Maternity

Karissa Zimmer is a Central PA portrait photographer specializing in Maternity Photography in Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Hershey PA. Karissa offers a full service, custom portrait experience. View Karissa’s Maternity Photography Gallery Here.

What is the Best Time to Do a Maternity Session?

09.28.20

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You’re planning and preparing to welcome your new baby into the world and sharing the joy of your news with family and friends.

A professional maternity photo session may seem like just another item to add to your endless to-do list before baby arrives, but a portrait session can be a wonderful reminder of the magic and beauty of pregnancy. Maternity photos are a great way to document this special time in your life and allow you the opportunity to look back on the feelings of joy and anticipation you feel now for years to come.

Not sure when to schedule your maternity session? That’s why I put together a few tips to help you know when is the best time to photograph your baby bump.

Schedule Your Maternity session early! Book your maternity session in your third trimester
Generally, the best time to take maternity photos is during your seventh or eighth month of pregnancy between 33-35 weeks. In your third trimester, your belly begins to develop more of a round shape that’s perfect for showing off in photos. Plus, at this point in your pregnancy, your baby will not yet have begun to move downward, which means your belly will be higher and create that maternity silhouette that looks amazing in photos.

If you schedule your session too early in your pregnancy, your bump may not be as prominent and visible as you’d like. And if you have photos taken after your eighth month, you will likely feel too uncomfortable to pose and smile. For that reason, avoid taking your maternity photos near the end of your pregnancy, after 35 weeks.

Plan for an earlier shoot if you’re expecting multiples
If you’re expecting twins—or even triplets—schedule your maternity session for your second trimester. Your baby bump will appear bigger in the second trimester if you’re carrying more than one child, so you don’t have to worry about waiting to look pregnant. If you’re having multiples, it’s a good idea to schedule your maternity session for around 24 weeks. Later on in your pregnancy, you will probably have a harder time moving around and posing comfortably.

Watch that baby bump
While the seventh or eighth month is generally a good time to take your maternity photos, remember that every woman and every pregnancy is different. Pay attention to the changes in your body and the shape of your growing baby bump to know when is the best time for you to schedule your maternity session.

If this is your first pregnancy and you’re not sure what signs to be on the lookout for, take regular photos of your bump to see how it looks. This is also a great way to track your pregnancy and the growth of your baby! These bump photos are a simple way to keep track of your changing body and better plan out when to do your maternity session.

Err on the side of caution
If you’re uncertain about when exactly to schedule your maternity shoot and you want to make sure you book your desired photographer, go for an earlier session rather than a later one. The more advanced your pregnancy, the more like you are to be exhausted and uncomfortable. It will be harder for you to move around, change positions, and switch outfits for a photo session. So, if you feel like your baby bump is looking great at six months instead of seven or eight, go ahead and do those maternity photos! Better to take your images early than too late.

Just like with most things in life, maternity photos are all about timing. Choosing the right time to schedule your maternity session will help ensure that you’re looking and feeling your best, allowing you to have images marking this huge, wonderful change in the life of your family.

Karissa Zimmer is an experienced professional Harrisburg photographer based in Camp Hill and serving the surrounding areas, including Mechanicsburg, Hershey and Carlisle.

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Why Should You Do a Maternity Session?

09.26.20

As you’re preparing for the arrival of your baby, there are so many things to purchase and think about. A professional maternity photo session may seem like the least important thing or just another expense that you can skip. But maternity photos are definitely worth the investment, not just for the mom-to-be who could probably use some pampering, but for your future child as well.

Celebrate your pregnancy
While some women love being pregnant, others find themselves constantly uncomfortable or not loving the changes to their physical appearance. Regardless of how you feel about your growing belly, a maternity photo session can help you feel beautiful. It’s an excuse to get all dressed up, to have your hair and makeup done, and to pose like a model. Plus, it’s the perfect way to remember your pregnancy and to mark the growth of your family.

Capture your love
Including your partner or older children in maternity photos gives you the opportunity to document your family story and reflect on how far you’ve come. Whether this is your first child or your fourth, a new baby brings joy, excitement and change to your family, and a maternity session is a wonderful way to capture those special feelings and remember them for years to come.

