Photographing maternity sessions on location is one of the most rewarding and creatively challenging parts of our work. For this destination session, we travelled to The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, a setting that offered an incredible mix of luxury and architectural texture.
This post isn’t just about the final images (though we’re thrilled with how they turned out). It’s about the thought process, preparation and technical choices that made the session flow smoothly from start to finish.
When photographing in a location like The Venetian, the first thing we consider is light management. The hotel’s grand interiors offer stunning reflected light, but also unpredictable shifts in colour temperature and tone. We knew this before hand, so off camera flash was key to get the look we wanted to achieve. We shot this session using a Canon R5 with a Canon 24-105mm lens and a Godox AD100Pro with an SMDV Flip 32G Modifier.
The next key element is styling. For destination sessions, wardrobe should both complement the surroundings and travel well. We worked with flowing neutral tones to reflect the grandeur of the Venetian architecture while keeping focus on emotion and connection.
This particular session held extra meaning, our subject was a surrogate, carrying for another family. We approached the session with deep sensitivity, ensuring it celebrated her strength and the love that connects every kind of family story. Sessions like this remind us that maternity photography is never just about aesthetics, it’s storytelling, humanity and trust.
If you’re a photographer looking to step into destination work, start by mastering your systems. Have a solid workflow for travel logistics, time zone adjustments, client prep and location scouting. The more you prepare behind the scenes, the more space you leave for creativity on the day.
Destination maternity sessions can elevate your portfolio, attract dream clients and reignite your passion for storytelling. Every session offers its own lessons and this one, set in the heart of Las Vegas, reminded us just how powerful simplicity, connection and intention can be.