Looking for bold, beautiful maternity photos? Get inspired by this cloudy-day maternity session near the Hoodoos in Drumheller, Alberta.

I had the opportunity last June to capture Amber's beautiful, growing family near Hoodoos Trail in Drumheller, Alberta and it was a dream! So many things made this session one of the most stunning, unforgettable photo experiences of 2022 for me; the incredible landscape, the picturesque stormy skies, how the family was styled, and their authenticity & connection to one another.

What makes this Drumheller maternity photo session so beautiful?

The unique, incredibly stunning landscape of Drumheller

Location plays a huge role in creating the most beautiful photos and Drumheller did not disappoint for the maternity session we planned. In Alberta, we are lucky to have endless prairie fields & mountains nearby, however Drumheller's unique desert-like rocky landscape makes for such unique & stunning photos. The interesting rock formations, rock colours & variety within the area inspire creativity and all make for the perfect backdrop as you hold your baby bump and celebrate your growing family. And with Drumheller being just an hour away from Calgary, making it just as accessible as the Rocky Mountains, the question becomes "when do we go?" versus "should we go?".

The authentic connection amongst the family members created the most beautiful photos

With authentic connections you get the most beautiful photos and because the space in Drumheller is so vast, you have tons of room to live in the moment & be authentically you! No worries about audiences in this area! While it helped this family was so closely connected already, they also fully trusted me to guide & prompt them to create the most magical moments. It's imperative to put your trust in photographers when looking for authentic, real smiles & moments in your photos.

The bold colour choices of the family's wardrobe

To get beautiful maternity photos, wardrobe is very important and the bold, complimentary colour choices definitely made an impact with the stunning landscape in Drumheller. Once again, Amber trusted in me fully to help style her family and we were in constant contact beforehand as she shopped for them to ensure everything would go together nicely. I wanted the mama-to-be as the primary focus in her emerald green flowy dress (movement is key to create interest and looks so pretty in the wind!), so I kept her husband and son in neutrals. We found the complimentary burnt orange dress for her young daughter, which helped make the photos even more beautiful. I will say this, don't be afraid of colour! I am one photographer that believes in using colour to tell a story, so long as it works with the scenery, time of year, and theme of the photos. Even with the stormy, beautiful skies, the colours and outfit selection worked perfectly.

The cloudy skies of spring make for bold & beautiful maternity photos

Little did we know, the skies in Drumheller would be filled with stormy clouds that night, and in my opinion, that told the story of their growing family even better than I could have imagined. There are a few lessons to be learned here: 1) Expect the best, prepare for the worst. It's always important to watch the weather when doing outdoor photos! 2) Cloudy skies are just as stunning as golden hour skies! We planned this maternity photo shoot for golden hour sun, and were gifted with the most spectacular cloudy, storm-filled sky, which really helped make for bold, beautiful photos. Just look at these!!!

Are you dreaming of your own beautiful maternity photos in Drumheller? Let's make it happen!