I met Faith and Max on a chilly winter day in Fish Creek Provincial Park for their winter maternity photo session. Fish Creek is an incredible location to shoot at. It's a huge park within the city of Calgary, and there are numerous entry points that offer tons of variety for photo sessions. I've shot engagement, portrait, family, and maternity sessions there, and it's always beautiful in any season. The best time to come is at golden hour, which is quite early during the winter months. This is the hour right before sunset, and photographers love it because of the warm, soft light it offers.

 

I met Faith and Max at one of my 2024 weddings. Faith was a bridesmaid, and it was great to spend some more time with these two in a more relaxed setting. We had more time to get to know each other and chat than we did on the wedding day, and our session was a lot of fun despite the cold. They're welcoming their new addition to the family this month, and I can't wait to do their newborn session too.

 

Maternity photos aren't for everyone, but if you decide to do a session I recommend booking it when you're around 30 weeks pregnant. Babies have their own timeline, and pushing the session closer to your due date runs the risk of baby coming early and not being able to do it. Many folks often find they start getting quite uncomfortable later in their pregnancy, and most are generally feeling fairly good around 30 weeks. I know this was true for my own pregnancy!

 

Here are some tips for outdoor winter maternity photos.

 

~ Wear layers. This will not only keep you warm, but we can get more variety in your outfit without having to do a full change, especially if there isn't somewhere to do that easily.

~ Wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Safety is so important during any session, but we don't want any falls. Wear proper shoes to avoid any slips.

~ Plan for golden hour. During the height of winter this is as early as 3:30 pm.

~ Bring hand and foot warmers. Nothing is worse than frozen toes during a photo session, and these heat packs can help keep you toasty.

~ Bring props that can also keep you warm. It can be cute to incorporate blankets and things like hot chocolate into your winter photos, and they'll also help warm you up.

~ Don't push yourself. If you're getting too cold, let your photographer know that you need to take a break. Chances are we're just as cold! It's also completely fine to reschedule your session if temperatures dip too low — think -15C or colder.

 

Interested in booking a Calgary maternity session? Click here for more information.