Why You SHOULD have a Boudoir Shoot While You’re Pregnant

I remember being pregnant and being deathly sick everyday. I was a becoming a mom for the first time and due to waking up like I had a hangover daily with the nausea, the headaches, the body aches, and the sluggishness, it made me wonder if I would dare do this again.

I knew that even though I wasn’t feeling the greatest or the cutest— I definitely wanted to cherish the miracle of my growing belly forever (in case this would be my only pregnancy). I wanted to do it in a way that would make me feel comfortable, pretty, sexy, and classy. For this, I would need my man. He’s the only person that can make me feel all those things with one look. It just so happens that he hates taking pictures so finding the right photographer was the key to putting this together. Also, did I mention I was 7 months pregnant and this was my first time EVER doing a boudoir shoot? Talk about being nervous and shy…

At the beginning I was a nervous wreck! Here I was in a two-piece negligee with my bump out and the little dark line that runs down all pregnant bellies. My boobies were vainy from them getting ready to produce my baby’s food, and I was so pale from avoiding being out and getting some vitamin d.

And then something crazy happened during the shoot… I felt sexy.

Remember that look I mentioned earlier from my man? He came in with just a pair of sweats, no shirt (insert heart eyes emoji here) and I remember I looked up at him and he looked at me with those eyes I know too well. Those eyes that make me feel like I’m the baddest girl he’s ever seen and all those negative feelings I was having disappeared. Since it was our first child for the both of us and a first for this type of shoot, I felt like this was an experience that we shared that brought out the playful and passionate side of us. It was such a high that looking back now brings back nostalgia, as crazy as that sounds.

Thanks to the best photographer in the game, our shoot turned out so amazing that we were even featured on The Huffington Post which you can check out here.

Looking at these— I’m so thankful I did it. It’s a keepsake from a moment in time I wish I could freeze and will have with me always. One picture says a thousands words but also brings back a thousand emotions that I remember feeling. The feeling of being spoiled by man, of being loved so much that he actually did these kinds of photos with me, the excitement we were both feeling that we were officially going to become a family, the playful side he brought out of me because he wanted to release some of the edge I was feeling, I could go on and on…

If you’ve never done an intimate photoshoot like this before here are my suggestions:

Do it at the end of your 2nd trimester or beginning 3rd. Again, I was 7 months pregnant when we did our shoot. I wanted my bump to be big enough to show off but not too big where it looked or felt uncomfortable. The closer you get to your due date the harder it is to pose certain ways or even have the energy to get ready. I had some complications in my pregnancy where they had to take the baby out sooner so don’t wait too long just in cases like these.

Do it at home. The best way to capture raw moments is when you feel comfortable and there’s just no place like home. Plus you’ll have everything you need (a change of clothes and a private place to change, all your makeup you don’t need to lug around, snacks if you need it, or in my case a bathroom to pee every 5 minutes). I also feel that being in your own environment let’s you be you, and even though there’s an extra person with a lens, they’re in your element and not the other way around.

Set Up. Clean everything the night before. Take everything off of your night stand and leave only one or two items that you want in the photo. Don’t ruin a good picture with clutter. It’s not cute. If your bed is the focal point, you may want to invest in some really nice bedding. It’s not a waste of money when you’re updating your home decor.

This is the perfect time to wear those intimate pieces you’ve always wanted. We’re so hard on our bodies when we’re not pregnant and this is the time where you can get away with showing it off as nature has intended you to. Just make sure you keep it classy and shop for it a couple weeks before that way you have time to find something you like. If shopping online, make sure you order with enough time to try it on and be able to change your mind if you’re not feeling it.

Minimal is key. Don’t cake on the makeup please! These kind of lifestyle shoots at home are meant to create a natural look. You know damn well you don’t lay in bed with a whole glam look caked on your face and a bold lip color. Keep that for your formal maternity shoot. My hair is naturally curly so that’s why I chose to wear it down and let it wild out.

Get you a bomb photographer. Really do your research when picking a photographer. This is the person who is going to bring your vision to life. Don’t try to go to the cheap route. This is such an important time in your life and your pictures shouldn’t chance it. You should feel super comfortable with your photographer. If they’re awesome at what they do like mine is, he or she will not only direct you, they’ll gas you up the whole session. Yaaaasss Hunty Yaassssss!