Why Your Toddler Belongs in Your Maternity Photos
Expecting your second baby is a whole different experience from the first time round. For a start, there's a little person in your life with very strong opinions on where to stand, how long to stand there and whether now is a good time for a snack (it usually is). They're every bit as much a part of this pregnancy as your bump, which is exactly why I love having them in your maternity photos. Bringing them along to your maternity session lets you hold onto these last months as you are right now, with you, your partner and your soon-to-be big brother or sister all together in the same frame.
Why second pregnancies deserve photos too
Second pregnancies have a habit of flying by while you're busy keeping up with a two-year-old. It's hard to stop and admire your bump when you're reading the same bedtime story for the fourth time or fishing toys out from under the sofa. It's really easy to reach the third trimester and realise there are hardly any photos of this pregnancy at all, let alone ones with everyone in them.
Having them in your maternity photos fills that gap. Yes, they show your bump, and they also show your family now, right before it grows. They capture the bond your eldest already has with a baby they haven't even met yet. That might be a curious little hand on your tummy, or it might be a toddler who'd far rather climb on you than stand nicely next to you, and honestly, I love both.
One day your eldest will look back at these photos and see that they were there too, right at the very beginning of their brother or sister's story.
As I've said before, maternity photos are rarely just about the bump, and that's never more true than when there's a toddler right in the middle of it all.
What a maternity photoshoot with a toddler actually looks like
Sessions with toddlers run on toddler time, and I plan for that from the very start. I'm not going to line you all up and hope for the best, and I'm definitely not waiting for the moment all three of you look at the camera at once (I'd be waiting a while). We follow your little one's lead. They can explore, wander off, plonk themselves on your lap or go and investigate, and I’ll capture your family as it really is while all of that's going on.
If they need a snack, we stop for a snack. If they need a cuddle or five minutes of doing absolutely nothing, that's completely fine too. In between, we'll make time for photos that are just about you and your bump, and some of you and your partner together, so it's still your maternity session, just with your favourite little person in it too.
Izzy’s maternity session
Izzy brought her family along to her maternity session with me at a beautiful location in the Worcestershire countryside, with her two-year-old right in the middle of it all. Here's what she said once her gallery arrived:
"We had a wonderful family and maternity shoot with Alex. She made us all feel very comfortable, and was very patient with my 2 year old. We have just received the gallery and the photos are beautiful and capture us perfectly!"
MATERNITY SESSION ~ IZZY
The word that jumps out at me in Izzy's review is "all". When your family comes along, a maternity session isn't only about the person with the bump feeling comfortable. I want everyone to feel at ease, from your partner right down to your toddler, so your gallery looks like your family rather than a best-behaviour version of it. When Izzy says the photos capture them perfectly, that's really the whole point.
Silly games, snack breaks and lots of patience
Patience is a huge part of photographing little ones. Toddlers warm up in their own time, and some need a little while to decide whether the lady with the camera is someone they actually like. I'll always give them that time rather than hurry them along, as the photos are so much better once they've relaxed.
Being silly helps enormously too. I'm more than happy to tell a poo joke or start a very serious debate about who the smelliest person in your family is, and it's amazing how quickly a wary two-year-old joins in once something daft is going on. The giggles nearly always spread to the grown-ups, which does wonders for the photos of you and your bump.
None of it has to go to plan, either. A toddler who won't sit still, or who wants to be carried for the whole session, is still your toddler, and as I've written before, perfectly behaved children make boring memories.
Planning your maternity shoot, outdoors or at home
Most families book their maternity session somewhere between 32 and 36 weeks, though the best time is whenever you feel most comfortable and connected to your bump. With a toddler in the mix, it's worth thinking about the time of day that suits them best too. A session after a good nap and a decent lunch will nearly always go better than one squeezed in just before they're due a sleep.
Outdoor sessions are brilliant for toddlers who like to be on the move. There's space to run about, puddles and fallen leaves to investigate, and plenty to distract them if they need a break from me. They can burn off some energy while I photograph them exploring, then wander back for a cuddle with you and the bump whenever they're ready. I'm always happy to help you find a spot that suits your family, whether that's somewhere you already love or somewhere new. The colder months are no reason to stay inside either, as long as everyone's wrapped up warm. I've shared some tips on planning an outdoor session in the colder months, and there's more about outdoor maternity sessions here.
A session at home suits little ones just as well, especially if they're happiest surrounded by their own toys or nap better with their cot just upstairs. It also means you'll have photos of your family in the home your new baby is about to arrive in, and you can read more about at-home maternity sessions here.
Maternity photographer in Worcestershire and beyond
As an in-home and outdoor maternity and family photographer in Worcestershire, I photograph families throughout Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds. You can find out more about what's included in a theUNTOLDphoto session on my maternity page and family page.
However your eldest feels about the camera on the day, they belong in these photos with you. Whenever you're ready, I'd love to hear all about your growing family.
About theUNTOLDphoto
Alex is the maternity, newborn and family photographer behind theUNTOLDphoto. She's based in Worcester and photographs families in their homes and outdoors across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.
If you’d love your little one in the pictures too,
I’d be so happy to hear from you.