A first pregnancy is a damned good reason to get some pictures taken. At the same time it isn’t easy to avoid ending up with those classic dad’s-hands-on-the-belly studio pictures. I have nothing against those, but personally I like it just a little different.
I prefer working on locations because locations inspire and challenge me. Bart and Sarah proposed to shoot in a tiny village called Mullem (Belgium). Good choice, we found great colors, structures and a number of beautiful backgrounds.
A while ago, Sarah was one of the models on a commercial shoots for the Belgian Fascia Therapists. But it’s still different when you’re the main subject. Sarah’s natural flair and humor made it easy to make natural pictures.
It’s said that pregnant women ‘radiate’. I don’t know if it’s like that for every pregnant woman but Sarah’s glow was almost radioactive. What I really admire in Sarah is the way she combines the strength of a mother-to-be with a crazy girlie attitude.
Sarah’s attitude was really stimulating and it didn’t take long before Bart was posing like a pro too. Some funny faces and silly remarks on my behalf (hey I have to do it, it’s part of the job), even put a natural smile on his face.
It’s hard to explain why I choose one lens over the other in some situations. When I saw the path made out of bricks and the diffuse light, I just knew I needed the 50mm f/1.4. I could have made almost the same shot with the 24-70 but it just wouldn’t work that well. Even with a 50mm 1.8 or 1.2L you would get a different picture. Every lens does something different with sharpness, unsharpness, light and colors. It’s a good advice to get to know your lenses. Take the same picture with different lenses and study the results. After a while you just know what lens is the best choice in a given situation.
Being creative doesn’t mean that you have to avoid every shot that remotely smells like a cliché. It’s clear that Bart is going to be a fantastic dad. The shoot wouldn’t have been complete with some shots of Bart with the belly.
Bart and Sarah, It was an honor to capture your happiness. I’m sure your child will grow up surrounded by pure love.
Sarah is truly a fantastic model!! She has character and funny smile.
Bert, I enjoy your point of view about pregnancy photo, I took some pictures in studio and location but the once I prefer is a funny composition at home: the dad like an architect measuring the belly while the mom shaking her head. For me is a non conventional shot and more funny respect a boring studio pose.
Your work fascinating me every time!
Thank you and good work!! Teo.
Thanks Teo
Thanks for sharing your way of working and these pictures. I like the way you take most of your picturs on location. btw, is it hard to get an approval to use photos of your models in the internet? I am just wondering, because the next step in my “career” is to start taking photos to my portfolio and present them to the public..
Petteri, Most people are actually honored if I put some of their pictures on my blog. For the blog I usually don’t ask permission to be honest. I just try to be smart and not put nudes etc online. For portofolio use, I usually have a model release.
When I’m shooting with models on personal projects I always work with releases.
Thanks Bert for your quick reply
Great series of shots. The last one is especially fun.
I just loved the last one… It’s kind of a statement, like: “I’m pregnant and I’m in the top of the world!”
Very nice shooting, just like some of the work I’ve been seeing on your blog!
Keep it up and update it often
Just out of curiosity, why do you erase the exif on the images? Is it because of the “save for web” option in Photoshop?
Bert, thanks for all of the info and inspiration.
The really nice thing is that you take the “cliche” shots, like the dad kissing the belly, and make it great by putting them outside on a road, with a beautifully blurred background. Nicely done, I can feel the love from over here in Texas.
Thanks again,
Bert quiero egradecer tambien lo que haces por nosotros los que queremos aprender mas de fotografia y de ti como persona, estoy realemnte encantado c tu blog por que todos los dias aprendo algo nuevo para trabajar y para la cuestion personal….bueno se despide su colega desde la ciudad de Hermosillo (desde este desierto conocido como la ciudad del sol)en el esado de Sonora, Mexico, salud……
Bert I want to thank youalso what you do for us where we want to learn more of photography and you as a person, I am delighted c realemnte your blog that every day I learn something new to work and for personal matters …. good bids farewell his colleague from the city of Hermosillo (since this desert known as the city of the sun) in Esad Sonora, Mexico, health
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an apology … is not much understood what I write that use one of many translators on the web by …
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Thanks
@Celso: I don’t erase the EXIF-info. My pictures are all linked to my Flickr account. That must be the reason. If you are logged in to Flickr (an account is free) you can visit my stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/98609590@N00/
You can see all the EXIF-data there.
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That is a great picture of her standing and the husband looking up at her. Love it.
I love these so much! I do a very different sort of photography to you and it’s great to learn from others all the time via sites like Strobist and Flickr.
Can you tell me a little about the lighting you used and what, if any post processing you did?
just natural light and lightroom, Nico