My maternity photo shoot was this past Saturday. One of my best friends from high school, Alena, is a photographer and she moved to Dayton a few years ago so she's nearby. I don't see her as much as I'd like but we get together a couple times a year. I was able to swing by her place in September and tell her in person I was pregnant. It's always way more fun to tell people in person. After the squealing and hugging I asked if she'd do my maternity photos and baby photos once they are born (no shots in the hospital. I'm not about people being all up in my business during what will most likely be the single most terrifying and joyous moment of my life to date.) She of course said yes because she loves me and she already loves these babies.
We landed on the first weekend in February. I was hoping there would be snow and I also wanted to do the pictures before I was completely massive and not up for much walking. She asked if I had a 'theme' in mind and I was like "uhhhhh maternity?" I'm not the creative type when it comes to stuff like this. I told her to pick the location and I would tell her what two dresses I was going to wear and we'd just show up.
Well that's pretty much how it went down. She texted me the address to a park in Mason and said to meet at 12. The sun would be in a good spot then and the snow wouldn't all be melted yet. Last week's temperatures, if you recall, were in the teens most of the week. I was a little concerned I would freeze for these pictures, but the weather took a turn and was a cool 45 degrees on Saturday. I didn't have my coat on for most of the hour we were out there and I wasn't freezing - partially due to the internal heaters I carry everywhere with me now. They have finally kicked in and up'd my internal temperature by a noticeable margin, so much so that I don't wear sweaters anymore. And if I must be outside I dress in layers because the second I go inside I'll want to be stripped down to a t-shirt.
Alex grew up with professional photographer parents. As such, his life, especially the early years was heavily photographed. For that reason, and probably just because he's male and defiant, he doesn't like his picture being taken. When I asked if he wanted to be in any of the pictures with me his response was "do you want me to be in any of the pictures?" haha. I said "yes" and he said "meh". It was a great conversation of mutual understanding that he would be in some of these pictures whether he liked it or not.
I also would like it noted that we were 10 minutes late, not because I was running late, but because Alex decided to wait until 11:40 to look for his wallet. It took him 10 minutes to locate it in the place I first suggested. That was a big win for me because I'm pretty much always late to everything and this time it wasn't my fault!
I decided I wanted lose curls. I have a large curling iron and sometimes my hair just doesn't want to cooperate and do the lose curl thing. I thought I'd try it anyway - poor choice. I probably should have just left it straight because the second we hit the crisp winter air it went flat and just kind of flippy-floppy around my shoulders. Alena said she liked it because it looked natural. I guess we'll see what it looks like in the pictures.
We took pictures in several places in the park. As I mentioned, I had two dresses. I wore the one that is harder to put on to the shoot. It is velvet and VERY tight in all areas except the belly. Once it's on you can't really tell it's tight but it takes like 5 minutes to get it over my shoulders and bust and another 5 minutes to shimmy it down my legs to an appropriate length. After we had gotten enough pictures in that dress it was time for a dress change. The nearest building to change in was quite a distance away. Alex held up my grandpa's coat and I changed in the gazebo at the park - probably one of the more scandalous things I've ever done! I even had a jewelry and slight make up change - darker lips for the second dress. I was so prepared.
We took the rest of the pictures and then went to lunch and Costco where I looked very out of place in a floor length dress and full face of make up! What, you don't look like this when you do your weekend shopping?
We landed on the first weekend in February. I was hoping there would be snow and I also wanted to do the pictures before I was completely massive and not up for much walking. She asked if I had a 'theme' in mind and I was like "uhhhhh maternity?" I'm not the creative type when it comes to stuff like this. I told her to pick the location and I would tell her what two dresses I was going to wear and we'd just show up.
Well that's pretty much how it went down. She texted me the address to a park in Mason and said to meet at 12. The sun would be in a good spot then and the snow wouldn't all be melted yet. Last week's temperatures, if you recall, were in the teens most of the week. I was a little concerned I would freeze for these pictures, but the weather took a turn and was a cool 45 degrees on Saturday. I didn't have my coat on for most of the hour we were out there and I wasn't freezing - partially due to the internal heaters I carry everywhere with me now. They have finally kicked in and up'd my internal temperature by a noticeable margin, so much so that I don't wear sweaters anymore. And if I must be outside I dress in layers because the second I go inside I'll want to be stripped down to a t-shirt.
Alex grew up with professional photographer parents. As such, his life, especially the early years was heavily photographed. For that reason, and probably just because he's male and defiant, he doesn't like his picture being taken. When I asked if he wanted to be in any of the pictures with me his response was "do you want me to be in any of the pictures?" haha. I said "yes" and he said "meh". It was a great conversation of mutual understanding that he would be in some of these pictures whether he liked it or not.
I also would like it noted that we were 10 minutes late, not because I was running late, but because Alex decided to wait until 11:40 to look for his wallet. It took him 10 minutes to locate it in the place I first suggested. That was a big win for me because I'm pretty much always late to everything and this time it wasn't my fault!
I decided I wanted lose curls. I have a large curling iron and sometimes my hair just doesn't want to cooperate and do the lose curl thing. I thought I'd try it anyway - poor choice. I probably should have just left it straight because the second we hit the crisp winter air it went flat and just kind of flippy-floppy around my shoulders. Alena said she liked it because it looked natural. I guess we'll see what it looks like in the pictures.
We took pictures in several places in the park. As I mentioned, I had two dresses. I wore the one that is harder to put on to the shoot. It is velvet and VERY tight in all areas except the belly. Once it's on you can't really tell it's tight but it takes like 5 minutes to get it over my shoulders and bust and another 5 minutes to shimmy it down my legs to an appropriate length. After we had gotten enough pictures in that dress it was time for a dress change. The nearest building to change in was quite a distance away. Alex held up my grandpa's coat and I changed in the gazebo at the park - probably one of the more scandalous things I've ever done! I even had a jewelry and slight make up change - darker lips for the second dress. I was so prepared.
We took the rest of the pictures and then went to lunch and Costco where I looked very out of place in a floor length dress and full face of make up! What, you don't look like this when you do your weekend shopping?
All in all it was the perfect day and I know we got some great shots. The coat I'm wearing in some of the pictures is my Grandpa Seawell's coat. He is 93 and I don't know how long he'll be with us this side of heaven. I wanted to capture some moments in this coat for that very reason. I don't know how many times he'll get to meet the girls or if he will remember them, but I will remember him.
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