Katie's Maternity Session Experience - Leslie Whitaker, Maternity Photographer - Shreveport Maternity Photographer

I met Katie a few years ago, through a mutual friend. She’s a teacher in Shreveport, she is a Mama to exchange students and a wife to her adorable husband Seth. She’s seriously the cutest thing ever, and now she’s a Mama to a perfect little girl. We got together in February, before both our babies were born, for her maternity photos in Shreveport. Britt did her hair and makeup and we both struggled to breathe, both hugely pregnant. I LOVE maternity photos in my studio. The light is gorgeous in there! Check out the gorgeous Katie, she’s beautiful pregnant. :)

Let's get fancy! - Shreveport Maternity Photographer - Leslie Whitaker Photography -

Maria wanted to focus on herself for this maternity session. Her second baby, and Mama wanted to be pampered. She deserved it! Mama brought her own gowns for her session, and I am obsessed with them.

The white gown is actually a wedding gown, and I think I need one or two in my client closet. Then we went a little ‘Mardi Gras’ with the purple gown, and it fit perfectly.

Maria’s hair and makeup is by ‘Beauty by Britney’. Britney is one of my on staff artist, and she rocked this session. :)

What were you nervous about going into your session?

How comfortable I would be with Leslie.

What was your favorite part of your session experience?

My favorite part of my session was the relax environment.

How do you feel now that you have completed your session and received your images?

I feel great! I will recommend Leslie to all my friends and family!

Would you recommend Leslie to other ladies looking to book a maternity session? Why?

Yes! Leslie is very affordable, comfortable , easy going and friendly.

Britney's Studio Maternity Session - Shreveport Maternity Photographer - Leslie Whitaker Photography

I am having my fourth baby. I know the struggles that most women have when their pregnant, you know.. the ones where you just do not feel beautiful. Most of the time you feel swollen or nauseated, overly tired and completely unprepared. Sure, you forget most of the bad stuff once your sweet baby arrives, but those feelings still happened. Neglecting to have beautiful maternity photos taken can be a huge regret. Maybe you don’t do it because you think you won’t like the outcome. I challenge you to do it anyway!

Britney is my makeup artist and she gets to work with my maternity clients, new mom’s and boudoir clients. She is SO good at her job, and I love working with her. She had some ideas for her maternity photos, and I am SO glad she picked me to be her maternity photographer. :)

Hair and Makeup - ‘Beauty by Britney’. You can find her on Facebook.

Bralette- part of my client closet.

Green Maternity Dress - Baltic Born and in my client closet.

Declan - Quarantine Babies - Shreveport Newborn Photographer, Leslie Whitaker Photography-

Morgan, Dakota and Declan are such a beautiful family! Declan is a perfect little boy with an olive tone complexion and what look to be blue eyes. On the day of his session he was a complete gentleman and went right to sleep once I swaddled him! He was six weeks old the day of our session, and chunky already. I love working with older newborns, I find that they actually do better than most younger babies and settle into positions with less fuss. I’ve already gotten to see Declan and his parents again, at the sunflower fields - but read below to hear more about Morgan’s final weeks of pregnancy, their session from her perspective and how Covid-19 affected her and her family during Declan’s birth, before and after.

Covid-19 has changed many of the ways we live our life. I'd love to hear from you how it has directly affected your pregnancy. Do you feel like you've missed out on anything during your pregnancy with Declan that you looking forward to? Do you recall any emotional differences related to the changes you faced towards the end of your pregnancy or postpartum experience?

Luckily, I was well into my 3rd trimester before Covid-19 related restrictions set in, but my husband wasn't able to attend my last few doctor's appointments. We even ended up going to a different hospital for Declan's birth because my original hospital was only going to allow my husband to stay for the "Golden Hour" before being asked to leave while I stayed another 48 hours. It was very stressful to think that my husband wouldn't be with me or be able to spend the first couple days with his first newborn. I definitely cried in the doctor's office when I found that out, but thankfully it all worked out.

How was your hospital stay? Do you recall any differences in what you had imagined your birth experience to be like? How did those differences make you feel?

So, we solved the problem of my husband not being able to be with me, but there was no getting past the 1 visitor rule! Our family had to wait until we were all home. It was definitely much different than I imagined. Part of me is very thankful that it was quiet and my husband could spend that time meeting our new little one, but it also would have been great to have family there for extra support and to meet their first grand baby.

Where was Declan born and at how many weeks gestation? How old was your baby on the date of his newborn session?

