Using a Pregnancy Journal to Plan your Maternity Photography
Whether you’re a first-time mom, or feel like a pregnancy pro, each pregnancy has its own unique features. With the introduction of digital photography and the ever-present mobile phone, avenues for maternity photography have opened up that our grandmothers never dreamed of, unless they were photographers. Along with these technical gifts comes the practical advice to plan your maternity photography for this particular pregnancy.
Good planning will enable you to get the shots that you want to remember from this special time.
Some may ask, “Why bother?”
The simple answer is to capture this unique time in a way that leaves few regrets.
A maternity or pregnancy journal gives the logical tool for reviewing what you want to capture and planning how to go about this. This goes far beyond calling a photographer and booking an appointment. That may or may not be part of your plan. Regardless, your success will be richer if you take the time to think it through.
This is where a maternity or pregnancy journal comes in. Three years from now, when your darling is a rapidly moving concern, will be too late.
With so many changes, you will find a journal an excellent ally…much like a day timer, but friendlier.
Having one pregnancy journal where you can put everything will help cut through the clutter and give you many good memories.
Capture those memories from that moment when you looked at those lines declaring a positive test, to seeing the rounded curves of your bump to holding your newborn. This is where you start developing a keepsake for your child in your own writing and design.
Keep reading to learn how you can choose a journal that will be easy for you to use and a pleasure for years to come.
How We Choose Pregnancy Journals
We know that a good journal will help you organize and remember things during this pregnancy. This will help you make sure that ‘little things’ don’t get forgotten, and that you will effortlessly stay on track.
We have read through articles, user reviews and star ratings to come up with a list of pregnancy journals that will give you ideas to fit your vision and your wallet, when you plan your maternity photography. So, let’s get started…
The Nine Pregnancy Countdown Journal Diary
Great for those who have little time or don't like to write much
Why we like it:
This gender-neutral journal combines useful prompts with sufficient space for small notes and some photos. It stimulates thought and reminds mom and dad to jot a quick note on things that might otherwise be lost in time.
Its focus on covering all nine months, week by week, with dividers in between, makes it easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of time to record things.
It also allows room to plan your maternity photography – the when, where and how – and the organization makes these notes easy to locate. Maybe you’re 18 weeks pregnant and haven’t begun to show, use this space to create other notes such as your plans for the nursery.
What you should know:
The colors are muted and neutral and this may not be your taste.
Although this journal can be used as a keepsake, it lacks the space to record a lot of reflection. How much you want to be journalling depends on you and the time you have available.
Expecting You: A Keepsake Pregnancy Journal
An excellent journal for parents who like to write
Why we like it:
This aesthetically-pleasing, gender-neutral journal gives parents the room to write as much or as little as they would like. Yes, both mom and dad can write in it, and that adds an extra special touch when you think of sharing this with your child in future years.
Most pages have specific prompts that many have found useful. Some prefer more detailed prompts and this has a lot to do with how much you like to or are willing to write. In addition, it has some excellent quotes that avoid being silly or goofy.
An excellent choice to gift parents who are expecting their next child.
What you should know: This journal allows a lot of room for writing and planning. Consider sketching ideas in it for your pregnancy photography.
It doesn’t have as many prompts as some other journals, but these may not be needed if this is not a first pregnancy. (The parents may already have the prompts from the first pregnancy and can compare).
The pages with stationary designs could be used to add photos or more writing. Consider adding page tabs for those pages that contain ideas for maternity photography.
It is divided into months, not weeks. However, you can simply divide each month into weeks if you would prefer. This allows for greater flexibility.
The Ultimate Pregnancy Journal
Excellent for scrapbooking
What we like about it:
This gender-neutral journal allows your imagination to run wild. If you love scrapbooking, as some of us do, this gives room for that creative expression that you hold dear.
If you feel stuck, don’t worry. Thought provoking questions and ideas will soon get you on your way. It even includes stickers to help you… and make the process faster.
