How We Planned an Editorial Maternity Session Inspired by Encanto
Everything you need to know about planning your dream maternity session with your photographer.
By Sarah Ann Williams Photography
There are maternity sessions where you simply choose a beautiful location, show up, and create something meaningful.
And then there are sessions like this.
When Evelyn reached out about her maternity session, she didn't begin by telling me what park she wanted to visit or what dress she planned to wear. Instead, she shared something much more important: she wanted her photos to feel like her favorite Disney movie, Encanto.
Not a literal recreation. She wanted the feeling.
The warmth. The earthiness. The wildflowers. The rich colors. The connection to nature. The celebration of motherhood and family that makes the film feel so timeless.
As an Oceanside maternity photographer serving North County San Diego and Southern California, this is exactly the kind of collaboration I love. My favorite maternity sessions begin long before I ever pick up my camera. They begin with conversations, inspiration boards, thoughtful planning, and designing an experience that feels unmistakably personal.
Every Maternity Session Begins With a Conversation
One of the biggest misconceptions about maternity photography is that clients simply choose a date, show up, and let the photographer take over. Well, that's not how I do things, anyway.
The truth is, the most meaningful images almost always begin weeks beforehand.
Every maternity photography consultation I offer is an opportunity to learn about you...not just your due date or preferred location, but who you and your partner are as people.
Questions we might explore include:
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What kind of scenery makes you feel most at peace?
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Do you love the ocean, mountains, open fields, or forests?
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Are you drawn toward candid storytelling or do you like traditional poses?
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Do you envision your maternity photos feeling romantic, editorial, adventurous, or quiet?
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Is there a movie, book, destination, or season that inspires you?
Sometimes clients provide Pinterest boards.
Sometimes they send screenshots.
Sometimes they simply describe a feeling.
Evelyn sent me a single screen still from the Disney movie Encanto, and together we began translating that inspiration into a maternity session that would feel authentic to her instead of looking like a movie set.
That's the difference between simply taking maternity photos and intentionally designing a story.
Turning an Idea into a Landscape
Once we understood the feeling we wanted to create, we began selecting locations that naturally reflected it.
Instead of relying on one backdrop, we intentionally designed a Narrative Maternity Session from my Lifestyle Offerings, allowing enough time to experience multiple environments as the evening unfolded.
Based on our thorough consultation, the ultimate goal was to find a location where rich, golden couples photos could take place in a field of trees and flowers, followed by a moody, solo maternity photos submerged in placid lake water... challenge accepted!
Flower Field Maternity Photos
We began surrounded by wildflowers and soft golden light.
Flower fields have an incredible way of creating softness around expecting mothers. They add movement, texture, and layers while keeping the focus exactly where it belongs.
The earthy tones complemented the warm color palette inspired by Encanto, while the open landscape created a feeling of freedom and calm.
For anyone searching for flower field maternity photos, this kind of location creates timeless images that feel both romantic and editorial.
Golden Hour Open Landscapes
As the sun began to lower, we moved into more open scenery where the light could wrap around them.
Golden hour is one of my favorite times for outdoor maternity photography because the changing light adds depth and emotion that simply can't be replicated.
Rather than rushing through poses, we allowed moments to happen naturally.
Walking together.
Holding hands.
Laughing.
Pausing.
Simply enjoying this season of life.
Those quiet in-between moments often become the photographs people treasure most.
Lake Maternity Photography
The second half of the session brought us to the lake.
This completely changed the atmosphere.
The open water created a sense of stillness while the surrounding mountains added scale and drama. The landscape became simpler, allowing motherhood itself to become the focal point.
For couples or expectant mothers searching for lake maternity photos or editorial maternity photography, water provides an incredibly peaceful backdrop that photographs beautifully as the sun begins to disappear.
Water Maternity Photos
One of my favorite parts of this session happened after sunset. Colloquially known as Blue Hour.
Instead of ending once the sun dipped below the horizon, we stepped into the water.
Evelyn changed into a soft neutral two-piece that highlighted her pregnancy beautifully while allowing movement and simplicity to take center stage.
We had planned every detail, even down to the floating flower petals.
Those petals weren't random.
They echoed the floral inspiration we'd begun with earlier in the evening, creating visual continuity from the first images to the last.
The calm water, soft reflections, and fading light transformed the session into something almost dreamlike.
For anyone considering water maternity photos, this portion of the evening created some of the most intimate and artistic images from the entire gallery.
The result feels cinematic, emotional, and unlike traditional maternity photography.
Choosing Wardrobes That Tell the Story
Wardrobe plays an enormous role in creating a cohesive maternity gallery.
During our consultation, we intentionally selected outfits that complemented both the scenery and the progression of the session.
A Flowy Maternity Dress
Evelyn's rich terracotta dress immediately reminded us of the earthy palette that inspired the session. The color pops without overpowering the scene because although it is striking, it is still from a neutral palette rather than being fire engine red. Moreover, this red/orange undertone compliments the green-hued scene perfectly, because, color theory, baby!!
The flowing fabric moved beautifully through the fields while creating elegant lines that photographed naturally with every step.
Flowy dresses remain one of my favorite recommendations for maternity photo outfit ideas because they add movement without feeling overly styled.
Editorial Two-Piece Maternity Outfits
For the lake portion of the session, she changed into a neutral two-piece designed specifically to celebrate pregnancy.
The simplicity of the wardrobe allowed the landscape, water, and emotion to carry the images.
Two-piece maternity outfits are perfect for women wanting a more editorial aesthetic while beautifully showcasing their growing baby bump.
Why Longer Maternity Sessions Create Better Stories
This session was photographed as one of my Narrative maternity sessions, lasting approximately two to two and a half hours.
That additional time completely changes what's possible.
Rather than choosing between flower fields or the lake...
Between portraits or candid moments...
Between a flowing dress or an editorial wardrobe...
We had space for all of it.
Longer maternity sessions allow us to:
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Visit multiple carefully selected locations.
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Incorporate wardrobe changes naturally.
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Photograph throughout changing light.
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Slow down instead of rushing from pose to pose.
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Create a gallery with greater variety and depth.
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Build a visual story rather than a collection of unrelated photographs.
Some of my favorite images from this gallery happened nearly two hours after we began.
If we'd planned a shorter session, those moments simply wouldn't exist.
Building a Story Instead of Taking Pictures
When I look back at this gallery, I don't see separate locations.
I see a story.
It begins surrounded by flowers.
It moves through golden fields.
It slows beside the lake.
It finishes waist-deep in the water as daylight quietly disappears.
Each chapter builds naturally into the next.
That progression is something I intentionally consider when designing every editorial maternity session.
Because years from now, I don't want you to simply remember what your maternity photos looked like.
I want you to remember what it felt like.
Planning Your Own Dream Maternity Session
Whether your inspiration comes from a favorite movie, a place you've traveled, a color palette you love, or simply a feeling you can't quite put into words, I believe your maternity session should be designed around you.
As an Oceanside maternity photographer serving North County San Diego, San Diego, and destinations throughout Southern California and worldwide, I work closely with every client to thoughtfully plan locations, wardrobe, styling, timing, and creative direction long before session day arrives.
Whether you're envisioning flower field maternity photos, lake maternity photography, water maternity portraits, coastal beaches, rolling hills, or something entirely unique, we'll create an experience that feels personal, intentional, and completely your own.
Because the best maternity sessions aren't just photographed.
They're designed.