Heather Toro Blog | March 2024

When you’re preparing for a new baby, there are a lot of expenses to think about. It’s no wonder why so many moms-to-be struggle with the decision of whether to invest in maternity photos. I get it! Every family needs to do what’s best for them and their budget. Whether or not you should take do-it-yourself (DIY) maternity photos ultimately depends on your personal preferences, skills, resources, and the importance you place on professional photography. Maternity portraits are a special celebration of this amazing chapter of your life and if your budget allows, they’re certainly worthwhile.

Some moms-to-be ask, though, “Can I get maternity portraits and save money with DIY maternity photos?” It might sound like an affordable compromise but, in all honesty, you’re likely to find yourself wishing you hired a professional. Here’s why:

Expert Camera Work

While most people can get decent photos on their phones, there’s a reason why you can usually tell very quickly when a photo was taken by a professional instead. A lot more goes into a fantastic portrait than you may realize – camera settings, framing, angles, and lighting just to name a few factors. A photographer has expertise the average person doesn’t have about how to make you and the background or setting look amazing.

Styling Recommendations

We’ve all had trouble figuring out what to wear for a special occasion, and when you’re planning a wardrobe for photos you’ll be seeing forever, you want your outfits to be perfect. Even if you’re a true fashionista, what looks good in person isn’t always what looks best on camera. A maternity photographer can give you styling advice specifically for maternity portraits and for the look you want to create.

Relaxing Experience

As much as I love giving my clients beautiful maternity portraits, I also love giving them the uplifting and wonderful experience that a maternity photo shoot should be. This is a time to pause from all the baby prepping and simply enjoy time with your growing family, celebrating your pregnancy and relishing the excitement that you’ll soon be meeting your baby.

The experience of a DIY maternity photo shoot is very different. It’s all on your shoulders, so you have the stress of figuring out how to pose, how and where to position the camera, where to take photos, and more. It feels like a chore to cross off your list, and you’ll miss out on what could be a beautiful part of pregnancy.

Quality Images

A photo taken on your phone or on a consumer camera might look crisp on that small screen, but the truth is that it isn’t as high-resolution as the photos you get from a professional-grade camera. This limits what you can do with your portraits because they likely won’t be high-resolution enough for medium or large wall art.

Investing in Maternity Photos: Your Pregnancy is Worth It!

Your pregnancy is a beautiful and unique time of life that you may only experience once or twice. Give yourself a pregnancy gift that you and your family can cherish for decades: professional maternity portraits. To learn more, contact Heather’d Violet Photography for your Lafayette, IN maternity photos.

heather’d violet Photography is based out of Lafayette, Indiana, and is owned and operated by Heather Toro, who specializes in maternity and newborn photography. heather’d violet Photography serves Lafayette, Indiana, and all surrounding areas. Follow along on Instagram.