The spiral binding allows each page to lie flat making work that much easier.
It's chronologically well-organized to integrate well with a busy schedule…your pregnancy photography can be well-planned with this process.
(In the event of pregnancy loss, the remainder of the journal can be used to document how you deal with your sorrow and include photos that are meaningful to you over the coming months. These, too, are things that can be shared when the time is right.)
With all the room for photos, this provides an excellent record for your maternity photography and fun. Think. What do I want to share with this child when they’re older?
What you need to know:
The first section focuses on the mother. Consider changing the title to about mom and dad… You may want to add features that are specifically for dad. Afterall, fathers are important, too.
Since this journal is divided into trimesters, it is best to purchase it early, whether for yourself or as gift, so that it can be fully utilized.
Some of the prompts are repetitive. In these situations, have the dad put his reflections in as well.
Consider doing family photos each month as part of your maternity photography.
Overall, a pregnancy scrapbook can make a beautiful keepsake.
In closing:
We hope you see the usefulness of a pregnancy journal in streamlining your plans and records for this particular pregnancy and for your maternity photography.
With all the different diaries and journals to choose from, the best approach, before you go to a bookstore, either online or offline, is to think about who you are and what you want to record. This will simplify things a lot, as you see what your needs and dreams actually are.
In addition, we have created a number of frequently asked questions, FAQs, to help you choose and use your pregnancy journal.
What is the best pregnancy journal?
There is no one answer for this. Some like ones with lots of information and small areas to write. Others want to write long reflective entries and are frustrated by short sections. Some include letters to the child. Others do not.
You need to stop and ask yourself, “What do I want to record, and who do I want to be involved in this creation?” Do you want the dad making entries as well? Do you want lots of photos? Do you want massive detail or very little.
Is a pregnancy journal worth the bother?
Unlike regular diaries, journals or day-planners, a pregnancy journal is meant to be shared. Whether one keeps details in an inexpensive, dollar-store notebook or in a pricier, hard-bound, keep-sake format, the information can be shared with the dad, family members, friends and later, with the child. They will all want to know of the mom’s experiences and plans. It may also contain things to help medical personnel is complications arise.
So, yes, it is worth-while to keep a good record of your pregnancy for many reasons including planning your maternity photography.
Should I give a pregnancy journal as a gift?
Giving such a journal is a bit like giving lingerie. You need to know what the personal preferences of the parents-to-be are.
Is this a first pregnancy? Do they have hectic schedules? Do they like to write? Take pictures? Reminisce. Scrapbook?
If you know all of this, go ahead and choose a gift they will cherish, and give it early in the pregnancy so that they can get good use out of it.
Or perhaps give a gift card so that they can choose their own.
Why is keeping a pregnancy journal important?
This forms a special place where you can capture unique thoughts and moments, record queries, plan for events and anticipate. It can deepen the relationship with your unborn child and their dad…and it can help you get all those worries out of your system, allowing you to relax more.
Is an electronic journal better than a hard copy one?
Some choose to do both. Personally, I recommend having at least a hard copy one, so that you can make a keepsake for your family. In addition to having the information, it will have your handwriting and those distinctive notes that only you can make. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that mom or grandma was once an inexperienced young woman.
How do I start a pregnancy journal?
You open it up and start writing. Don’t over think this. I’m not being sarcastic, but if you have already bought or been given a journal, you open it up and begin. Think of the small things like your names, what is it like outside on this first day of recording. The weather will probably be different when you give birth depending on where you live. Think of the life growing within you and be kind to yourself. There is no mystical formula for this part of the process.
So, what is the best pregnancy journal for you or your friend?
The answer varies from mom to mom and reflects her character and interests.
We’ve tried to provide a variety of excellent options based on our readings of articles, reviews and star ratings.
We hope you have found this article useful. All you need to do now is tap the button and start exploring what is best for you and get ready to see a great keepsake develop.