Let’s face it, we romanticize pregnancy a bit. And that’s coming from a three time mom who loved being pregnant. Despite my awe of this beautiful transformation my body went through, I unfortunately didn’t always feel that pregnancy glow. So here are my top 5 reasons, from the nostalgic to the practical, every pregnancy should be photographed.

You’ve earned a bit of pampering.

As I neared the last month of my growing waistline, I would have relished a moment to feel magically transformed and beautiful. Our first pregnancy in particular was hard fought and so, so precious. To document how it felt to finally have this baby growing inside me, I craved something more monumental than a quick belly shot. My body had been through so much between trying to get pregnant to staying pregnant to cravings and sickness. I was grateful for this blessing, but also reeling in all these big changes. No matter what anyone said, no matter the sweet comments from friends and family, all I saw was patchy skin, puffy limbs and an out of control main I no longer had the energy to blow dry!

So included in this session is…hair & makeup…

When I was designing my Mon Coeur Maternity photo sessions in my Denver studio, I wanted to ensure my mothers felt stunning, yet natural. I began working with a makeup artist to create a look that felt dewey and natural, that made sure the eyes popped without looking glam, and hair flowed naturally. It’s a “I-just-woke-up-like-this” look that will leave you feeling refreshed and camera ready.

and beautiful dresses, mocktails & girl talk

After you’ve enjoyed hair & makeup, a scone, fruit, peppy music and (the best!) girl talk, you’ll head to the dressing room to select a handful of dresses that show your personal style.

I am always on the lookout for amazing dresses that flow and create movement. I love sheer dresses to show off your form, but also a mix of feminine tulle and modern slim looks. We also do intimate looks with beautiful bras, lacy underwear (I send a list of the best places to shop for your own) and sheer robes.

Your children will cherish them too.

“Mila, it’s time to go read for a bit. I’ll set a timer for 20 minutes.”

“Ok mommy!” and off she would scamper to my rows and rows of photo albums. Most often, she would select her birth story: a series of images from my pregnancy with her, capped with a few newborn photos. She adored this photo album. And while there were no words, sometimes I would grant her permission to just peruse her birth story as told through photos. I could set another timer later, after all.

Children want to know how it all began. They can hardly understand that life existed before them. It feels magical. So they want to hear stories from their first days and they crave images of every stage. They will devour your wedding album, their first year and family portraits paired with your travels and extended family. It’s all valuable in their eyes.

Documenting your whole story, one step at a time.

Too many photos of your family is not a thing. Trust me! In fact, as my children enter the teen years and we begin looking at colleges, I now regret not having more albums, printed photos and a bigger family portrait wall. And I’m a photographer, so that’s hard to admit!

Taking care to document, print and enjoy these captured memories is so important. Later in life, as your children grow and begin to perch themselves on the nest to take off on their own, you’ll be eternally grateful for this investment. I know that seems impossibly far away now as you just begin this journey. But magically, time marches on despite us.

There are few things in life that grow more valuable with age. Your history, your story rendered still in beautiful frames, is one of those things. Starting with photographing your belly beautifully to natural newborn portraits and celebrating the first year, it’s all valuable.

Every child deserves to be celebrated.

I was considering not doing a baby shower, or sprinkle as they call it, for my third baby. I already had everything we needed and all of our friends had wrapped up this stage of life. It felt frivolous.

Then a friend said to me, “Nonsense! Every child deserves celebration!” 🥹 And she planned the most special sprinkle yet for my sweet babe.

I feel the same about photographing your pregnancy. Your wedding, each birth and every pregnancy — these are the moments in life that tip us into a new reality. Bringing a life into the world is a miracle. Your body is marvelous. And your dreams are set towards imagining who this little one is going to be. This little sliver of time, where the dream is not yet fully realized, is a perfect moment to remember.

I make it easy.

As a mom of three very active and busy kids, a husband who travels and a full work schedule, I understand how important it is to make life special, but easy. Documenting your family should be a relatively simple process.

Here’s how it works:

Book a session through my online scheduler. I always have my availability up to date, so no reason to go back and forth over email. Open my scheduler with your spouse and pick the best day that works for your family.
You will receive my guide to help answer questions, style and prepare your kids through an immediate automated email upon booking.
I’ll excitedly reach out to see how I can assist you! Many of my new clients choose to schedule a zoom call so we can get to know one another and to style your session.
Two weeks prior, I’ll check in to make sure you feel ready for our appointment!
Arrive to your session with clean hair and a fresh face. Sit down with the makeup artist, a mocktail in hand. I’ll be buzzing around pulling dresses and planning out images. We spend about an hour in makeup and then about 90 minutes playing dress up! I’ll pose, guide and direct so you feel confident.
Many wonder if they should have their spouse or other kids at the session. Absolutely! This is a big moment for them too. I always recommend spouses and children arrive to be photograph first or last. This way you still get a little much deserved alone time.
After your session, enjoy a reveal of your photos (this is so special!)! I will guide you through the purchasing process. You can purchase digitals, but most of my clients purchase an album or framed artwork as well.

In a nutshell: you book it and then simply arrive. I take care of the rest.

You will never regret the photos you have.

Our family is beyond the early years now. My teens are walking the fine line between children and adulthood and life looks different for us. Gone are the chubby cheeks and squeals of joy when you walk in the room. There’s no more twirling or tossing in the air. I’ll never again have the nostalgic joy of a baby growing in my belly. This might all sound melodramatic and honestly, I didn’t think much of this until recently. I relished each new stage of my family.

Now that we have begun the college tours, my heart is aching for yesterday. Do I have enough photos? Have we created enough memories? Have I documented this beautiful little life the best I could?

When my grandmother past in 2017, I had the bittersweet joy of holding her hand as she took her last breath. My father and I were together then, taking care of the business that ensued, but also reminiscing. What impacted me most was the few items she held precious to the end: her photos.

When it’s all said and done, will you cherish those designer knockoff throw pillows you got during the Target circle sale? Or the couch you splurged on at Arhaus? Likely, no. But you will hold dear the memories, locked safe inside heirloom albums.

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5 Reasons To Book A Luxury Denver Maternity Session