As a photographer, I’ve always turned to my camera not just to capture beauty, but to tell stories—especially my own. Photography has been my diary, my way of processing and preserving experiences that words often fail to hold. And now, as I navigate through pregnancy, it feels more important than ever to keep that lens honest.
You know the images I’m talking about—those dreamy, golden-hour maternity portraits. A glowing mum-to-be, standing gracefully in a field, cradling her belly in a flowy dress that catches the light just right. They’re stunning. Truly, they are. I’ve seen them, I’ve admired them.
But for me? That kind of imagery just doesn’t feel right.
Most days, I’ve been shuffling around in pyjamas that might as well be a second skin. My hair has taken on a life of its own, and my body… well, let’s just say my back and left leg are very much not team players these days, often making it difficult to walk normally at all. The thought of standing in a field sounds like an extreme sport, not a photo opportunity.
Pregnancy, for me, has been raw and unfiltered. Exhausting. Painful. Emotional. Beautiful in its own way, but not always pretty. And while I understand why many choose to document this time with stylised, ethereal portraits—I know I want something different. I want to remember what it really felt like. Not just what it looked like in perfect light.
And let me be clear—there’s absolutely nothing wrong with those gorgeous, stylised maternity photography sessions. If that’s the style of photos you like, then it should be honoured and celebrated. But I also think there’s space for a different kind of story. One that says, “This is what my journey looked like— living in PJs, messy hair and glued to my bed.”
Maybe part of the reason I’m drawn to documentary-style photography is because, when I see those polished images, a little voice sometimes whispers, “Am I doing this wrong?” Am I supposed to feel graceful? Serene? I don’t. And that’s okay.
Photography, for me, is the most powerful when it’s real. It’s how I process. How I tell my truth. Like journal entries made of light and shadows. And so, I’m documenting this chapter not as I wish it looked, but as it truly is—sometimes joyful, sometimes rough, and always mine.
So if you ever find yourself scrolling through perfectly styled maternity images, and feel that quiet tug of “this doesn’t quite fit me,” just know—you’re not alone. There’s no one right way to be pregnant. There’s no one right way to capture it either. There is only personal preference. But if you ever feel badly about having a hard pregnancy, please know that pregnancy is not always what it seems like in the images we see. At times it can be tough and that is worthy of being photographed too. It is beautiful in its own way.
If my approach to maternity photography resonates with you—real, heartfelt, and rooted in your everyday moments—I’d love to hear from you. Let’s connect and tell your story, your way. Get in touch to chat about a session that feels like you.
