This is one of my favorite coastal maternity images I created during a recent maternity photo session in Longboat Key, Florida. I wanted to share this single image to give a glimpse into the why. It's fun sometimes to only focus on the art, and to highlight one image that encapsulates an entire session. 

The main things that compose a photograph, and that I always try to look for and achieve first, is a strong overall composition, accurate and pleasing color and tone, and of course, correct exposure ( the light). In this image, the lighting is soft, taken just before sunset. As you can see the soft lighting softens the subject, and all of the surroundings in the image. Maternity session images are meant to be soft and pure, so I think the time of day plays a part in adding to the softness, along with the light and the colors you will find in the Florida sunsets.

When composing a photograph, I often times choose to put my subject off-center and to the left. We read left to right so composing a photograph in this way is more appealing to the eye.

For the light, the sun (although faint) is almost outside of the frame. Again, leading the viewer through the frame - first to the subject, then towards the light, then out of the frame.

Finally, what the subject is wearing can also play a part in the overall feel of an image. I love that she is wearing a soft and flowy, floral dress. It adds to the femininity of the image, and perfectly suits a maternity portrait. <3