Before We Met the Baby

For many families with pets, maternity photos are not only about the parents-to-be. They are also about the animals who have been part of the home long before the baby arrives.

This at-home maternity session in Shanghai was photographed with two cats: a playful Ragdoll boy and a shy British Shorthair girl. One was curious and ready to join in; the other preferred to watch from behind plants, beside the bed, or from a quiet corner of the room. Instead of forcing them into every frame, we let them move at their own pace.

That made the photographs feel closer to real life. The parents-to-be sat by the window, ate watermelon, fed the cats treats, held tiny baby clothes, and spent time together in the rooms they knew best. The cats appeared in their own ways: curled beside the belly, reaching out a paw, being held for a family portrait, or simply staying nearby.

Maternity photography can be soft and emotional without becoming overly posed. In this session, the most meaningful moments were often the small ones: a cat’s paw on the mother’s belly, the father leaning in close, a quiet room, a folded baby outfit, and the feeling of a home waiting for someone new.

One day, when the baby sees these photographs, they will also see who was already there before they arrived.