17 weeks pregnant shoot

[steffievdakker]

I had my very first maternity shoot 2 days ago. I had been studying this kind of shots for a long time, but when I had to do it myself, I suddenly didn't know what to do! (I planned on taking some pictures I liked with me as an example, but with the 'stress' I had I of course forgot!). Luckily, my model, who is my father's girlfriend, had a lot of ideas, and I think I got some very nice shot (especially since it was my first time). She's pregnant with twins and is from Greece, now lives in the Netherlands, so she wanted some shots to send her mother, and wanted me to be able to practise my skills.

This shot is one I like, but I know could be much better. I used my 50 mm lens, and it seemed like it was zoomed in too close all the time, but if I got a little farther away I also didn't get the shot I wanted.

What do you think I should have done in this case? If anyone is interested, I have a couple more pictures on flickr. And if anyone wants to leave a comment there, I would really like that, too Somehow people never comment on my pictures!

Thanks and looking forward to the answers!

Steffie



Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm

No flash but continuous light, she was sitting in front of some black fleece blankets to create a studio effect.

[kimspics]

I really like the pose, however I too have studied and taken lots of Maternity shots. My huge suggestion would be to Take the shots when the mom to be is atleast 8 months pregnant, this way you will be able to focus on her tummy and can actually see the bulge of the baby....I think the bigger the tummy..the better. Afterall that's the whole point in the maternity shots. You have the right idea and your composition is wonderful...just do the same when she is atleast 7 months pregnant ( if she's having twins...she should really be showing by then) I hope that this helped somewhat another suggestion would be to have the mom looking softly at her stomach...Keep the focus on the subject..which is the Baby/Babies

[steffievdakker]

Thanks Kim, I really appreciate your critique! I am planning to take pictures when she gets bigger and bigger, I see her often so it shouldn't be a problem. I thought it would be fun to take pictures early in pregnancy and later be able to compare to the huge belly she will have.

I'm glad to hear you like the composition, because I wasn't very sure about it!

I was supposed to take pictures of a young woman who was supposed to have her baby girl the end of June.. But she delivered 2 months early!

[Trader]

I also think you're on the right track. The composition is good and I like the way you have a solid background - doesn't take away from the subject. Good exposure too.

[steffievdakker]

Thanks, that's a relieve to hear. I'm very critical of my photographs, and I feel like I need to be, because in a couple of years I want to make money doing this.

I like this background, but after a while I think it gets a bit boring. I also tried some pictures in her (very colorful) bedroom that look much more personal. I don't know what I prefer, I like both.

[barabe]

Hello, I took a look at the set of shots of her you have on flickr, and i am sory to say this one is the worst to my taste. She looks like she just hit her head on top of the frame with this pose. The smile looks fake too. On the other hand, i love the one she is sitting with the belly exposed with the view from the top, the mirror shot is nice too. I think the black back ground is good but i prefer the more personal in house background.

[steffievdakker]

Hi Martin, thanks for your honest critique. I agree this is the worst one (of the ones I posted, because I took worse pictures than this!) that's why I posted it.

But imagine you are the photographer standing in front of her. How would you have taken this to make it better? That's what I'd really like to know.

So now there's 2 people that think the composition is good and 1 who thinks it's bad. I'd love to hear more!