Maternity photographer Hackney
Most people, when they think about having their photo taken, imagine having to go somewhere. Somewhere nice. Somewhere neutral and tidy and Instagram-ready. But when I showed up at this couple's flat in Hackney, I was reminded of exactly why I love shooting at home so much.
Their place was full of character and showed his and her personalities at every step. From the books on the shelves, to their tiny records collection, to favourite mugs and personal prints on the walls. And the two of them, just... being themselves. Laughing, holding each other, sitting in the quiet of this little flat that was about to become a home for three. It was wholesome in the truest sense of the word. And the photos were some of my favourites in a long time.
"But my home isn't tidy enough / pretty enough / big enough"
I hear this all the time and I want to challenge you on it.
Your home doesn't need to look like a Pinterest board for it to make a beautiful backdrop for your photos. What it needs to be is yours. The things in your home that you may think are ordinary - those things are you. They tell your story in a way that a blank studio wall never could.
When you look back at these photos in ten years, you're not going to be thinking about whether the washing up was done. You're going to be looking at the two of you, the bump, the light in that particular window, and thinking: that was our flat. That was us, right before everything changed.
What actually makes a home work for photos
Here's what I'm actually looking for when I arrive:
Natural light. A room with a decent-sized window is honestly all we need. The best light doesn't come from fancy equipment but from that window by your sofa or the one in your bedroom.
A comfortable space to just be. The bedroom is often where we end up spending a lot of the session - there's something really tender about a couple on the bed, bump between them, no pressure to perform. The sofa works just as well.
You, relaxed. This is the big one. And being in your own space makes this so much easier than you'd think. You can make a cup of tea when you want. And most importantly, you don't have to rush or pack a bag or navigate somewhere new. You're just... home.
Why an at-home maternity session is something you'll never regret
Those last few weeks or months before your baby arrives go fast - faster than you expect.
Right now your home is just the two of you. Your routines, your things, your particular way of being together. That changes. Completely and wonderfully and irreversibly.
By having your pregnancy session taken at your home, you are guaranteed to have photos that are a true representation of who you are as individuals and a couple. And that's something you can never get in a photography studio.
