The Maternity Photo Shoot

On the day that Jess hit 35 weeks pregnant, we took a drive out to Pontypool, ON for her maternity photo shoot.

I’ll be quite honest, it wasn’t something that I thought much about before she brought up the idea. And even after she did, all I could really think is that I didn’t really want one of those “princess-y in the woods or a spring field with a crown of wild flowers” that have become almost cliche.

Note: That last statement is 100% about my personal taste. I’ve seen some gorgeous maternity photos in the ballpark of what I just said I didn’t want. And I’m happy as long as the moms-to-be and dads-to-be (but especially the moms) are happy with those photos.

Our shoot was booked with Darren at Thoughtful Impressions. Jess has worked with before in photoshoots, which was a great layer of comfort for me (not a photoshoot guy) and more importantly her, as the main subject of the photos.

“Just don’t screw it up!” – me to myself in my head before and during the shoot

Before & During the Photo Shoot

My biggest concern during the photoshoot was not screwing up the shots for Jess. I’ve never really been comfortable in front of the camera for a host of reasons, and on that day I really just wanted to make sure that I could be part of something that made her look nice.

Heck, I had thoughts running through my head during the shoot that essentially kept telling me to keep my head down until I was asked to look at the camera. My default setting was to be the background piece, the supporting actor, a prop that served to tell Jess’s story.

During the shoot, particularly when I wasn’t in shots, I watched as the mama-to-be, my partner, and the person I love every day, posed and smiled. It was special. It was nice. It felt a little bit like it did at the baby shower, when I sat in the back and watched her being celebrated like she deserved.

Related: Why I’m Glad I Snuck Into The Baby Shower

And in all honesty, while I’m glad that there are photos of us together, I was most happy when it was time for me to step out of the frame and allow Jess to be the star, the only one in front of the camera. She looked beautiful. Happy. Glowing.

After the Photo Shoot

As we waited for the proofs from the photo shoot to come from Darren I continued to have thoughts of “I hope I didn’t screw that up”. But thankfully they didn’t come that often and I started to feel more excited at the prospect of seeing the photos.

Near the end of the week Jess got the preview link from Darren to view our proofs and sent it to me. I was able to look at them while she was at work, taking them in alone and with the chance to judge them myself.

Here’s how it went…

Thought #1 – Jess looks beautiful. As beautiful as she looked in my behind-the-scenes photo, and then some. I’m happy

Thought #2 – There are some photos in here that I don’t like myself in at all. What is going on with my posture and my smile and my shirt?

Thought #3 – There are some photos I’m in that I don’t hate. That one’s not bad, and neither is that one.

Thought #4 – Ooh, I really do like that one and that one and that one.

Thought #5 – I really hope Jess likes these photos.

The next day, after the thinking and a little talking with Jess about liking the results of the shoot an the proofs that Darren sent, I marked my Top 10 photos and sent them to Jess. After that, I left it in her very capable hands to choose the final 10 photos from the proofs.

I didn’t ask her which ones she chose. I didn’t need to. I knew that she was going to make good choices.

And now, with just a few days later and a few short weeks to go before the baby arrives, we have our final photos to share with the world, and keep for ourselves.

I love the way Jess looks in all of them, and she’s happy with the photos. More than anything, there’s that.

If she’s happy. I’m happy.

Thanks again to Darren at Thoughtful Impressions for taking care of us, and making us look good.

Next… baby photos.