Posing for maternity photo shoots can be not only an incredible way to capture priceless moments of a woman's pregnancy but also a meaningful way to celebrate that mom-to-be. That's why when Amy Scott found out that she was pregnant with her third son, she knew she wanted to take photos that she'd cherish. However, there was one thing this mom knew she didn't want: fancy photos in a maternity gown with lots of makeup, flower crowns, and a woodlands backdrop. Instead, she ended up eating her way through a grocery store — and the result is perfection.
Instead of going glam, Amy Scott wanted to do something that felt comfortable during her maternity shoot.
From the beginning, Scott knew that she wanted to do something special to capture her third and last pregnancy but didn't feel up to the "traditional maternity gown and forest look" for her photo shoot. "I didn't feel like getting glammed up or standing in a field of wildflowers trying to look serene while sweating in the Texas heat," she tells CafeMom.
For a more relaxed feel, her photographer came up with the idea of a grocery store shoot to celebrate her cravings.
While brainstorming possible ideas, Scott's photographer, Lauren Giles of Studio 154, came up with the idea of doing a relaxed maternity session in their local grocery store. Instead of posing in the nature, she could be surrounded by all of her favorite foods from this pregnancy.
Scott loved the idea of no-pressure portraits where she could be herself.
"The inspiration behind the shoot was just to be comfortable in my own skin doing something that I love to do right now: EAT!" Scott says. "It took such a weight off of my shoulders to just relax and have fun instead of trying to pose the perfect way in something I would probably never wear again."
The best part? Getting to indulge in her absolute favorite craving: ice cream.
"What do I love to do most while pregnant? EAT. More specifically, eat Blue Bell ice cream, my absolute favorite craving this pregnancy," she says. "Pickles, popcorn, and watermelon are all second fiddle cravings to my true love of ice cream. No contest."
Instead of feeling like she needed to pose, Scott felt free to have fun with her photos.
"[Giles] told me that if I was uncomfortable and tense it would show up on camera (great advice!) so we decided to make my shoot as painless as possible," she says. "Posing is my nemesis, so we knew that candid shots would probably be our best chance at getting me without an awkward smile."
Giles got permission from the store beforehand, but the binging pregnant lady still confused some shoppers.
"We spent a fun morning at an H-E-B [supermarket], laughing and eating our way through the aisles," she says. "We hit up all my favorite spots and tried to steer clear of other shoppers in the process. Even though we tried to be inconspicuous, two friends cackling with laughter and eating everything in sight drew a little bit of attention. We managed to get some strange looks and a few giggles from people doing their weekly shopping."
"I just wanted to make a fun memory and tell a story in the process," she says.
Scott "ate her way" through the grocery store as Giles documented the carefree action.
"Honestly, I’m not sure what my favorite part of this whole ordeal was: the adorable keepsake photos, or the fun memories that I made with my friend in the process," she says.
But in the process, Giles also captured a mama staying true to herself.
And didn't feel like she had to pretend to be someone she wasn't to achieve a "special" shoot.
"While many pregnant women like feeling glamorous for their maternity shoots, that sounded like a nightmare to me," she says. "Let’s be honest — I don’t have the time or the energy anymore to get dolled up to go sit in field and swat mosquitos while gazing peacefully at my belly. I’m a very causal person in reality, so I would much rather be comfortable in my own skin (and my own comfy clothes) for a photo session."
Scott hopes that her photos resonate with other expectant moms.
"I hope that this shoot, as silly as it is, inspires other expectant mothers to be comfortable in their own skin, whether that is in a glamorous gown or a favorite comfy sweater like me," she says. "After all, every pregnant mother deserves to feel her best, even if it means sitting down in the middle of a grocery store to dig into some ice cream!"
Plus, Scott wasn't the only one who got to enjoy the snack-filled day.
"We had a great time, laughed till we cried and probably the baby enjoyed all that ice cream too!" Giles adds. "It was the perfect photography session for this laid-back mama of soon to be three!"