Remember the anticipation
No matter how you feel physically, pregnancy is a time to look toward the future. Once your baby is born and you’re focused on taking care of them, you may forget the feelings of anticipation and excitement you felt as you counted down the days until their arrival. Professional maternity photos can help remind you of those feelings, capturing that unique moment in time as you waited for your little one’s entrance into the world.

Reveal details about your baby
If you want to let friends and family know about the sex or name of your new baby—or both—a maternity session can be a great way to do that. Talk to your photographer about how you can reveal your little one’s sex and/or name and scroll through Pinterest to look for fun ideas. Your photographer will be happy to work with you to help you announce these details to your loved ones!

Have a day all about you
Some women don’t feel beautiful during pregnancy. You may spend most of your days in comfortable clothes, or maybe you’ve taken a break from your usual makeup and hair routine. A maternity photo session is the perfect excuse to get all dolled up, whether on your own or by a professional stylist. Feeling gorgeous for a day can be a huge confidence booster and remind you of just how incredible and powerful you are. After all, you’re creating a human life! That’s amazing!

Get photos you’ll want to share
Many people have photos from their wedding day hanging up in their homes, but what if you had images from every special moment in your family? Your engagement, your marriage, your first child. Maternity photos capture a special moment in time that’s just as important as the day you said “I do.” Your family is growing, and that’s definitely a big deal and worth capturing in professional photos and products.

How To Support Your Photographer During COVID-19 | Camp Hill PA Photographer

04.17.20

If you have a favorite photographer or photographer friend in your life…check on us. We are not ok! It is a very scary time for all of us small business owners. But, there are ways you can help support us in this time of crisis. If you’re not able to shop and spend with us, keep us in your thoughts and prayers! In addition, please, please share our social media posts, leave a glowing Google review, or tag us in your favorite photo that we took. These little things all help so much more than you can imagine!

Like many photographers, my slow season is usually ending as soon as the first blooms start to break the dead of winter. It’s the time for fresh new life and outdoor maternity photos, family portrait sessions, pictures of children happily playing outside. I am usually on bloom “look out” and casing out my favorite locations for those beautiful tree blossoms that make for the perfect maternity, senior or family photography session. This is a time I look forward to every year as do many of my clients. This year is so very different. And so very scary too.

Small Businesses Need Your Support

I am blessed in so many ways. I thank God everyday that I am able to do what I love as my job! However, I don’t think anything could have prepared me for this COVID crisis. Many of you know that I am a solo mom of an awesome 12 year old daughter and that my photography business is my (typically-MORE than) full time job. It’s my livelihood – my bread and butter. Not being able to make a living for (at this point) over a month is tough. And to kick, most little businesses like mine have not yet seen a penny of our government’s promised help. I know there are many, many people walking in my shoes right now. Certainly, I am not alone! I want to be here to see you again when dust settles. And I want to connect and capture the moments that mean the most to you. Not only do I miss my clients and doing what I love so much, I miss being able to make a living to provide for my daughter and I. The good news is, there are lots of ways you can help support the photographer in your life! Some of them costing $0!

How You Can Support Your Photographer during this crisis:

1. Buy Products

Remember that extra piece of wall art or album that you loved so much and wanted to add later? This is a perfect time to invest in an additional product/s from your previous session! It’s also a fantastic way for you show your support monetarily…and to purchase something beautiful that you and your children will have forever. Need to see your album layouts or images on your walls again? No problem. Let me know and I will create new wall mock-ups for you or provide you with the ones you saw during your ordering session. I would be happy to Skype screen share and walk you through the ordering process again to help you make the perfect selections!

2. Purchase a gift certificate to use at a future session

Do you already have a session booked with me or know that have your memories captured every year by “yours truly”? You can purchase a gift certificate in any amount to use toward portrait products at your future ordering session! It never expires and gets you a jump start on your order…and helps support your favorite photographer during these crazy times!

3. Leave a Great Review

Google reviews are literally worth their weight in gold! For every positive review I receive, not only does it help attract potential amazing clients (like you!), but Google thinks I’m the bees knees and puts me higher up in search results. Lets be real, when is the last time you ventured past the first page of search results?!

