I needed to get some maternity portraits in my portfolio.  I've shot so many families, babies, toddlers, siblings, high school seniors, a couple weddings, bands, singers, etc etc etc.  But the only time my camera saw a pregnant gal was for this session here.I don't know why I shied away from maternity portraits.  I think I just saw a lot of cheesy (and sometimes downright creepy) maternity shots and they turned me off to the idea.  As I thought about my photography business over my extended January break, I realized I needed to get over it -- and bring my own perspective to maternity shots.  So, I put out a model call on the Facebook page, and got some great replies.  Which means there will be more bellies to see over the next coming months as the seasons change.I got the idea for this first shoot while on a date with my hubby in Boston about a month ago.  As we walked by the State House at twilight, I said, "Oh my goodness I need to have a session here!"  So, an idea was born.  What if a maternity session wasn't just about the belly?  What if it was about the couple that started it all --- the (almost) Mom and Dad -- enjoying a romantic evening together and celebrating what's to come?  THAT was a maternity session I could be down with.This wonderful couple saw my model call through a friend's wall who had re-posted it (Thanks, Grace!).  Our mom-to-be emailed me and asked if it was OK that she was farther along than I had asked for (I was looking for moms who were seven months pregnant).  These two seemed like such a cute couple I just had to oblige!  My only concern was if I'd get them their gallery before Baby was born and they never had time to check it out (more on THAT later).

 On a cold, cold President's Day, we met in the Public Garden and got started.  I told them to just be themselves and focus on their love for one another.  Other than adjusting an angle and here and there, that was all the directing I had to do - these two were naturals!  Check 'em out...

I love this one below.  The sunlight dripping off of the branches behind them, the bridge and snow in the background, and the simply adorable little family in the foreground.  I love it.  This one below is probably my favorite image from the whole shoot.  One of my other goals for this shoot was to play with light in some different ways.  Since this wasn't a shoot for a paying client, I could really just go for some new looks and not worry about making sure the client got what they wanted.  Obviously I hope our awesome duo is happy with their portraits, but this shoot was primarily for me to stretch myself as a photographer.  Many of these are darker than I would normally have shot, but it just seemed to work for the mood of this shoot.   I had a lot of fun and Mom and Dad were great sports. And below, the image I had envisioned on that date with my own hubby.  The light and mood was exactly what I had wanted.  Add in this fabulous couple and I am quite pleased with how the result matched my vision.  Yay! Their little bundle of joy was born yesterday afternoon - a handsome little boy with a shock of blond hair.  I must say, I would not be opposed to doing his newborn shots!  ;)

To my wonderful models:  Thank you SO MUCH for working with me on this.  I'm so happy to have met you and I had so much fun with you guys.  I wish you all the best.  The love you have for one another that just exudes from these portraits - well, as you've now found out, it just exploded!   I thought I loved Mike as much as I possibly could have before we had Rosie Mae.  Watching him be her Dad... totally blew that out of the water.  Enjoy every second of this wonderful journey with your new little man and with each other.-Kerry:)