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Tag: what to wear

a woman holding her pregnant belly

What to Wear to Your Maternity Shoot for Timeless Photos

May 6, 2025 No Comments

Back in February I hosted Softly Becoming at the o

Back in February I hosted Softly Becoming at the old Dundas location of Millworks Studios (they’ve since moved) and had such a special afternoon with two very special mamas and their kiddos.

Softly Becoming was an intentional motherhood experience, where the focus was on, connecting with your body, your babies and your children. It was about slowing down and honouring exactly where you are on your motherhood journey at this moment in time

Thank you to @thecreative.ca for this reel 🤍

Photographers, tell me it’s not just me? 🤔 Every

Photographers, tell me it’s not just me? 🤔

Every drive I take, every dog walk I go on, I’m always searching for the best locations for my clients!

Can’t turn the photographer brain off 😬

Can you relate? Let me know in the comments below!

#photographerjokes #photographerfun #photographerproblems #burlingtonfamilyphotographer #oakvillephotographer

Moms, feel free to hit that little paper airplane

Moms, feel free to hit that little paper airplane and send this to your partner! 😏

#burlingtondads #hamiltondads #oakvilledads #mothersday2026 #burlingtonfamilyphotographer

Did somebunny say it’s Easter weekend? 🐰 Two spot

Did somebunny say it’s Easter weekend? 🐰

Two spots remain for an elevated motherhood experience WITH bunnies on April 18 at @allwhowanderflowerfarm

Book using the link in my bio for 🤍Once Upon a Mother🤍 or comment with MOTHERSDAY (all one word) for more info 🐰😏

#mommyconnectionsoakville #mothersday2026 #oakvilleontario #burlon #hamont

🤔 TELL ME…. Has ghosting been a problem for you? 👻

🤔 TELL ME…. Has ghosting been a problem for you? 👻

You know the vibe…
They inquire, seem excited… and then disappear.

It’s SOOO frustrating… but most of the time, it’s not a reflection of them not liking your work or your pricing.

It’s how your process FEELS on their end.

A few quick fixes:

👻 Don’t overwhelm them with complicated info - keep it simple
👻 Lead the conversation (don’t just answer questions)
👻 Talk about the experience, not just logistics
👻 Make the next step super clear
👻 Follow up (people are busy, not always uninterested)

Small shifts = way more bookings.

If this is something you want to clean up in your business, this is exactly the type of thing we can work on inside mentorship 🤍

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Mama, you’re the one holding them every day… but w

Mama, you’re the one holding them every day… but where are the photos of you in their story?

This isn’t just about capturing a moment.
It’s about making space for you to step into it… to slow down, to be present, and to have it documented in a way that actually feels like your life.

I create experiences for moms and moms-to-be where we get to romanticize this season… while you’re still in it.

Because years from now, these will be the photos they come back to… to see you 🤍

I’ve got one last motherhood experience scheduled for 2026! And there are just 2 spots left for Once Upon a Mother on April 18 in Dundas, Ontario. It’s so much more than just another photo session… it’s a true experience.

➡️➡️ If this is speaking to you, comment MOTHERSDAY and I’ll share the details. ⬅️⬅️

🙏🏻 Special thank you to @patrizia_smda for joining me at my Softly Becoming motherhood experience at @millworkscreative and to @thecreative.ca for the beautiful footage from our session. Mama dressed in my client closet dresses from @reclamationdesigncompany

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After a beautiful maternity session with Bentley’s

After a beautiful maternity session with Bentley’s mom and dad, it only made sense to take advantage of my THE FIRST CHAPTER maternity & newborn bundle and document his earliest days once he arrived earthside 🤍

For their newborn session, they chose a stunning studio space in Dundas @the.studio.verde - and honestly, it’s one of my favourite studios for this season of life. As a Dundas newborn photographer, I love offering both studio newborn photography and in-home newborn sessions so families can choose what feels best for them.

The light in this space is soft and natural - perfect for that relaxed, natural light newborn session feel - and it’s styled to look like an elevated, cozy home. It gives you that lifestyle newborn photography look without needing to prep your own space.

Speaking as a mom of 2 young boys - keeping my house consistently “photo ready” is… not a thing. There are snacks on the floor, laundry in a basket somewhere, and at least one room I’m pretending doesn’t exist. 🤦🏻‍♀️ And in those early postpartum days? It can feel like a lot.

If you can relate and it feels a bit overwhelming to think about tidying for a shoot, this is such a good option. You still get that warm, in-home newborn photography feel - without the pressure.

Whether you’re looking for a Hamilton newborn photographer or a Burlington newborn photographer, my approach is always the same: relaxed, connection-focused, and centred around your real life.

It’s calm, easy, and lets you stay present with your baby… exactly how those first days should feel.

➡️ TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS: are you team in-home or team studio?

#dundasphotographer
#hamiltonnewbornphotographer
#burlingtonphotographer
#lifestylenewbornphotography
#motherhoodphotography

There’s this weird narrative in the photography in

There’s this weird narrative in the photography industry that if you care about money… you must not care about art.

Let’s call that what it is: BULLSHIT 💩

A sustainable business doesn’t make you less creative.
It makes your creativity possible.

When you’re not drowning in bookings that barely pay the bills…
When you’re not constantly second-guessing your pricing…
When your systems actually support your life…

You show up calmer. More present. More creative.

Profit isn’t greed.
It’s what allows your business to exist next year, and the year after that.

You’re not running a hobby with invoices.
You’re building something real.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start running a business that actually works, my 1:1 mentorship is where we dig into it. Pricing, strategy, positioning, systems - the stuff that moves the needle.

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#photographymentorship #photographybusiness #photographersupport #creativebusinessowner #photographereducation

There was a moment during her styling session that

There was a moment during her styling session that really stayed with me.

She shared that little tug of guilt… doing something like this just with her youngest.
And I get it - because moms are always trying to make everything feel equal.

But then she reframed it in a way I’ll never forget:

She wasn’t leaving anyone out.
She was giving her baby the same kind of memories her oldest got when they were the only one.

And that shift? Everything.

Because it’s not about doing everything the same…
it’s about honouring each season, each child, as it is.

This was hers 🤍

Reel by @thecreative.ca

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You’d be surprised how many moms tell me they almo

You’d be surprised how many moms tell me they almost didn’t book maternity photos.

Usually it’s for one of these reasons:
“I have nothing to wear.”
“I feel awkward in photos.”
“It feels a little extra.”
“Maybe we should save the money right now.”

And honestly… I get it.

Pregnancy is a strange in-between season. Your body is changing, you’re preparing for a huge life shift, and it can feel easier to just skip documenting it altogether.

But here’s what I hear over and over again after the fact:
“I’m so glad we did this.”

Because once your baby arrives, everything moves fast. The waiting, the anticipation, the quiet moments before your whole world changes… suddenly they’re gone.

Maternity photos become the beginning of your child’s story - and a reminder of the moment you were becoming their mother.

If maternity photos have been on your mind but you’ve been talking yourself out of it… consider this your little nudge.

DM me MATSHOOT and I’ll send you all the details.

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Melissa Shearer is a Burlington-based maternity, birth, newborn, and family photographer and photography educator, offering inclusive, emotion-filled photography for modern families.

Serving Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville, Milton, Guelph, Cambridge, Brantford, Niagara, and beyond.

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