A few of my Mom clients will mention a version of the same thing. I never did maternity photos with my first, or I wasn’t sure if I should do them again with my second baby. Or another version is we have a toddler now, and I’m not sure how this photoshoot will go. Maternity photos with a toddler are a different thing entirely, and that’s exactly why they’re worth doing.
I recently had a client reach out about maternity photos for their babymoon trip to Laguna Beach. They would be staying at the Montage Resort nearby with their son, and they wanted to make sure I was available for a combined family photoshoot and maternity session. She knew her son was about to be a big brother, so she wanted to document that last stretch of the three of them.
The photos of your first family
Here’s something to consider when you’re expecting a second family member. Your first maternity photos will be completely different from your second maternity photos. The first time, it was more about anticipation. The second time, you have a sweet set of tiny eyes not knowing what to expect, in their last window where they have you all to themselves.
That alone can be the entire photoshoot. It’s their time to embrace you as a mom carrying their new sibling, and to also soak up all the best attentive moments to themselves.
Her son spent a good part of the evening wanting to play and run in the sand. And then there were sweet moments where he naturally ran up to mom’s belly to give it a sweet kiss. Then he looked up at her as if waiting for a kiss back, and those my friend are the moments I don’t ever want to miss.
What a maternity session with a toddler actually looks like
I want to be honest about this part, because I think a lot of parents talk themselves out of booking over this very reason. Your toddler may not cooperate. Somewhere in the session, they may decide to run towards the water and lose all interest, or decide they’re done being photographed entirely.
None of this will ruin or stop the session. It is in fact part of the session. It’s why I believe in taking our time and giving children a chance to notice and adapt to their environment.
My whole approach with family photography is guided but candid. I like to get the family portraits done early, while everyone still has their energy, because we’re not going to spend a whole hour of everyone smiling at the camera. Once those are out of the way, we can all relax into it.
From there I will suggest you walk to the waterline together. Be playful, or simply soak up the moment. Talk and engage with each other, and sort of ignore that I’m there. With this image, Dad took a moment with their son and it turned out to be a keeper.
What ends up happening when you’re focusing on each other is better than anything I could have posed. A quick snuggle, a sweet hug from your son, Mom looking lovingly at her family, and all of you forgetting anyone is pointing a camera at you.
Here’s a few practical things to make it go smoothly:
Book close to sunset. Toddlers do better with a clear end point, and knowing the session has a finish line helps everyone. The light at Goff Cove does most of the work for me towards the end of the session. We keep it light, playful, and easy.
Feed them first. Genuinely the single most important thing you can do before your session. Also, try not to schedule too much in one day. We want to save their energy for the photos.
Let them get sandy. If you’re booking a beach family session, expect that wet and sandy feet will happen. Try to go with the flow, and consider bringing a cute towel or light beach blanket to snuggle them in and use it to wipe their feet. Again, try to make those natural family moments part of your session.
Plan for the solo maternity portraits early or late, not in the middle. Usually I photograph Mom on her own while Dad takes the baby for a few minutes. Often this will result in more photos. Either way, everyone gets a break, and I can get some quiet posed frames to include in your gallery.
This pregnancy is the one you spend chasing a toddler instead of resting. There are plenty of photos of your first child, and your second baby deserves the same. So does this version of you.
We carved out the last few minutes of sunset light on the cliffs of Goff Cove. Just her, with the light illuminating her belly. A quiet moment worth framing and remembering.
About Goff Cove
Goff Cove beach sits below the bluffs near the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, and it’s one of my favorite spots for families with small kids. The sand is soft and the wind stays calm. The dramatic rock formations provide a beautiful backdrop for the light to fall behind at sunset. It lights up the sand and will often make the entire beach glow like it did for this family.
If you’re staying at the Montage for a babymoon, this cove is right below you, which makes it an easy one to build into your trip without much driving.
Accessing this beach is a bit of a walk, so make sure to build in some of that time when arriving for your photoshoot. Wear something comfortable and don’t forget to take in the beautiful views along the way. There is a foot shower at the top of the stairs.
Thinking about maternity photos with a toddler?
If you’ve been going back and forth on whether or not this is worth doing again, my honest answer is you absolutely won’t regret having these photos. In ten years, you’ll be so thankful that you did.
I photograph maternity and family sessions across Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Irvine, and the surrounding areas, including babymoon sessions for families visiting the coast. Sessions include styling help, location guidance, and a set of Polaroids from the evening that are included with your high resolution digital images.
The sweet spot for a maternity session with a toddler is around 28 to 34 weeks. I usually recommend booking ahead of time so we can pick a date where the tides will cooperate. Inquiries are open through my site, or feel free to book directly online through my services page.
