All images by Jade Beall, more images below.

I love photographing the shape of pregnant women. I always have, since my early twenties. I think I am passionately drawn not just to the shape of her belly, but the shape-shift of her breasts, sometimes a woman's face changes, and yes I even love the plumpness of swollen ankles of a ripely pregnant woman! I love when some women have texture on their skin while pregnant, I love the tiered or alert eyes! There is a story in all of those precious states of being, there is life running strong through each of those women with 2 heartbeats being nourished from one miraculous body. There is no one way to be pregnant and that diversity is GORGEOUS.

Most clients that want to commit to a prenatal shoot with me are initially a bit hesitant. Typically, women have not been photographed nude and if you visit my website you could quickly assume that I only photograph women bare. Which, of course, is absolutely not true but would be difficult to assume otherwise glancing at my portfolio. It is true that I am passionate about the uninterrupted lines of skin without clothing, but what I am most looking for when making an image of a pregnant woman is honoring her irreplaceable and gorgeous shape. It is a fleeting shape that will change rapidly and be gone before we know it, so making art from such a shape is sacred to me. I often tell my clients, "Imagine you are blessed to live to be 80 years old and you are looking at these photos we are making right now. You most likely will fall madly in love with yourself and study every bone and curve in these images with admiration and tears in your eyes..."

I know that when I was pregnant, I was super sensitive and didn't want ANYone taking my photo! I took hundreds of self-portraits, but being in front of someone else's lens did not tempt me at all. So I personally know what a feat it can be to simply make an appointment for a shoot. Therefor, I like to create the most relaxing, supportive and celebratory atmosphere possible!

1. I like to put on calm, spa-like music to greet the mother and whoever else is coming with her. I want her to enter and start to relax immediately! Sometimes we will change and put on some more upbeat music, but creating a relaxing and nurturing environment is a must for me.
2. I don't ask questions they may not want to answer (ie: is it a boy or girl? what's the name? etc.). I listen and let them tell me whatever they wish to tell me. I offer tid-bits of my birth experience, but not too much. I want the session to be entirely about them, but also share a little to show that we have a powerful connection: having given birth. I only talk about positive things about my own birth and being a mother. I offer ZERO downers like, "Oh just wait you will never sleep again" or anything else that is heavy. I want the photo-shoot to be a memory of celebration! Plus, the photos come out WAY BETTER when the woman is feeling at ease and not filled with added worry.
3. I try and find something unique about each woman. Maybe one woman has a phenomenal 'linea negra' or has soft down on her abdomen or maybe a sacred birth line from a previous birth. Or maybe I notice that she loves wearing her boots and so i have her stay in her boots.
4. I intentionally tell myself that I am not photographing the dreaded 'cheesy prenatal shot.' In my mind I am saying, "how can I make a unique masterpiece of this gorgeous woman?" Is she really talkative and should I use bright light or is she kind of quiet and shy and maybe darker lighting would be more authentic...
5. I really believe in gentle guidance in a pre-natal and all shoots really. I typically begin by taking some test shots and then asking my beautiful woman to "close her eyes and take a few deep breath. Feel your feet, I tell her. Place your hands on your gorgeous belly growing life!" I consistently tell her how precious and gorgeous she is, but no too much to where it might make her uncomfortable. The use of praise is a delicate balance, but so important!

I am so grateful to gorgeous "T" for allowing me to share these photos we took last month of her shortly before she gave birth to her precious baby!