums to hand down to your children and hang your memories proudly on the walls inside of your home. 

 
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6. Enjoy

The session may be over, but the one thing about photographs, is they last forever. I encourage my families to create an album for every session they have, and encourage your children to enjoy and look through them! Choose a few favorites to frame and hang on the walls inside of your family’s home. Then, keep in touch until your next session! I value my client’s and the relationships I build with them and their families. For this reason I do offer special incentives and events throughout the year that you’ll have access to via my private Facebook group. 

what to wear

Working within these suggestions and colours is the best way you can help me deliver something in line with the way I love to shoot. 

If you can, bring multiple options with you That way I can help you decide what will work best given your location and the weather that day. However, I understand that getting young kids dressed can be a workout. If it’s easier, you can also email me photos of wardrobe ideas in advance. I’d love to be involved!

Anything is welcomed however I will be happy to provide some outfit guidance. Long flowy dresses and nakey babes are the cutest. Or wear a comfortable oversized sweater. Keep it simple and casual and most of all comfortable.

If you value those sweet skin to skin moments, that is totally welcomed and encouraged. This is a safe space and I will do everything in my power to provide a comfortable and secure experience for your session.


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Mamas

When you think of intimate maternity sessions you are probably thinking skin. This is an empowering session showing the intimate relationship between a mother and her baby/child. So I like to keep a simplified wardrobe, drawing focus to the connection of mother and baby bump/baby/child/children.

It’s also good to remember that if we are shooting indoors; I go for a more romantic and girly, cozy look.

Bralettes + Underwear (more so for maternity or breastfeeding but not limited to anything :) )

Two pieces, bralettes and underwear are my favorite! They don’t need to match as long as the compliment each other.

Look for pretty textures in these. Lace, and velvet are two of my favorites.

I love colors that will compliment your skin tone. Colors can say a lot, softer neutrals are romantic and delicate. Where as dark colors are a bit more sexy and playful.

Consider adding a crop top with the undies! Like a cut off “mama bird” tee or a crop tank top!

Kimonos + Sweaters

These are a great addition to the bra and underwear set. These also help for a mama who’s a little more modest! If you are trying to choose between one or the other- think kimono in summer, and sweater when its colder outside.

What to look for:

Kimonos- a sheer, lightweight, flowy material.

Sweaters- Open sweaters are gorgeous and so are looser oversized sweaters that fall over the shoulder and for maternity can be lifted up over the belly.

Your clothing should allow for some movement. You don’t want anything to cling too tight to your body, you want to feel loose. I love flowing fabrics. The words I like to use when describing mama style are
- boho
- neutral
- florals

When selecting a dress for maternity sessions I always look for something sheer that the light can come through showing the belly underneath. A few of my favorite pieces are vintage slip dresses and nightgowns I’ve come across. I also try to find dresses that either pull open exposing belly or unbutton in the front!

Pick a color palette you love! Darker color palettes, neutrals, mustards, fall tones, etc. look amazing. I always help my clients choose colors that compliment my edit style as well. Usually warm neutral tones, or deep rich colors that contrast against the skin. Pick 3-5 colors and find clothes that compliment each other!

I love to mix different textures. Wool, lace, sheer, flowy, smooth, delicate, knit, velvet. All of these blend beautifully together and can pick up light differently adding so much to an image.

Stay away from anything bright or neon, with logos, out of season clothing (plaid in summer) or too tight.

Make a day of self-care! Get your makeup and hair done early, come to your session, and then get a sitter for date night

SOME SHOPPING SUGGESTIONS!

FILLYBOO
JENS PIRATE BOOTY
THE BEE AND THE FOX
AERIE
TARGET
LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS
LOCAL VINTAGE STORES
FOREVER 21
COVEN AND CO
FREE PEOPLE
CHELSEA & VIOLET
FOR LOVE AND LEMON
DRESS AND MUSE
AMAZON
SHEIN
ROOLEE
MADEWELL
VIC COLLECTION

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Kids

I love gender neutral colors on kids! Try to steer away from the bright pinks, the ultra frilly, or the character shirts/shoes. Clothing that makes less of a “statement” generally lets your child’s face and personality shine through!

I love a timeless look that is going to look adorable 20 years from now.

Dress for the weather!

Shops:
- Lulu and Roo
- Zara Kids
- Hello Little Page
- Ruffets and Co
- Kid Wild
- H&M Kids
- Two Littles and Lou
- Briar (bonnets for newborns and babies)
- Spearmint
- Rylee and Cru
- Jamie Kay Clothing

SAY YES TO:
neutrals and earthy tones
denim jackets
hats! 
for him - boots or blundstones
for him - a neural t-shirt or a subtle plaid pattern

SAY NO TO:
neons or bright primary colors ( red, royal blue, sunshine yellow, grass green or bubblegum pink )
white shirts for either partner - beige is great, it photographs softer
restricting fabrics (stiff clothing means stiff photos)  
anything with logos or writing
running shoes or sneakers


Sorry, maybe that was blunt. I promise I just want you to have amazing images.

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Education:

Below are some of the certifications that I have earned through the Photography Academy I am a part of. They truly have helped me learn all things business and passion when it comes to mastering the craft of photographing authentic and emotive emotions. I am so proud of these certifications!