4. Engage on/share social media posts

Let’s be honest, no one has a lot on their daily calendar right now anyways, and there is a pretty good chance you’re on your phone scrolling through Instagram and Facebook. Likes, comments and shares are are all super helpful and show that you care about your photographer! Commenting and spreading the love helps our posts stay relevant and could introduce us to potential clients that you’re connected with on social media.

5. Refer me to your friends

A referral of friends and family is the greatest compliment you can give your photographer! If you’re not in the position to spend on a portrait product from a previous session or towards your future session, maybe you know someone who is looking to update their family pictures or add some art to their walls. Referring your friend or loved one to hire me as their photographer is showing me that you trust me and my work so much that you want someone you care about to experience working with me. That means the world.

Thank you to all of my amazing clients for your love and continued support. Not only now, but all the times you’ve trusted me to capture your memories and supported my little business in the past.

Love,

Karissa

Camp Hill Pa photographer asks for small business support during COVID crisis

To contact me about purchasing a product or gift certificate to use toward future products you can reach out to me via phone or text at 717-991-7414 or send me a message HERE.

I would love for you to follow me on HERE on Instagram!

Karissa Zimmer Photography is a Camp Hill PA photographer specializing in Newborn, Maternity, Family and High school senior portraits. She services all of Central PA including Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Hershey, Carlisle, and surrounding areas.

Camp Hill PA Maternity & Newborn Photography

04.10.20

Camp Hill PA Maternity & Newborn Photography

I love Camp Hill PA Maternity & Newborn Photography! This time of year is always my favorite time for any outdoor photo sessions. Especially maternity and family portraits! As times have certainly changed this spring, I am reliving my favorite moments from this adorable family’s spring maternity photography session. This April day started out with a serious wind storm. We were worried we wouldn’t get to shoot. However, it turned out to be a GORGEOUS spring evening! I couldn’t have possibly had a more beautiful and excited mom-to-be! Her two guys were equally as excited to welcome another boy to the family a few weeks later! Spring blooms make me so happy. It symbolizes new life! And with the combination of welcoming a new baby, nothing could be more perfect than a spring maternity photography session! Can we just take a moment to remember when it was safe to have outdoor maternity and family photo sessions?! And photographers were able to operate their businesses and capture the memories like these. I am hoping AND praying these beautiful, wonderful portrait photography sessions can be captured again soon! These are the moments that fill my heart…and my clients walls with love!

camp hill maternity and newborn photography session by karissa zimmer
Camp Hill PA Maternity Photography | Pregnancy Pictures in Camp Hill Pennsylvania

It was impossible not to fall in love with this big brother to-be! I have seriously never met a more well behaved toddler in my life! Baby boy is lucky to have a perfect role model to grow up with!

little boy giggles during his family's outdoor maternity photography session
Camp Hill Family & Maternity | Child portraits in Camp Hill PA

Outdoor Family Maternity Photography

Check out these beautiful spring blooms! There is no time like spring for outdoor portraits. I am missing this like CRAZY this year. I wait all year to be able to photograph portrait sessions during this my favorite season! World, please get healthy soon. I’m ready to be back outside doing what I love!

family of 3 photographed at outdoor maternity photography session in camp hill
Camp Hill Maternity & Newborn Photographer | Maternity and Newborn photography near Camp Hill
family photographed in the spring at outdoor maternity session in camp hill pa
Maternity and Newborn Photographer Camp Hill | Family Maternity Pictures Camp Hill PA

I couldn’t leave out my favorite image of the big bro to-be. He’s the sweetest face!

little boy poses during his family maternity photo session
Maternity Photographer Camp Hill | Pregnancy Images in Camp Hill PA

There’s no doubt that we’re living through some crazy, scary times right now. It is always my hope that my images can put a smile on the faces of the people who see them! It’s also is my greatest wish that the world will get healthy again in all the ways. That this pandemic will soon be over, less lives will be lost, kids will be back in school, families and friends will be gathering, and I will be able to capture the people and moments that mean the most to you. I believe times like this also help us to realize the importance of having visual memories of our most important moments and loved ones. I am praying for all of my clients and that I will be seeing you all again very, very soon!

Booking a Maternity or Newborn Photography session.

