Lynsey is your typical Utah County girl... Blond hair, blue eyes, and white teeth. She loves Mormon culture and all Utah County trends. Lynsey is just finishing her education at BYU and will be teaching 5th grade this Fall. Lynsey loves to have fun... So please don't take anything she writes too personally.
Without further ado...
I think we can all raise our hands and shamefully put our heads down and admit that we all find pleasure in Facebook stalking people. I may do it a little too often. I waste so much time on that dang site. I'm like a video game addict, yet I'm a Facebook addict who stays locked up in my house for days, often times wondering when the last time I took a shower was. Kidding. Kind of?
During my Facebook stalking, I particularly like looking at photo shoots that have recently been posted by friends, or friends of friends, or friends of friends of friends. Don't you love how all of your friends are now photographers and all have an amateur photography business? Their prices are outrageous and their photoshop skills are just about as good as my musical skills. But that's beside the point.
The photo shoots I'll never understand is, "The Maternity". Maybe I shouldn't have an opinion about this because I'm not yet married and definitely not yet pregnant. But I just have to say it... Maternity photo shoots have GOT TO GO! What woman wants a million professional pictures of them 9 months pregnant and definitely looking their worst. Sure, sure... there are some that are beautiful ones where she just has her "motherly glow". But for the most part, I have yet to see a maternity session where the woman actually looks good. In fact, she looks completely miserable more times than not.
The one pose that all of our amateur photographer friends like to use is the hands on stomach making the shape of a heart. Seriously, I gag every time I have to see it. For you ladies that have been pregnant, I think you can agree that your bare stomach is probably the last thing you want taken a picture of "professionally". Yet, they all do it. I want to know if these women really do print out these pictures with stretch marks and all and place them on the walls of their home.
I've had one particular photographer's website saved on my computer for a few years. I like to show people it and have them share their opinions. This photographer was the original one that made me never want to have a photo shoot with my unborn child. Need proof? Here are just a few pictures...
Maybe it's part of the whole "nesting" process. I don't know, I haven't read "What to Expect" yet. Is there a whole chapter on having a photo shoot with you and your stomach? If there is, then I'll probably be eating my words in a few years. But for now, I'm going to stand my ground and join the fight to stop maternity sessions. Or how about we do a compromise... maybe can you refrain from posting you and your stretch marks on FB?
Thanksloveyoulots.
I know what you mean! I have though, seen beautiful maternity pictures. They do not involve bared stomachs or any kind of pregnancy baring of anything.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't read What to Expect. It's pretty much poison for anyone who is feeling good about their pregnancy and prospective parenthood. If you want to know every possible way you could harm your baby, then go ahead and read it and freak yourself out. There are many other wonderful pregnancy/birth/parenthood books that I'd recommend as an alternative that leave you feeling excited and capable.
Yes! I feel the exact same way. Maternity photo shoots are weird. I didn't get any stretch marks with my baby but I STILL would not want a picture of my huge belly. It's just weird. And does that husband have a gun holster???!
ReplyDeleteI think it might be a knife! He's just portraying the role of "protector" literally. The unbuttoned, fly down jeans are the real tragedy of these pictures, though. Also, did they have to wear a non-maternity shirt? I mean, let's just add injury to insult here.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks to Lynsey. Great post.
Amen and amen and AMEN. Seriously, you nailed two of my current pet peeves: stay at home moms thinking they can have a photography business because they can point and shoot and gross maternity photos. I'm not married nor anywhere near having a baby but pretty sure I already know I don't want photos to document when I'm large and in charge.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh- it's been awhile since I laughed out loud, sitting at my computer all alone..... and I can't stop laughing. THAT PICTURE! Is his shirt really unbuttoned, does he really have a gun holster, and his her pants really unbuttoned...in a picture.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more.
Having had 5 kids and having felt like absolute crap all 5 times, I'm pretty sure my disgustingly huge belly is the last thing I would want to document. You hit the nail on the head!
ReplyDelete