Maternity session at Manhattan Beach Pier | The Gonzales Family

Maternity sessions come in many different styles, some like to go with the modest aesthetic, some like to show off the amazing curves of a woman’s body. Either styles are amazing and have their own unique style, just like all families are different in their own ways. Maternity and newborn photoshoots have become one of my favorites to shoot. The natural beauty of a woman’s body, and the parents’ nervous, yet excited emotions spill through every frame.

This particular session at Manhattan Beach Pier was one of my favorite shoots with our parabolic umbrella. Typically, shooting with natural light and a reflector may be just for first the beginning of the Golden Hour, but having our flash and one modifier, it allowed us to have controlled lighting throughout the entire hour leading up to sunset. From ground to water to under the pier, we had created a soft to dramatic look, even right when sunset was right at the horizon.