A maternity session doesn’t have to be about the bump. As a San Francisco maternity photographer who has spent over a decade documenting Bay Area families, the sessions I return to most are the ones with no script and no formula — just a family, their home, and whatever story is waiting to be told. This one took place in a light-filled home in Marin with two boys under five, a dog who refused to be left out, and a cheetah roughly the size of a golden retriever. It’s about what an in-home maternity session can look like when the story is bigger than the bump.
When the Maternity Session Is Really a Family Session
Some families come to me knowing exactly what they want to remember. Not the posed bump. Not the flower field. Not the version of pregnancy that looks like it belongs on a greeting card. They want the real thing — the particular, unrepeatable texture of their life right now, so that one day they can show their kid and say, “this is what it was like when we were waiting for you.”
That’s what this family wanted. And honestly, it’s my favorite kind of session to make.
This family didn’t come to me with the bump as the main event. They came wanting to remember what their life actually felt like at 38 weeks — the particular chaos and sweetness of two boys who are still little enough to think their mom’s lap is the best seat in the house, a dog who refused to be left out, and a home that was about to get a whole lot louder. The bump is in the photos — beautifully, unmistakably so. It’s just not the only thing in them.
That’s the kind of in-home maternity session I love most. Not because the traditional version isn’t beautiful — it is — but because this version captures something the traditional version can’t: the family you already are, right now, before the next chapter rewrites everything.
What to Bring, What to Let Go Of
The best thing you can bring to an in-home maternity session is the stuff that’s already there.
For this family that meant bubbles, daisies, Magna-tiles galore, and a cheetah roughly the size of a golden retriever. All of it was theirs. And every single one of those details ended up in the images in a way that felt completely natural — because it was.
What to let go of is a little harder to put into words, but it usually comes down to this: the idea that everything needs to look a certain way. The kerfuffle between the boys that mom had to step in and smooth over? In the photos. The youngest dragging a cheetah bigger than himself down the hallway? Absolutely in the photos. The dog inserting himself into every single frame without being asked? Yup, prominently in the photos.
The mess, the movement, the moments that don’t go according to plan — those are the ones you’ll want to remember most. I promise.
We started in the living room, where the light was doing that thing it does in a well-loved home — dappled, warm, landing on everything just right. The dog had already claimed his spot in the frame. And the daisies were exactly where they belonged.
The Bump Is in the Photos. So Is Everything Else.
One of the things I love most about in-home maternity sessions is that the pregnancy doesn’t have to be the focal point to be present. Some of the most powerful maternity images are the ones where the bump is almost incidental — there in the background, or caught in a quiet side angle, while life happens around it.
A mom at 38 weeks running her fingers through her son’s hair. Two boys leaning in to listen to their baby sibling. The youngest with his head tucked into his mom’s side like he’s always lived there, which he basically has. The bump is in all of those frames. You just have to look for it.
Then we moved into the boys’ room. Magna-tiles in various states of construction. Dinos. Mega Bloks. And cheetahs — several of them, including one large enough to ride, which both boys did. There was a minor diplomatic incident at some point, as there always is when you’re both under five and sharing a room. Mom stepped in quietly (the way moms do), and it was over before it started. Some of my favorite frames came from that moment.
This is where the cheetah really earned his keep. The youngest decided he needed to bring him along everywhere — all of him, dragged through the hallway with full commitment. Meanwhile his older brother had already made it to the driveway and found the bubble gun. Priorities.
Wanna know a secret? I have a bubble solution recipe that makes for the best bubbles. Think: bubbles the size of your head. And both boys were completely in their element — chasing, popping, occasionally just standing in awe watching one float by. A mom at 38 weeks keeping up with all of it. This was peak session energy and nobody wanted it to end.
After bubbles, the boys decorated their mom’s belly with stickers — and then, naturally, their own faces. We were all a little mesmerized by how committed they were to it.
We wrapped up inside on the parents’ bed, where everyone piled on and the rolling around was immediate and enthusiastic. The youngest was on his mom’s hip within minutes. Some things are non-negotiable at that age.
At the end of the session, mom asked for some photos of just her. I will never say no to that. Moments that are just for herself are few and far between at this season of life, and she deserved every single one of them. She was radiant. Completely in her power. These are some of my favorite frames from the whole day.
One more thing worth knowing about.
Some families are natural film families without even knowing it. They’re the ones who come in with intention — who know what they want to remember and aren’t afraid to let things get a little messy to get there. They want more than still images. They want to hear the giggles. They want to see the movement. They want to remember exactly what it felt like to be inside this particular, unrepeatable season of their life.
Sound familiar?
If any of that resonates, a family film might be worth exploring. And if you want to see what that actually looks like from the very beginning — before the baby even arrives — Lucy’s story is a good place to start.
What families ask me before their maternity session
Should I do my maternity session at home or outdoors?
Both are worth doing — and they give you something different. An outdoor session gives you open light, a meaningful location, and a sense of place. An in-home session gives you the texture of your actual life — the couch everyone piles onto, the rooms your kids know by heart, the dog who will absolutely insert himself into every frame. If you’re trying to decide, this post might help. I make the case for both.
What does an in-home maternity session look like with young kids?
Honestly? A lot like your average day, just with a camera in the room. We follow the kids’ lead, move through the spaces they already love, and let the session unfold from there. There will be moments of sweetness and moments of chaos and probably at least one collision of wills. All of it is welcome. All of it is worth documenting.
Do you bring anything to sessions?
Honestly, not much. I’m not a props photographer — I’d rather work with what’s already yours. But I do read every questionnaire carefully before a session, and if something comes up that I can help with, I show up prepared.
What should we wear for an in-home maternity session?
First and foremost, wear something you feel good in and that feels like you. Not everyone loves a flowy dress and that is completely okay. The most important thing is that you can move freely and feel like yourself. An oversized button-down, an empire-waist top, a bra and shorts set — all of it works beautifully. Keep it simple, keep it comfortable, and leave the uncomfortable shoes at the door.
Do you photograph families in Marin and the North Bay?
My home base is Alameda, so the East Bay and San Francisco are where I spend most of my time — and I know both well. That said, I like excuses to wander. If you’re in Marin or the broader North Bay and you have a session worth making the drive for, let’s talk.
Your family is worth documenting — exactly as you are right now.
You can see more of my work to get a feel for how these sessions unfold, or reach out to inquire whenever you’re ready. I’d love to hear about your family, your home, and this season of life you’re in.
