You Don’t Have to Glow to Be Worthy of Maternity Photos

You don’t have to glow to be worthy

(But if you do, I’ll still capture that too!)

There’s this idea floating around that pregnancy is all soft light, glowing skin, and effortless joy. You know the vibe… serene smiles, windswept dresses, bellies cradled in sun-kissed hands, like some dreamy Pinterest board come to life.

And while yes, sometimes it is that…
It’s also swollen ankles.
Itchy skin.
Sleepless nights, back pain, and wondering how it’s physically possible to pee for the 18th time in one hour.
It’s googling “is this normal” at 2am and sometimes crying over toast for absolutely no reason.

So if you’re not feeling like the blissed-out goddess everyone told you pregnancy would make you, I want you to hear this:

You are still so worthy of being photographed.

Not when you’re more rested. Not when you feel cuter. Not when your bump finally looks “the right shape.”
Right now. Just as you are.

Because here’s what I see through my lens, and spoiler alert: it’s not about perfection.

“Even if pregnancy feels messy, uncomfortable, or unrecognizable—you’re still doing something extraordinary.”

1. Strength

This hand will soon hold their baby—and already, it holds so much love.

Carrying life is no small thing. Your body is doing this wild, brave, miraculous work—and it’s doing it every single moment of every day, even on the days when you feel anything but magical.
I see how your hand rests instinctively on your belly. How your breathing has deepened. How your body’s already shifted to hold space for someone you haven’t even met yet.

And that strength? It deserves to be remembered.
One day, you’ll look back and think, Damn, I did that.
And it’ll hit you—not just in your head, but in your heart. You were strong, even when you didn’t feel it.

2. Love

Even when pregnancy doesn’t feel picture-perfect, these moments still deserve to be remembered.

Not the posed, overly perfect kind. I mean the quiet kind. The fierce kind.
The way your partner looks at you when you’re not watching.
The little smile you get when you feel that baby wiggle.
The soft hand that finds its way to your belly without you even thinking.

Pregnancy love is deep and complex. Sometimes it’s joy. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s eating chips at 11pm while softly whispering, “Please let me sleep tonight.”

It’s all love.
And it all belongs in the story.

3. Realness

Candid maternity photography session at Caves Beach, capturing the real and raw beauty of pregnancy for this Newcastle-based family.

Let’s just say it: you don’t have to fake joy for the camera.

If your maternity session looks like messy hair, leggings rolled down under your bump, and a bit of vulnerability peeking through, I welcome it all.
Because that’s what makes your session yours. That’s what creates those goosebump moments when you look back and see the truth - not some polished, magazine-version of your life, but the real thing.

I don’t want you to look like someone else’s version of beauty.
I want you to see yourself, exactly as you were in this moment—and feel proud.

4. Beauty—Your Kind

No forced smiles. No filters. Just the softness of this season, captured the way it really felt.

You don’t need the “perfect” bump. Or flawless skin. Or a high-end dress you’ll never wear again.
What makes you beautiful is how you show up.
Tired, brave, emotional, hopeful, anxious—you bring it all. And that’s what I want to capture.

Your beauty might not look like the ads or the influencer feeds. But it’s the kind your child will see when they flip through your photos one day and say,
“That’s you, Mama? You look so beautiful.”

Because to them, you will be. Always.

5. A Chapter Worth Remembering

Maybe pregnancy isn’t your favorite season. That’s okay.
Not every love story is sunshine and roses from beginning to end. But even the hard bits—the aches, the changes, the moments of doubt—they’re part of the story.

And stories like yours deserve to be remembered.

One day, this baby of yours will be a toddler, then a teenager, then a grown adult with their own stories to tell. And they’ll look at your maternity photos and know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they were loved before they were even earthside.

And you? You’ll be so glad you paused to capture it—not because it was perfect, but because it was real.

Pregnancy isn’t always glowing—it’s growing. Stretching. Becoming. That’s where the beauty is.

What You Don’t Need for a Maternity Session:

Let me take this pressure off you real quick:

✖ You don’t need to feel confident in front of a camera
✖ don’t need to plan every detail
✖You don’t need to bring energy you don’t have
✖You don’t need to wait for some magical moment when everything feels ‘ready’

What you do need is someone who gets it. Who gets you.
Who will meet you where you’re at—whether that’s barefoot on the beach at sunset, or curled on your couch in oversized PJs.

And if you found yourself nodding quietly—yep, you’re in the right place. Because this season? It’s big. It’s sacred. And yeah, it’s messy too. But I promise—I’ll hold all of it with care.

