Candid vs Posed Maternity Portraits

Three Differences Between Candid vs Posed Maternity Portraits

There are many ways a Photographer can take maternity portraits. One of the ways is through capturing candid images. And another way is through capturing images in a more “posed” manner. In my experience, most couples are more comfortable taking candid maternity portraits. However, if you and your partner are used to taking portraits, more “posed” images may be what you want. Here are some of the main differences between candid vs posed maternity portraits. Which one is best suited for you?

Movement vs Stationary

One of the main differences between candid and posed maternity portraits is that candid portraits incorporate movement. One of the easiest ways of doing this is by getting what I call “walking shots.” With these poses, the Photographer is a good distance away from you and your partner. In working with couples, I find that the further I am away from them, the more comfortable they are. I like doing walking poses towards the beginning of the session – to get you and your partner warmed up. Literally, and figuratively 😉 I also like to keep things fun and may ask you and your partner to do something as you are walking. This can be singing a song. Or a simple kiss on the hand.

Interacting With Each Other vs Looking Straight At The Camera

Perhaps the biggest difference between candid vs posed maternity portraits is where you are looking. Candid poses tend to focus on you and your partner interacting. And for these types of shots, I like to keep things interactive. For example, I may ask you to say something about your partner. I may also ask a question of both of you and have you answer at the same time. By keeping the session conversational, the images have more of a candid feel to them… one of the things I try not to do, EVER, is the “1-2-3 CHEESE” type poses. Although the majority of the images I take will be of you and your partner interacting, I will also mix in some pictures where both of you are looking at the camera.

Natural vs Scripted

Have you ever looked at a picture and just could not see yourself “in” the picture? Most of my couples are not trained models and so it is important for the images to look as natural as possible. If you can see yourself in the types of images your Photographer takes, it is most likely a good fit. I highly recommend looking through a Photographers portfolio before hiring them. Because one of the worst things you can do is to hire a Photographer and have them shoot in a different style than they shoot in. Evaluate whether the images seem more natural or scripted.

If you are looking to take your own maternity portraits, hopefully this has been helpful. Thanks!