Nude Maternity Shoot – Maternity Case Study #2

Subject:

36 Weeks

Nude Maternity Shoot Notes:

This nude maternity shoot was the first session in the new Woodland Hills studio. It was the first photography session I’ve conducted in the Covid-19 era. Masks were worn by everyone except for Jelynn while shooting and only my assistant approached her throughout the shoot. Normally my assistant pays attention to details I might miss with wardrobe and hair. Hair is black hole of time when it comes to editing so getting it right “in camera” is ideal. When it comes to shooting minimalist nudes, there isn’t a lot in the photo that’s going to create a distraction of the eye. So if there’s going to be a distraction, it’s going to be the hair.

My setup this shoot was very simple: Single light shooting into a large 7′ parabolic umbrella placed about 45 degrees to her left side and pointed 45 degrees down to create short lighting. Off and on I used a large reflector to fill the shadows to create a variety of shadow density. The 7′ parabolic umbrella is easily my favorite modifier for maternity photography sessions. It’s large and throws soft light on the model’s full length. It’s large enough to throw a good amount of light on the background too.

We kept this shoot short and simple in the best interest of the expecting couple. I didn’t switch lighting setups or backgrounds. We did various poses and used some sheer fabric to add texture. We couldn’t resist doing a shot of her wearing only a mask. Overall, this was a very quick and basic nude maternity shoot. We followed these up with a few shots outside during golden hour with the expectant couple.

If you have any questions please contact me.

Equipment:

Camera(s): Canon 5D Mark III
Lens(s): Canon 85mm f/1.8
Light(s): Godox AD600, Godox Flash
Modifier(s): Westcott 7′ White Parabolic Umbrella, 7″ reflector
Reflector(s): Neewer 5 in 1 40″ x 60″ White
Tether: Asus Zenbook shooting into Lightroom Classic