You don’t have to glow.

You just have to show up.
And I’ll take care of the rest.

Whether we wander the dunes at golden hour or stay close to home in your favourite cozy space, my goal is the same: to help you feel seen.
To help you look back and say, “That was me. That was real. And I’m so glad I captured it.”

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign?
This is it.

Ready when you are.
Let’s tell your story

Mother’s Day Mini Sessions 2025: A Nostalgic Tribute to Motherhood

One day, these will be the photos they hold close.

Motherhood is a blur of tiny hands reaching for yours, sleepy cuddles in the early hours, whispered “I love yous” before bedtime, and the fleeting magic of childhood slipping through your fingers faster than you ever imagined.

And while you’re busy being their safe place, their constant, their everything—who’s capturing the way they look at you?

This Mother’s Day, step in front of the camera and let me do that for you.

Being in the moment with your little ones, creating memories they will treasure for a lifetime

A Session Designed for the Heart of Motherhood

This isn’t about stiff poses or perfect smiles. It’s about connection, about capturing the way your child nestles into your lap, the way their little fingers brush against your face, the way they hold onto you like they never want to let go.

It’s about the love that’s felt in the unscripted moments—the way you tuck their hair behind their ear, the way they giggle into your shoulder, the way they instinctively reach for your hand.

These sessions are a reverent tribute to the love and devotion of motherhood.

Small moments of connection frozen in time

Session Details

🍂Booragul Foreshore Reserve – A stunning lakeside field, kissed by golden light, perfect for soft, timeless imagery.
🍂 March 29th – 8 spots only (these will book fast!)
🍂 $195 – Includes a full gallery - no need for choosing, you get all the best moments!
🍂 A Little Gift for You – Because you deserve something special, too.
🍂For mums and their little loves — whether you're busy growing your littlest love, cradling a newborn, or wrapping your arms around a teen taller than you, this session is for you. Up to 6 people per session.

A Styled, Nostalgic Experience

These aren’t your typical mini sessions. I’ve carefully curated a setting that feels warm, nostalgic, and effortless.

Picture this:

• A vintage wooden rocking chair, a place for slow moments and sweet embraces.

• Dried flowers and woven baskets, evoking a sense of home and history.

• A wooden stool, inviting quiet closeness and whispered secrets between mother and child.

• A golden field, bathed in soft, dreamy light—timeless and beautiful.

Everything is designed to feel organic and elevated, blending effortlessly with nature to create imagery that will feel enduring for generations to come.

Organic and nostalgic setting to capture the most enduring and timeless connections

Why You Deserve to Be in the Frame

So often, mothers are the ones behind the camera, capturing every little milestone, every fleeting moment. But these memories? They deserve you in them.

One day, these will be the photos your child pulls from a box, running their fingers over the image of you holding them close. They’ll see the way you looked at them—with absolute, unconditional love—and they’ll feel it all over again.

These aren’t just photos. They’re part of your legacy.

Don’t miss out on capturing your own story through intentional moments of connection

How to Book

These sessions are extremely limited—only 8 spots available, and they always go fast. Secure your session today and let’s capture the beauty of your motherhood story.

✨ [BOOK NOW] ✨

Let’s make these memories last a lifetime

6 Newborn Moments You’ll Wish You Could Relive (And How to Save Them)

Mother kissing newborn’s head – Authentic newborn moments captured in Newcastle

The newborn haze is real. The sleep deprivation, the endless feeds, the tiny body curled into yours at 2 a.m. — it all feels like a blur. But here’s the thing: that blur is magic. And one day, you’ll wish you could relive it just as it was.

As a Newcastle newborn photographer, I see it all the time. Parents cradling their little ones, soaking in the smallest details while trying to grasp just how fleeting this season is. The way their baby’s whole hand disappears inside theirs, the sleepy smiles, the little sighs that are gone too soon.

This is your love letter to the newborn days. The things you’ll miss, even if you don’t know it yet.

Newborn baby hand holding parent’s finger – Newcastle newborn photography session

1. Tiny Fingers Wrapped Around Yours

One day, their whole hand won’t disappear inside yours like this. They’ll reach for you in different ways, but never quite like this again. It’s in these details — the way their fingers instinctively wrap around yours — that love feels tangible.

Snuggly newborn sleeping on parent’s chest – Cozy lifestyle newborn photography

2. The Way They Curl Into You

Right now, you are their entire world. They fold into you like they belong there (because they do). Their head tucked under your chin, their tiny body melting into yours. One day, they won’t fit quite the same.

