Pregnancy is one of the most transformative seasons of motherhood and one that often goes undocumented. Between caring for your family, preparing for a new baby, and juggling everyday life, it’s easy to tell yourself, “I’ll do photos next time.” As an outdoor maternity photographer in Statesville, NC, I believe this season, and you, deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

The images featured throughout this post are from Meghann and Tyler’s maternity session in Old Salem, North Carolina. In my opinion, Old Salem is one of the best locations for maternity photos because it offers beauty in every season and lots of variety!

1. You Deserve to Be Celebrated in This Season

Most pregnancies are documented through quick iPhone photos or not at all, especially when you already have children (hello quick, mirror selfies!) Motherhood rarely pauses long enough for reflection.

When I was pregnant with my second child, I chose to skip the maternity photos. But now I deeply regret it, especially since I have maternity photos with my first! I think I maybe have 2 bump photos, but now I deeply wished I have taken time to pause and document that time.

A maternity session gives you space to step in front of the camera and document how this season feels, not just how it looks. You are doing something remarkable, even on the hard days. There is a beautiful new life growing inside you, and this chapter only lasts nine short months.

A maternity session is an opportunity to slow down, to be seen, and to feel supported during a season that often passes too quickly.

2. You Feel More Comfortable During Your Newborn Session

Getting in front of the camera can feel intimidating, especially during the postpartum season. One of the biggest benefits of a maternity session is the connection we build before your baby arrives.

By the time your newborn session comes around, you already know how I work, what to expect, and how it feels to be photographed. This familiarity allows you to relax and feel natural, which is always the goal. It creates a smoother, more comfortable experience during those early newborn days.

3. It Helps Your Partner Feel More Connected

I know, most partners are not exactly excited about being photographed. But this season deserves to be celebrated by both of you.

As a Statesville, NC maternity and family photographer, I’ve found that including your partner in your maternity session creates space for connection and anticipation. It documents the season you became parents together again and allows both of you to begin bonding with your little one as a family, even before they arrive.

4. Your Children Deserve to See Where Their Story Began

If you already have a child, including them in your maternity session is incredibly meaningful. This season holds a special kind of intimacy, especially when it is just you and them preparing for what is next.

There is something deeply powerful about photographs of a toddler leaning into their mama’s growing belly. These images become part of their story too, showing them how loved they were even before they arrived.

Professional Outdoor Maternity Photos Become Heirlooms

Your maternity images deserve more than a forgotten folder on your phone. Printed artwork like matted prints, albums, and framed portraits transforms these memories into custom heirlooms.

My hope is that one day, instead of scrolling through a digital cloud, your children will curl up on the couch with you and flip through photographs of your family. Images that show love, anticipation, and the beginning of their story.

This is especially meaningful for growing families. One day, your children will look through these prints and see just how deeply they were wanted. If you’d like to see an example of a newborn session with a beautiful heirloom album, check out this blog post!

Studio Model Call: Maternity Session Opportunity

To celebrate this season, I am offering a studio maternity model call in Statesville, NC.

What’s included:

• A studio maternity session
• 10 complimentary digital images
• 3 professionally matted prints

I am ideally looking for a mom with a toddler who is comfortable being photographed together in a soft, timeless studio setting.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a full service maternity session while receiving tangible artwork for your home.

Join the Email List for First Access

Model call details and applications will be shared in just a few weeks, first with my email list. If you are expecting and feel drawn to documenting this season, especially alongside your little one, I invite you to join.

👉 Join my email list to receive early access and full details about the maternity model call.