I would LOVE nothing more than to chat with you about planning your maternity and newborn photography sessions. Although I am not currently able to meet with clients in person for consultations or sessions, It doesn’t hurt to chat about planning for when the time comes. I am still talking with new clients daily! If you’re interested in booking a future maternity and newborn session please send me a message HERE! I will call you to chat about my portrait process and I will add you to my call back list. As soon as it is announced that it is safe for me to operate and begin photographing clients again, I will call you back to set up your consultation and plan your session! Besides, isn’t it nice to chat with someone outside of the walls of our homes right now?! If you’re anything like me, you’re missing people! I can’t wait to chat with you about big things for the future!

PS- I’m trying to keep my INSTA popping! Follow me on INSTAGRAM for updates and cute babies!

Newborn-Maternity-Family and High School Senior Photographer in Mechanicsburg PA

12.29.19

Newborn-Maternity-Family and High School Senior Photographer in Mechanicsburg PA | 2019 year in review!

As a Newborn-Maternity-Family and High School Senior Photographer in Mechanicsburg PA 2019 was awesome! I’ve captured some of my most favorite images this year. I’ve snuggled, loved and photographed some of the most adorable babies in all of Central PA! I am totally sure of it! I’ve giggled with kiddos, ran around like a nut with toddlers, channeled my youthful soul while capturing high school senior pictures and watched my repeat client families grow up a little more this year. I mean, it will be hard for me to write this post without a few tears. Guys – this is not just my job. This is a genuine labor of love here. Some will say “you shouldn’t be emotionally connected to your job,” but I disagree. I do this with my whole heart. I look back on a year and feel so blessed to have crossed paths with each and every one of my clients. Some it was for the very first time and others who feel like they’ve become old friends. You guys are all gold to me. Every one of you holds a special place in this photographer’s heart of memories.

Now, for a moment of transparency…because, let’s be real-2019 wasn’t all sunshine, unicorns and glitter. It included some unexpected hurdles to jump at times- I guess you could say. This 2019 year required some serious faith to get through the things that are out of my control and the drive to conquer all that is within it. With those two things, the most amazing family, a few very close friends and a whole handful of the greatest clients any photographer could have – Here I am! Happy, healthy, and ready to take on 2020 and all it’s new adventures!

  • family newborn maternity high school senior photographer in harrisburg pa
  • harrisburg pa family newborn maternity high school senior photography

All of these moments that we turned into tangible, keepsake memories mean everything.

Not only to you, but to me. I have a genuine value for family and the people we love most. I know how much it will mean to you forever to have these memories of the babies,children, spouses and EVEN PUPPIES you love. Time will change us all. We’ll grow older as will our children. These moments you allowed me to capture for you are frozen forever. That is priceless. Thank you for trusting me to capture these memories for you this year. Thank you for allowing me to guide you through this process and allow me to help you choose tangible, heirloom artwork for your home so that your children’s children will have these special family memories. They’ll be just as important to you decades from now as they are today!

Let’s talk about 2020!

As we say goodbye to 2019 it’s important to plan for the future! Silly resolution time, I know! But, I’m excited! I’ve got big plans for the new year and I’m looking forward to connecting with all of you who will be a part of it! I will, however, be scheduling limited sessions each month. This keeps me on my A game so that I can give each of you a personal and custom portrait experience. Most important, I’m a mom myself, so being present for my daughter is my biggest priority. I’m all about “being the best version of ourselves” and a good start for me is by not overfilling my plate. I want to give everyone I care about the best version of me! So, with that being said…plan, plan, plan ahead! Yep, I know…lots of us a procrastinators, but it’s best to book your session several months in advance! If you’re expecting a baby this year – it is best to schedule your newborn session before your 3rd trimester. That way, all is set when baby arrives! Newborn session openings fill FAST! If you’re thinking ahead to spring and summer – now is a great time to get the planning started! It is MY MOST FAVORITE time of the year for family photography! Absolutely, positively the most beautiful time of the year! And Fall…welll….i’m still recovering from the past few months. We’ll revisit the idea of fall again soon! Hahaha!

Let’s chat about your family!

I’d love to chat about what makes your family special and how we can capture that for you. I’ll sit down with you and carefully plan all the details to how we will photograph your special people. I’ll walk you through my entire portrait process. Send me a quick message HERE to get in touch with me!

Do you follow me on INSTAGRAM? Catch all the sneak peeks and fun updates there!