Content newborn baby with a milk-drunk smile – Natural baby photography in Newcastle

3. The Sleepy, Milk-Drunk Smiles

That little half-smile they do after a feed? The one that makes your heart feel like melting butter? Sadly, they don’t last as long as we’d like. These are the moments that slip through your fingers before you even realise they’re gone.

Newborn baby mid-stretch, capturing the tiny details – Candid newborn photography

5. The Way They Fit in Your Arms

Right now, they nestle into the crook of your arm like they were designed for it (because they were). Before you know it, you’ll be carrying them on your hip instead.

New parents soaking in their baby’s first weeks – Timeless newborn photography

6. The Magic of Right Now

One day, you’ll try to remember exactly how tiny they felt, how their weight rested against your chest, how they instinctively turned toward your voice. The good news? You don’t have to rely on memory alone.

Before the newborn days blur into the next season, let’s capture them together.

Photographs aren’t just pictures — they’re time capsules. And while these early days might feel like a sleep-deprived whirlwind, your memories don’t have to fade with them. Let me help you preserve the magic of this fleeting season.

Capture the Magic of Christmas at Nords Wharf!

The Christmas season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by creating lasting memories with the people you love most?  Come along and join us for your Christmas Mini Session, set in a gorgeous bushland located in Nords Wharf, Lake Macquarie offering the perfect backdrop to capture the joy, love, and connection of the season.

Whether you’re a family looking to preserve precious moments, a couple wanting to freeze your love in time, or someone with exciting news to announce, these sessions are designed for you. Here’s why this is a must-do for your holiday season!

Enjoy some fun moments with your loved ones, engaging in the festive season!

Why You Need These Christmas Minis

The holidays are all about togetherness and creating memories that last a lifetime. And nothing does that better than a beautiful photograph. Imagine gathering the entire family – grandparents, cousins, or even just you and your partner – in a stunning, natural setting where everyone’s joy and love are captured in the perfect moment. These are the images you’ll treasure year after year, the ones that bring a smile to your face every time you look at them.

Find the time away from the hustle and bustle to capture lasting festive family memories

Got big news to share? Whether it’s an engagement, a pregnancy announcement, or simply the joy of another year together, these mini sessions provide a heartfelt, creative way to let everyone know. Imagine revealing your exciting news through a festive, beautifully captured Christmas photo!

The Perfect Setting

Nestled in the serene bushland near Lake Macquarie, my Christmas Mini Sessions offer a stunning backdrop that combines the natural beauty of the area with a cozy, holiday vibe. With the Australian bush and glistening lake in the background, your photos will feel relaxed, intimate, and uniquely festive.

Whether you’re looking to capture the bond between cousins, the love between generations, or the excitement of a growing family, this location is the perfect place to create genuine, timeless photos that reflect the warmth of the season.

A picturesque bushland setting near the lake at Nords Wharf with a touch of boho Christmas!

Designed for Everyone

These Christmas Minis are designed with all families in mind:

• Families: Get the whole crew together for a fun, festive session. Perfect for updating your family photos or capturing special moments with the grandparents.

• Cousins: These sessions are a great way to celebrate the bond between cousins and create lasting memories of the family’s youngest generation.

• Couples: Looking for a beautiful way to celebrate your love? These minis offer an intimate, festive way to capture your connection.

• Special Announcements: Planning a surprise pregnancy or engagement reveal? Use your mini session to create a stunning announcement that will share your news in the most beautiful way.

With limited spots available, these sessions are in high demand. Don’t miss the chance to secure your booking and make this holiday season one you’ll remember forever.

What’s Included?

• 20-minute session in a picturesque bushland setting

• 10 images to choose from in your private digital gallery

• Groups of up to 6 people (perfect for families and couples)

• A complimentary 8x10 print of your favourite image – a keepsake to cherish

Limited Spots – Don’t Wait!

With the busy holiday season fast approaching, now is the time to book your session. These mini sessions fill up quickly, and once they’re gone, they’re gone! Don’t wait until it’s too late to capture the memories you’ll cherish forever.

Book your Christmas Mini Session today and give yourself the gift of beautiful, timeless photos that will warm your heart for years to come.

Nicole Johnson Photography | Newcastle Lifestyle Family, Maternity & Newborn Photographer

Capture the magic of Christmas in a stunning bushland setting. This is more than just a photo shoot – it’s an opportunity to freeze your most meaningful moments and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don’t miss out on your chance to make this Christmas unforgettable. Spots are limited, so secure yours now!