A cozy Christmas maternity session at home
Ghazal & Tim
Austin, TX
There are few things more meaningful in my work than photographing clients through life’s biggest chapters.
Ghazal and I first met when she booked me for her Bull Creek elopement with Tim, and then their Persian-American wedding in San Antonio, and even a mother-daughter photoshoot to celebrate her sweet mama! What began as a client-photographer relationship quickly grew into a dear friendship. So when she told me she was expecting, I couldn’t have been happier for her!
Since she was due around the holidays, she wanted to do Christmas-themed maternity photos with her husband Tim. Their session happened to fall on their one-year anniversary, which made the entire day feel extra special.
Sweet moments in the bedroom
There’s an ease that comes from being in your own space. No rushing, no stress - just comfort, connection, and the ability to move through different looks seamlessly.
We began in their bedroom, where the baby’s crib sat nestled beside their bed. Ghazal wore a soft, casual dress that fit perfectly with her home’s boho-chic vibes. I photographed her solo first, leaning into natural poses that highlighted her connection to this space and to the little one on the way. Then Tim joined in, but the energy continued to be sweet and intimate - quiet laughter, soft hugs, and the kind of moments that feel so real when you’re in the place you live your everyday life.
A maternity gown to accentuate the belly
For the second look, Ghazal changed into a sheer, ethereal gown that showed off her belly beautifully. The natural light in the living room created a soft, glowing atmosphere, and this part of the session carried an almost poetic mood. We also made sure to get some closeups her belly with their hands and some solos of Tim, who is equally excited about being a father soon!
Elegant Christmas portraits
For the final look, Ghazal changed into a more formal dress for their Christmas portraits. We photographed them in the living room surrounded by their holiday deco. Ghazal and Tim’s home was so beautifully curated that even their Christmas details reflected their style: elegant, minimal, and perfectly coordinated in white and silver.
Their three dogs, Ella, Minnow, and Odin, also made an enthusiastic appearance. This felt especially meaningful since one of them was their wedding witness during their elopement celebration I photographed last year. These pets are part of their story, and it was important to include them again.
The perks of at-home maternity sessions
Photographing Ghazal and Tim again reminded me how meaningful it is to build long-term connections with my clients. When you work with the same photographer through multiple milestones (engagement, wedding, anniversaries, maternity, family portraits…) there’s a sense of ease and trust that grows each time. It feels like I’m capturing the story from the inside rather than observing from the outside. At-home sessions in particular allow all of this intimacy to shine. We can be fully present and create images that feel personal, not posed.
Ghazal and Tim are about to welcome their baby any day now, and I feel so grateful to have been part of this chapter and all the chapters to come as they’ll become parents. After our shoot, we celebrated over lunch and they told me they couldn’t imagine working with anyone else to document these moments now. That kind of connection is one of the greatest honors of my job.
Thinking about a photo session?
If you’re expecting and want a session that feels natural and true to your family, I would love to help you document this season. Whether at home or outdoors, I create maternity portraits that honor your story, your style, and the beauty of this experience.