Winter Maternity Session on the Pier in Piermont, NY

When this sweet family reached out about documenting their maternity session on the pier in Piermont, I knew it would be special. They never got around to having a maternity session with their first pregnancy, so this felt like a chance to slow down and really highlight this moment. She was just days away from delivering…the in-between part where everything feels both in place and about to change.

The weekend before dipped into the single digits (the kind of cold that makes your eyelashes freeze), so we rescheduled for a day that was chilly but manageable. And I’m so glad we did. What we ended up with was one of those classic winter mornings…crisp air, a perfect overcast sky, and that clean, reflective light you only get this time of year.

Why Winter Maternity Sessions Are Underrated

There’s something about a winter maternity session that feels intimate. The cold brings everyone in closer. Hands tuck into their coat pockets. Arms wrap tighter around one another. Noses nuzzle into scarves and create pink cheeks. We can wrap ourselves up in a blanket. Winter creates cuddles that are more necessary rather than posed.

And let’s be real, there are fewer people at outdoor locations this time of year. The quiet adds to it. More space. More calm. More room to just be together without distraction. It also means we can move through the session more efficiently (great for little kids!).

Their little daughter brought the energy. She ran up and down the pier, her excitement cutting through the chill. That playful movement (the kisses, the giggles, the spontaneous hugs) brought so much life to their session. Winter light can feel calm and still, but children bring motion, joy and focused attention that balances it all out.

And yes…they even snuck their dog into a few photos (which I secretly love every time). A growing family should include everyone, fur and all.

A Family About to Grow

This was a family of three on the edge of becoming four. The waiting. The anticipation. The way a big sibling looks at mom and at mom’s belly.

I remember what it felt like myself going from none to one…and then from one to two. There’s excitement but also awareness that life is about to rearrange itself. That’s what I see when I look back at the maternity photos of my own growing family and I love capturing that for my clients.

Capturing maternity sessions is always a joy for me because I know how brief it is. It’s the in-between time…not quite before, not quite after. It deserves to be remembered.

Traveling for My Families (and Serving Maplewood & South Orange)

I love traveling for sessions like this one in Piermont. Exploring new backdrops keeps my creative juices flowing and allows families to choose places that feel meaningful to them.

At the same time, most of my families are right here in Maplewood and South Orange (SOMA)…a community I know and love deeply. Whether it’s a winter maternity session on a scenic pier, a snowy neighborhood walk, or golden hour in a local park, the heart of my work is the same: focusing on that real connection.

If you’re expecting and wondering whether winter is “too cold” for photos, remember that it might just be the perfect thing that brings everyone a little closer. Sometimes it’s the cold air that creates the warmest images.