I’ve had the joy of photographing Frida once before, back when I captured a friend session for her. So when she reached out to ask if I’d document her Chicago in-home maternity session, I was so excited to be considered and in my head said Yes before I finished reading her sentence. This is her first baby, with her husband by her side, and there’s something special about returning to photograph someone again, watching their story unfold a little further.
We kept this Chicago in-home maternity session simple and unscripted. No elaborate setups, no forced poses, just Frida and her husband in the home they’ve built together, surrounded by things that actually mean something to them: the Otomi textile art on the wall, the soft blush curtains catching afternoon light, the couch where they probably spend every ordinary evening. That’s the whole point of shooting at home. The setting isn’t a backdrop, it’s part of the story.
What struck me most during our time together was their honesty. Frida and her husband told me, laughing, that they weren’t always sure they’d have a kid. That admission could have felt heavy, but instead it made the excitement in the room even louder. You could feel it in the way she cradled her belly by the window, in the way his hand found hers without either of them thinking about it, in that blurry, sun-drenched kiss caught mid-motion because neither of them could stand still long enough for a “posed” shot.
Why I Shoot This Chicago In-Home Maternity Session the Documentary Way
This is exactly why I shoot the way I do. Honesty over poses means I’m not chasing a Pinterest-perfect frame. I’m chasing the real moment happening in front of me. The quiet look out the window. The hands resting on a growing belly. The two of them, giddy and nervous and completely in love with a person they haven’t even met yet.
If you’re expecting your first baby and want a documentary approach to your maternity photos, I’d love to hear your story. Get in touch to talk about your session or explore what a Chicago maternity photography session with me looks like. For general guidance on preparing for your session, the American Pregnancy Association has helpful resources on third-trimester wellness.
