There is something so powerful about inviting both partners into a maternity session. While I love my solo mat sessions, a couples maternity session holds a different kind of energy. It tells the story of connection, and the world created between two partners.

That is exactly what Dakota and Mike wanted when they reached out about documenting their pregnancy in my downtown Minneapolis studio.

They were waiting on their little Scorpio babe and wanted a dark and moody vibe. From the moment they inquired, I was excited to bring this vision to life.

We planned their session together. They sent me inspiration photos and shared the vibe they were dreaming of. We designed a couple outfit ideas together, talking about what would photograph well with the lighting we wanted to play with. In the end, we built a look that felt bold and warm at the same time. She wore black lace pieces that showed off her baby bump in such an honest yet artistic way. I loved getting to style this whole look as a collaborative effort with them.

Working together with my clients to come up with a vision is one of my favorite things about being a Minneapolis boudoir photographer. 

When they arrived at the studio for their couples boudoir session, we leaned into the shadows & light to get that Scorpio vibe. The studio space is full of natural light, but we also brought in strobe lighting for a more dramatic feel for some shots. I love getting creative like this. It adds depth and emotion that you can’t always get with soft daylight alone. The strobe created pockets of golden light against the dark wall. Their bodies moved in and out of those shapes, which made the images feel cinematic. As a photographer, I always make a point to practice my skill set with external lighting, for moments like this. When I want to have artistic direction and autonomy over my images, without relying solely on natural lighting. 

Some of my favorite moments of this session were the ones that simply reflected their connection.

Dakota sat on a wooden stool, hand resting on her belly, the soft light hitting the curve of her stomach. He stepped in behind her, pressing his forehead to hers. Their tattoos peeking out from the shadows. There is so much anticipation when you’re expecting a new baby, especially for first time parents. And I loved pushing myself to creatively capture that anticipatory feeling with their movements, the lighting and angles. It’s a feeling I’ve felt in my own life, as a fellow parent, and it’s such a cool feeling to really capture it for other parents too.

Later, we shifted to the white bed setup in the studio. The sheer curtains softened everything. They curled up together, legs intertwined, hands on her belly. They’ve experienced hundreds of these quiet moments together during this pregnancy, and it was special to be able to take a snapshot of that moment in time for them. 

Dakota and Mike recently welcomed their daughter home. Seeing them step into this new chapter has been so much fun after the time we spent together.

Sessions like this remind me why I love what I do. A couples maternity session is not just about photos.

It is about celebrating the story you are in right now, and the world you’re building for your family. And I feel so honored to have documented theirs.