Declan was born at Willis Knighton in Bossier and was 40 weeks (born 1 day before his due date)! He was 6 weeks during our session.

What were you nervous about going into your session?

I wasn't worried about much. I had heard great things about Leslie, but with Covid-19 still lingering in our community, I did feel a little anxious about the possibility of exposing him to anything.

What was your favorite part of your newborn session experience?

It was very relaxed! Leslie was great & coached us non-models into family positions that made for such sweet photos.

How do you feel now that you have completed your newborn session and received your images?

Great! Wouldn't change it for the world. The pictures are beautiful and are a wonderful presentation of us as a new family.

Would you recommend Leslie to other parents looking to document their newborn with a professional newborn photographer? Why would you recommend Leslie as a photographer in Shreveport, Louisiana?

Of course, Leslie has a fantastic selection of props to use. She's very personable and easy-going. Plus her editing skills are A++. Can't wait to get more pictures made with her in the future!

Ashley // Shreveport Maternity Photographer // Leslie Whitaker Photography

Ashley is such a joy to work with. We chatted for months before her maternity session, and just like most first time Moms she was worried about ALL the things. On the day of her session Ashley and Nicole first met with my on staff makeup artist, Dana. Dana spent about an hour with Ashley at the studio making sure that she loved her look and then Ashley and Nicole drove to meet me at my bayou, in North Bossier.

The bayou is lined with Pecan trees, and can look completely different from one session to the next. Sometimes the grass is tall, sometimes its just be cut. Sometimes the bayou water is high, and sometimes (like during Ashley’s fall session) the water was low and we got to see all the cypress knees. I just love it there.

Ashley pops in all the photographs I take of her, but she looks especially beautiful in red. You can tell by the first photo below, that she believed she was beautiful this day. Ash brought her own jewelry, her Mama made sure of that, and I provided the gown ( and wiiiiiiings). I just love how Nicole gazes at Ashley, you can’t just about FEEL the love radiating in the photographs below.

Shay's Maternity Session - Shreveport Maternity Photographer - Leslie Whitaker Photography

I first met Shay when she was my little girls K-3 teacher at First Bossier in Bossier City, Louisiana. My daughter is smitten with her, and I can see why. Shay is a strong willed woman, with a sweet disposition. I love spending time with her and I’m so glad I was able to be the one to take her maternity photographs.

What made you choose Leslie Whitaker for your Maternity Boudoir session?

I picked Leslie for my maternity photos because her pictures are really good and her style seamed perfect to celebrate my pregnancy.

What were you nervous about going into your session?

I was nervous about looking really bad in my pictures.

What was your favorite part of your session experience?

Actually stepping out of my comfort zone.

How do you feel now that you have completed your session and received your images?

I feel Amazing!

Would you recommend Leslie to other ladies looking to book a maternity or boudoir session? Why?

Yes and I have. People may want to have some done that way she dose them rather than outside.

Shreveport, Louisiana Maternity Photographer // Rhonda's Maternity Session

Covid-19 has changed many of the ways we live our life. I'd love to hear from you how it has directly affected your pregnancy. Do you feel like you've missed out on anything? How are you feeling emotionally? Etc.

I do feel like it has impacted my pregnancy. Not being able to get together with family and friends. Not being able to have my husband at the doctor appointments and not being able to have my other children at the hospital when we bring our daughter into the world. It saddens me really. I feel like I have missed out on a lot of moments that I was able to capture in my previous pregnancies. Breaks my heart really. Moments that I will never experience again as this is my last child. Having Leslie do my maternity shoot definitely took some sting away. Helped me feel more normal outside of the Covid-19.

What were you nervous about going into your session?

I don't recall being nervous. I was excited to be able to have the opportunity to have the pictures done during this covid-19 pandemic.

What was your favorite part of your session experience?

The way I felt so comfortable. Just talking and feeling like I wasn't just a stranger I’d just met.

How do you feel now that you have completed your session and received your images?

I feel even more beautiful than I did before.

Would you recommend Leslie to other ladies looking to book a maternity session? Why?

Absolutely! Leslie is very laid-back and gentle. Most photographers seem demanding but she was soft spoken and just overall gentle.

So many parts of life have been impacted, and I know that my way of thinking has changed a lot. A certain level of fear is healthy, enough to keep you safe. Sometimes you need to leave the fear in the background and enjoy your season of life. I’m happy to have been able to give Rhonda a sense of normalcy as she gets ready to welcome Presley into her sweet family. I can’t wait to get to capture this beautiful baby girl as she grows.

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