Summer Maternity Session at The Nashville Ellington Ag Center by Nashville Family Photographer Dolly DeLong Photography
Welcoming a new addition to the family is an incredibly special time, filled with anticipation and excitement. For Paige and John, their first baby is due in early Fall, and they wanted to capture the beauty of this sweet season of life through a maternity photography session. When they reached out to work with me (Dolly) we worked on finding a location that not only would be close to their home, but a location that would be a gorgeous summer backdrop to capture this season of life they are in.
The Nashville Ellington Ag Center – A Perfect Backdrop
The Nashville Ellington Ag Center provides a picturesque setting for maternity photography sessions. With its sprawling greenery, vibrant flowers, and rustic charm, it offers a beautiful backdrop that perfectly captures the essence of summer. From the sun-kissed fields to the gorgeous white pillars, every corner of this location adds a touch of magic to the photos. It’s very versatile as a backdrop (which is why I love photographing at this location). And in the summer, I am usually recommending The Nashville Ellington Ag Center because you don’t have to just pick the “golden hour” to photograph there, morning sessions photograph so beautifully there too!
Why Should You Consider Maternity Photos?
Maternity photos are more than just pretty pictures; they are a celebration of the miracle of life and the love between parents and their growing child. They capture a moment in time (literally 9 months go by faster than you assume), allowing parents to cherish the memories of their pregnancy long after their little one has arrived. Maternity portraits serve as a beautiful reminder of the expectancy, excitement, and love that surrounds the journey to parenthood.
Paige and John’s decision to keep the gender of their baby a surprise until birth adds an extra layer of excitement to their maternity session. The genuine anticipation and love they have for their little one shines through in every photograph. These photos will be cherished not only by Paige and John but also by their child as they grow older and look back on the love that surrounded their arrival.
How To Plan Out A Maternity Session In The Summer
As we all can imagine and assume, Summer is an intense season in most regions of the world filled with heat, humidity, and lots of sweat. Although it is a fun season, it’s not a comfortable season for most, especially expectant mothers, so when planning out a maternity session (and if you don’t want to have an indoor studio session) remember these key points:
- pick out an early time in the morning for your session (before it gets too overly hot)
- (or) do an evening session to capture the golden hour (and it’ll usually be a lot cooler with the setting sun)
- pack lots of water for yourself + your spouse (stay hydrated)
- pack some deodorant (sweaty armpits are a real thing and there isn’t any shame in being too sweaty! It’s a good thing to sweat! It’s just part of being a human!)
- pick locations that have a lot of open shade & are versatile (meaning different types of backdrops)
- pick a location that is near a restroom (I am speaking mainly to expectant moms on this point: I have been pregnant twice myself, and I know that having a bathroom near is crucial because both of my sons apparently loved to jump on my bladder! Bonus: having a bathroom nearby can help with any wardrobe changes as well)
- finally, moms, you know yourself better than anyone else: so if you know you struggle with figuring out your hair and figuring out your makeup due to humidity reasons work with a hair and makeup artist to help you look and feel your best for your session
- bonus point: if you have any children coming to your maternity session, then also consider what times work best for them as well (aka maybe schedule a maternity session after their nap OR even an early morning session right before that 10 am naptime hits)!
Overall, remember that Summer is a season of warmth, vibrancy, and joy, making it the perfect time to capture maternity photos. The soft golden light, blooming flowers, and lush greenery create a dreamy atmosphere that enhances the beauty of the expectant mother.
In Summary
Maternity photography sessions in the summer offer a unique opportunity to capture the beauty and excitement of this special time in a couple’s life. Because I have over 12 years of experience in photography, I love helping expectant parents create timeless and joyful portraits that will be treasured for a lifetime. Whether it’s the blooming flowers, warm sunlight, or the palpable love between parents-to-be, summer maternity photos truly capture the sweetness of this very short milestone!
Okay so now that you have been armed with tips to help you prepare for a maternity session in the summer, I also wanted to share another popular blog post on my favorite Nashville locations to photograph family portraits! Check it out below ⬇️
🔖If you would like to read further blog posts on how to prep for your family sessions check out this blog post:
Want to see more examples of portraits at Nashville Ellington Ag Center?
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Want to plan a short & sweet family session? Learn about my Nashville Mini-Sessions HERE!
Meet Your Friendly Nashville Family Photographer, Branding Photographer & Systems + Workflow Educator To Creatives
Dolly DeLong is a Nashville-based branding photographer for small business owners, a family photographer, and a creative business owner who educates other creative business owners on all things systems, SOPs, and workflows. Dolly loves serving business owners + families with her bold, elevated, and radiant photography. And, she also loves educating other creative business owners on how to set up systems and workflows that will ultimately help them save time in their business-she does this by producing weekly blog posts and weekly podcast episodes on The Systems & Workflow Magic Podcast.
She has a heart for serving the larger business community. Dolly shares her knowledge of tools like Dubsado, Email Marketing, and Business Systems with new creative business owners & family photographers in an encouraging and supportive way because she believes that anyone can find joy in systems, workflows, and SOPS! Plus BONUS: Systems is where the MAGIC happens! You CAN streamline & automate the backend of your creative business with ease!
Dolly’s faith and love for her family motivate her to help other business owners find the joy and freedom she’s found in running a successful small business.
Whenever she has a spare moment, she enjoys watching TV (i.e. Survivor), loves eating way too many sweets, and listens to podcasts while running or walking. To work with Dolly DeLong Photography for a branding photography session, fill out her contact form here
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