Dee contacted me during her pregnancy wanting to book me to photograph her brand new baby in a newborn session but also wanted to surprise her partner with some beautiful maternity portraits. Being from South Africa Dee specifically requested we shoot outdoors and asked if I could suggest somewhere within the Edinburgh area and after a chat we decided Lauriston Castle would be the perfect place! Beautiful grounds, plenty of variety and also very secluded compared to many Edinburgh parks, we practically had the place to ourselves which was great! Dee was an amazing model and we had a blast, and I was super impressed when she pulled out a picnic of pastries and other snacks, this is one organised mama to be!

I absolutely LOVE photographing pregnant ladies to capture this special time and it’s one of the few days in your life other than your wedding day when you get to dress up, have fun and capture something truly special that your child will adore when he or she is older! Pregnancy feels like a LONG slog at times but in reality it is over so quickly and before you know it you have a toddler!

Unless you happen to be Kate Moss most of us really don’t enjoy being photographed so many women opt to skip a maternity session which is such a shame as it’s such a beautiful milestone to mark. I offer both studio and location maternity photo shoots and they are both relaxed and fun but offer slightly different things depending on how you feel about showing off your bump. I have a range of maternity gowns and props available but also encourage my ladies to embrace their own pregnancy style! Whether that means going Demi Moore style implied nude in a black and white portrait or wearing a gorgeous flow maternity dress in a  gorgeous location I will work with you to create something to suit your style and level of comfort.

I myself will be stepping into model shoes in a few weeks as I have a maternity photoshoot of my own planned with an amazing photographer friend and as much as I MUCH prefer being behind the camera I am ridiculously excited to capture this beautiful moment in our family history.

Best booked before you enter your third trimester I recommend photoshoots take place when you are around 28-34 weeks pregnant so you have a beautiful well pronounced bump to proudly show off!

Any questions? Just ask! Use the contact form (tab at top of page) and I will be sure to get back to you as soon as I can!

Rachael x