Julie’s Maternity Photoshoot 📷

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I didn’t think I would do maternity pictures because I thought it was “lame” and unnecessary. However, I was browsing Instagram and found the most gorgeous dress by Vicidolls, with the cutest pregnant lady, and that’s when I knew I needed to do them.

I bought the dress I saw online front Vicidolls in the biggest size possible (L) because I was worried my bump wouldn’t fit. I was right; the dress didn’t zip up. I started to get discouraged and then started researching maternity photos on Pinterest. All of them are outdoors, with gorgeous lighting by a professional photographer and a boho dress showing off their bumps. I tried my dress on again to see if I could get away with having it tucked it and zipped as far as it could go without tearing and it worked!

Because I’m on a very tight budget saving for the baby, I asked my sister Leslie if she would take pictures of me, instead of paying a photographer to get them done and she agreed! 

Since Leslie is not a professional photographer 📸, I researched which light was best to take photos in and what area would look pretty in pictures close to home. They say photographers prefer the golden hour (an hour before sunrise and an hour before sunset). I wasn’t going to take pictures in the evening on a Sunday, but I do wake up super early anyways! We chose to take them before 8am at a local neighborhood with a beautiful park and backdrop. 

When I bought the dress, I did  an “insta vs. reality” picture because when I first tried on the dress, it looked nothing like the picture of the beautiful lady with her bump. However, I took that after working a 10hr day without getting all ready (reality). 

The morning of, I woke up at 4am, washed my hair, did a blow out, added hair extensions and put on a ton of makeup (a lot of makeup goes into “natural makeup” looks). I also got a spray tan from CosmopoliTAN a couple days before and cleaned all my jewelry the night before so that they sparkle in my pictures.

After much work and picking up my Sis at 7am for morning light pictures,  I’m completely obsessed with how they came out!!! 💗

Not everyone can afford a professional photographer and you absolutely do not need to have one!! Really, all’s it takes is finding a dress you feel pretty in, ask around for a pretty, free location to take pictures (like a park, the beach, mountains, etc.)  and an iPhone with portrait mode. 

See for yourself! These are my favs 🥰 -Julie