Tips for Taking Beautiful Pregnancy Photos

There are a few different types of tips that can help to create flattering and beautiful pregnancy photos.

Pose Tips

• One of the best poses for a beautiful pregnancy photo is of the mother with her hands on her bare belly. There are different angles that can be explored and different settings that can help support the shot, but one would be hard pressed to find a better pose.
• It's also very important to make sure that the pregnant mother is comfortable at all times. If standing proves difficult, be sure to have some posing ideas for sitting. A great shot of her belly can be taken standing, sitting, laying down, etc. Also, be sure to not choose any poses that are strenuous. They are not safe for the mother and will surely show on her facial expression.
• Consider props. If the mother already has another child, perhaps he or she can sit with his or her hands on the mother's belly. If the mother reads to her unborn child every day, consider taking a photo of her reading to her child. Great props can help to create great shots.

Camera and Lighting Tips

• Do not use a flash. This tip cannot be stressed enough. If you are in a low-light situation, add additional lights or perhaps consider moving to a better lit area. Flashes can help to bleach out the gorgeous glow of a pregnant women and that's never flattering! Be careful of broad daylight and strong sunlight as it can also create unnatural colors that wash out your subject.
• Natural light can help make a photograph look brighter and warmer. Consider finding interesting ways to bring it into your scene, such as windows and blinds.
• Don't use quick shutter or small aperture settings. The combination of a quick shutter and small aperture will not help with trying to not use a flash. If using a digital camera, try to find the setting for 'portrait'. If you're using film, try to use a slower film to attract more detail to the shot. 

Other Important Tips

• Experiment with location. There are as many great pregnancy photos that are taken on ones home couch as there are in a park. Don't think that you have to follow any rules as far as where your pictures take place.
• Don't underestimate the value of a simple, candid shot. Some of the best pregnancy photos have been taken when no one was expecting them.
• Consider having the baby's father in a few of the shots. The mother will feel more comfortable and it gives a great chance to take a family portrait a few months early.
• Avoid background items. Keep the shot as simple as possible to highlight the pregnancy. If the frame is cluttered with background items, it will detract from what's important.
• If you're the photographer, continually work to hype up the pregnant mother. Remind her that she is beautiful and that she is doing a great job. Pregnant photos can be awkward for some women. As a photographer, you should work to minimize any discomfort she may feel.

Final Thoughts

The most important tip to keep in mind when trying to take beautiful pregnancy photos is to remember the point of the picture is to get a great shot of a beautiful moment in a woman's life. Keep that objective in mind and the photos will be great!

Additional LoveToKnow Resources

For answers to all your questions about having a baby, check out the helpful articles at LoveToKnow Pregnancy.

Tips for Taking High Fashion Photos

The aforementioned photographers were able to score huge paychecks from fashion magazines and designers who hired them to shoot their runway shows. Despite the success of these chosen few, the road to stardom in the fashion photography industry is challenging. It takes hard work, determination and a keen eye to succeed at taking high fashion photos.

By learning a few tips you may be able to follow in the footsteps of famous fashion photographers.

Know Before You Go

Before you show up to a fashion shoot, it’s a good idea to do your homework. Head to the bookstore and look through current issues of high fashion magazines. Study the lighting, angles, hair, make-up and locations. Then, try to recreate the look in your own shots. 

Make Connections

It’s not easy getting your foot into the world of high fashion photography. In order to break into the highly competitive field, consider making connections with others in the industry. For example, by befriending budding hairstylists, makeup artists, models, and stylists you may be able work out an agreement with them, which includes trading their services for prints or digital images you take for their portfolios. This partnership can raise the quality of your final product and provide you with outstanding photos for your portfolio.

Network

There’s always a chance that the young designer who asked to team up with you will become the next Marc Jacobs. Never turn down a chance to network with others in the field of high fashion. In addition, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to score inexpensive studio space or photo equipment. Peruse bulletin boards at photo labs or join an online photo club and start networking.

Keep it Simple

If you are just starting out taking high fashion photos, then consider streamlining your equipment. Less experienced models can be intimidated by bulky equipment, multiple lights, and complicated setups. Stick with the basics, such as high quality digital SLR or film camera, a tripod, and a reflector disk. You can also keep it simple by employing as much natural light as possible in your shoots. Aim to shoot at dawn and dusk when the sunlight casts a flattering golden glow on your subjects and avoid shooting during the midday hours when the sun produces harsh facial shadows and flat light.

Tell a Story

Tell a story with your shots to help set your portfolio apart from the competition. To create a compelling narrative with your pictures, weed out the images that illustrate a single technique. Then, gather five to seven inspirational shots that speak volumes for your skills.

Taking High Fashion Photos

Famous Fashion Photographers

Examples of high fashion photography can be seen everywhere from TV ads to magazine spreads. These exquisite shots often feature some of the world’s most beautiful women modeling extremely expensive ensembles made by some of the hottest fashion designers. It is through these photographs that high fashion is marketed to the masses. Subsequently, the pictures must be taken with special attention to lighting, composition, and detail.

Photographers, who are able to employ these key factors to create stunning high fashion photos, often become as famous as the models they shoot. Mario Testino and Eva Mueller are among the highest paid fashion photographers in the world today. They join the ranks of other famous high fashion shutterbugs, including:

• Nigel Barker: The model turned fashion photographer is known for his artistic shots. Barker’s work has appeared within the pages of GQ, Interview, and Playboy. Barker is now best known for his work shooting and judging models on America’s Top Model.

• Helmut Newton (1920-2004): The famous German fashion photographer is a legend in the industry. His classic Vogue magazine spreads are often used in photography classes to show students proper high fashion photo techniques.

• Francesco Scavullo (1921-2004): American fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo is best known for his work with superstars of the modeling world, including Brooke Shields and Cindy Crawford.

• Herb Ritts (1952-2002): Ritts made a name for himself in the fashion industry by shooting famous supermodels in provocative poses. Some of his most famous fashion photo collections include awe-inspiring shots of singer Madonna in haute couture gowns and fishnet stockings, and actress Elizabeth Taylor sporting designer ensembles worth tens of thousands of dollars.