Before we even became pregnant we knew we wanted to get professional maternity photos. It took us a long time to get pregnant and there was a time we thought it might not happen so having a baby bump was something of a miracle to us that we wanted to document. We wanted to appreciate every moment and make the most out of this pregnancy as we could. Plus my body looks the same for 95% of my life and I am only pregnant for 9 short months in my lifetime and wanted to make sure I captured the moment and the glory of the belly.
We had first heard to White Haute Photography when a friend of ours got married many, many years ago. When my husband and I were starting to plan our wedding, we knew we wanted White Haute Photography to do our engagement and wedding photography. Unfortunately, our wedding plans changed drastically half way through the process and we ended up traveling out of state for our wedding and we ended up having to go with a local photographer rather than White Haute Photography. Sadly, my husband and I never even had engagement photos taken and it’s always been somewhat of a regret I have. Maybe one day we will take some professional photos together but for now, family maternity photos were our priority.
White Haute Photography is ran by a husband and wife team and they are seriously some of the kindest people I have ever met and also have the best photography I have ever seen. We have had Chris as our photographer for both photo shoots and he is the most patient, laid back, positive, encouraging photographer I have ever met. My husband isn’t too keen on taking photos but he feels so comfortable with Chris that it’s the only time I can really get him on board to take photos! Plus, they have three small children of their own so they are really good with children, too!
They specialize in natural light but I personally like how they make photos look effortless and natural. I first fell in love with their magazine stylistic photos. Their photos do not look posed and you don’t ever feel awkward about the photos you are taking or the positions you are in. He is not the kind of photographer that will ask you to tilt your head a certain way. Their photography is raw and real. They are located in Southern California and some of my favorite photos are ones they have taken in Las Vegas but they are willing to travel to many areas. I typically recommend them to friends and family for any photos including engagement, wedding, maternity, kids and family, mini sessions and they even do boudoir photography!
One of my favorite parts is that they allow you to have a private gallery of all edited images, a digital download of all edited images, and a print release. They have been featured in multiple magazines and you can look at their work, their pricing packages, and inquire about getting your own photos done by clicking this link here http://www.whitehautephotography.com You can also follow their work on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/whitehautephoto/ and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/whitehautephoto/
Our photo shoot took place over an hour away from home in the mountains at a beautiful lake. We first took some photos in an open field, followed by some on a dock, and finally some in the lake. I wanted a variety of looks, so I also brought four different outfit changes (which is another reason I love working with this photographer). We took our time and were able to capture so many different shots in all different locations and looks. We met two hours before sunset and spent every second dedicated to the photo shoot. Unfortunately, the only snag (because the location and the lighting was perfect) was the unexpected winds that we encountered once we arrived. Despite the weather, we were still able to capture some breathtaking photos, but unfortunately the wind was too much for my toddler, so we didn’t get too many photos as a couple, family, or as a mother and daughter. We’ll save that for another time!
The outfits I planned and wore were just as important as the location we chose. I was very fortunate to work with a couple of talented shops that handmade some of my items for the photo shoot. For my first maternity shoot three years ago, I only wore outfits that were already in my closet and they were pretty casual. I don’t think I realized it at the time, but I only wore one casual maxi dress and the rest of the photos were pants and a sweater. For this photo shoot, I wanted to feel like a maternity goddess.
I desperately wanted a flower crown and was so happy to have Flower Hungry from Houston, Texas create a gorgeous white lace flower crown for me. Whether it’s for a maternity photo shoot or a wedding and you want crowns for the bride and bridesmaids, Flower Hungry has many beautiful styles and colors you can choose from. You can find them on Etsy by following this link https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlowerHungry?ref=l2-shopheader-name and on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/flowerhungry/ Use INSTA10 for 10% off your purchase!
I also wanted matching dresses for me and my daughter for the lake photos. I wanted a soft pink color to pop with the color of the sunset and the blue lake and green trees in the background. I also wanted a maternity style dress that opened in the front to show off my growing belly. I would have chosen chiffon dresses, but I didn’t want something see through, so I ended up choosing a knit fabric and it worked out perfectly. I posted a photo of this dress (and the crown) on Instagram last week and have received so many compliments https://www.instagram.com/p/BK4spgEAFpG/?taken-by=theparentologist&hl=en
My incredible dress maker was Couture Parfait from Baxley, Georgia. You can shop their Etsy shop by following this link https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoutureParfait?ref=search_shop_redirect You can also follow them on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/coutureparfait/ and Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/coutureparfait/ She was so patient in making me custom dresses specifically for the photo shoot and rushed my order to make sure I got them in time. She has so many dress styles and colors you can choose from and I highly recommend this shop for any and every expecting mom! Plus, they are much more affordable than other dresses in this category. As a mom, I appreciate that aspect when I am shopping. I am so grateful for both of these shops!
I also wanted a blue dress since I am having a boy, so I chose a lace chiffon dress from Pink Blush Maternity http://www.pinkblushmaternity.com/p-16184-dusty-aqua-pleated-chiffon-lace-top-maternity-maxi-dress.aspx?DepartmentID=1 (which I will post a photo of later this week on Instagram) and a white lace dress from A Pea in the Pod/Destination Maternity http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=15412100453&MasterCategory_Id=MC3?WHITE My final dress was a sweater dress that I’ve had for years from Victoria’s Secret https://www.victoriassecret.com
My daughter wore items from Freshly Picked http://freshlypicked.com Mina Loves Bows https://www.etsy.com/shop/minalovesbows and H&M Kids http://www.hm.com/us/department/KIDS among some other items we had on hand in her closet.
I hope you enjoy looking at the photos as much as I did taking them! Stay tuned for more pictures on my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theparentologist/?hl=en
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