Matt + Abby Howard’s Downtown Meets Desert Maternity Photos

This past week I had the pleasure of capturing Matt and Abby’s maternity photos in both the city and desert of Phoenix as they prepare to welcome their second little one. I have been following along with their lives on TikTok for a while so when they reached out to me about this session, I was SO excited. We had such a fun evening traveling around to different locations and ended with the most beautiful sunset in the desert. I feel so honored to be a part of their sweet family’s next chapter and can’t wait to share all the gorgeous photos!

Desert Maternity Photo Locations

The desert is one of my favorite photoshoot locations and Arizona never disappoints. Abby and Matt wanted both desert and city vibes for their maternity photos, so we started off the evening in downtown Phoenix. Believe it or not, when it comes to shooting in a downtown setting, parking garages are your best friend! They provide the best skyline views and are often a secluded spot that gives you the freedom to play around. Once we were done shooting downtown, we headed out to the desert just in time to take advantage of a gorgeous sunset. Surprisingly, this spot is just outside of Phoenix and has epic red rock views and classic desert foliage making it the perfect maternity session spot.

Maternity Session Outfit Inspiration

One of my favorite parts about this desert maternity photo session is Abby’s adorable outfit choices for each location. They kept their clothing choices neutral for the downtown portion of the session which I thought was perfect since there was a lot going on in the background of these shots with the cityscape. Abby looked stunning in her cream button down dress that complimented her growing bump beautifully. Matt kept it simple in jeans and white tee to keep the attention on this gorgeous wife. When we headed to the desert they both changed into casual summer outfits that were a great match for the scenery. I absolutely loved Abby’s cute summer dress in the perfect shade of yellow for summertime. Even their adorable little man had on the perfect neutral outfit to compliment his parents. No matter what type of session you’re planning, you can never go wrong with neutral outfits in complementary tones. Especially when you’re shooting in a beautiful location, sometimes adding outfits that are too busy can distract from the beautiful scenery. I also love when couples opt for comfortable and casual outfits that they can play around in since that’s when we end up getting the most fun photos!

Maternity Photoshoot Tips

Maternity photos are always some of my favorite sessions to capture because as a mama myself, I know how special that moment is as you’re getting ready to welcome your little one. Your body is changing in so many beautiful ways and I just love capturing the magic of soon-to-be parents. Here are some of my top tips for maternity photos:

• Choose a location that is not too difficult to get to. The last thing you want to do while pregnant is endure a long trek in your photoshoot clothes. There are plenty of spots where we can capture amazing views without having to travel far. 
• Include your other littles in the session! Matt and Abby included their baby boy in the session and were able to get some adorable family photos during our time together. Plus, how could that adorable face not make your photos even better?! Win win! 
• Bring some props to add some variety to your photos. Sonogram photos, baby shoes, onesies or cute announcement signs are perfect for a maternity session. If there’s something that really speaks to you and your growing family, bring it along!

I absolutely love how these desert maternity photos turned out and I hope they gave you some inspiration for your upcoming session! I am so grateful to Matt and Abby for trusting me with this precious moment in their lives. Congrats once again to them as they get ready to welcome the newest addition to their family. 

If you’re getting ready to welcome a little one and want to capture the magic of this moment before they arrive, I’d love to talk about how we can bring your vision to life. Get started by filling out my contact form here. I can’t wait to connect with you!