There are some sessions that just mean a little more, and this was definitely one of them.
I had the opportunity to photograph maternity photos for my best friend at Cherry Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, and getting to document such an exciting time in her life was incredibly special to me. I love getting to create images for the people closest to me, and knowing the meaning these photographs will hold years from now made this session one I'll always remember.
It also doesn't hurt that these turned out to be some of my favourite images I've ever created — both for sentimental reasons and because I absolutely love the look we were able to achieve.
Maternity Photos at Cherry Park in St. Catharines
We chose Cherry Park in St. Catharines because of how much variety the location offers within one session. There's a beach and waterfront, wooded areas, and open green space, which meant we could create several completely different looks without having to travel between locations.
For this maternity session, we were going for images that felt soft, natural and low contrast. The different areas of the park gave us plenty of opportunities to play with the surroundings while keeping that same overall feeling throughout the gallery.
We also incorporated three different outfit changes, which worked especially well with the variety at Cherry Park. Changing both the wardrobe and the scenery gave each part of the session its own look while still feeling like one cohesive collection of images.
Creating Maternity Photos That Feel Like You
One of my favourite things about maternity photography is that it doesn't have to follow one particular formula.
A session can feel romantic and soft, casual and candid, editorial, colourful, or somewhere in between. For this shoot, the goal wasn't to overcomplicate anything. We wanted beautiful photographs that felt relaxed and let this particular season of her life be the focus.
Having the opportunity to photograph my best friend made the experience even more meaningful. There was already a level of comfort between us, which allowed the session to feel easy and gave us room to experiment with different locations, outfits and compositions.
The result is a gallery that feels both personal and beautiful — and one that I'm incredibly proud to have created for her.
Why Cherry Park Is a Great Location for Maternity Photos
If you're considering an outdoor maternity session in St. Catharines or the Niagara region, Cherry Park offers a lot of possibilities in one location.
The combination of waterfront, wooded areas and open green space makes it especially useful if you'd like some variety in your gallery. Instead of every photograph having the exact same backdrop, we can move throughout the park and create different looks while keeping the session relaxed.
It's also a location that works beautifully with the softer style we wanted for this shoot.
For me, though, these photographs will always be about more than the location or the aesthetic. Getting to document this chapter for someone I love made this one of those sessions I'll remember for a very long time.
Looking for a Maternity Photographer in St. Catharines or Niagara?
If you're expecting and looking for maternity photography in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, or the surrounding Niagara region, I'd love to create something that feels like you.
Whether you're envisioning something soft and natural like this Cherry Park session or have a completely different idea in mind, we can plan the location, wardrobe and overall feel together.
