Maternity and Pregnancy
Maternity Photo Editing
Pigmentation evened, stretch marks softened rather than erased, backlit bump shots balanced, gowns and flyaways tidied. Light contouring where the pose needs it — never to the bump. From $1.50 an image.
Why It Is Its Own Service
The Edit Has to Match What She Asked For
Maternity retouching is the one portrait service where the default setting is a judgement call rather than a technical one. Some clients want every stretch mark gone. Others booked the session precisely to document a body doing something remarkable and would be upset to see it smoothed away. Both are entirely reasonable, and guessing wrong is worse than doing nothing.
So we default to softening rather than removing — reducing how much marks catch the light while leaving them present — and we follow whatever you tell us she asked for. Tell us in one line when you send the job and it is applied across the gallery.
The technical side is its own thing too. Pregnancy shifts pigmentation, so melasma across the cheeks and a darkened linea nigra need evening without flattening the skin. Half of these sessions are shot backlit, which means balancing a rim-lit bump against a face heading toward silhouette. And light contouring, where it is wanted at all, goes to the arms, back and posture — never the bump, which is the entire subject of the photograph.
Most maternity clients come back after the birth. That session is newborn editing from $1.00. Standard adult portraits are studio retouching from $1.50.
What Is Included
Flattering, Still Her
Skin Tone Evening
Pregnancy changes pigmentation — melasma across the cheeks, a darkened linea nigra, patchy tone on the bump. Evened out without flattening the skin.
Stretch Mark Softening
Softened rather than erased, unless a client asks otherwise. The default is to reduce how much they catch the light, not to pretend they were never there.
Gentle Contouring
Light shaping to the arms, back and posture where the pose worked against her. Never to the bump — the bump is the subject and it stays exactly as it is.
Glow and Lighting
Backlit bump shots balanced so the rim light stays and the face does not go to silhouette, and hard studio shine on the forehead and cheeks brought down.
Fabric and Drape
Gown creases, clip marks and bunched fabric at the back of a dress tidied, and flowing fabric cleaned up so the drape reads the way it did in the room.
Flyaways and Cleanup
Stray hair, backdrop creases, distracting props and location clutter cleaned off, indoors or out on location, so nothing pulls the eye off the subject.
When To Use It
Worth It On These
How It Runs
Session to Gallery in 24 Hours
Send the selects
RAW or JPEG. Editing is per image, so send the frames you plan to deliver rather than the full take.
Tell us her preferences
This one matters more than on any other portrait service. If she asked for stretch marks kept, or specifically asked for them gone, tell us — we default to softening, not removing.
We retouch each image
Tone evened, marks softened, lighting balanced, fabric and flyaways tidied, and light contouring applied only where the pose needs it and never to the bump.
Review and revise
Back in 24 to 48 hours. If anything reads heavier than she wanted, say so — revisions are included until the gallery matches what she asked for.
Common Questions
Maternity editing questions
How much does maternity photo editing cost per image?
Maternity retouching is $1.50 per image. That covers skin tone, pigmentation, stretch mark softening, lighting balance, fabric and flyaway cleanup, and light contouring where you ask for it.
Do you remove stretch marks?
We soften them by default, which reduces how much they catch the light while leaving them present. If a client has specifically asked for them removed entirely, say so and we will. Guessing either way is the one mistake worth avoiding here.
Do you slim the bump?
No, never. The bump is the subject of the photograph. Light contouring, where it is wanted, goes to the arms, back and posture — the places a pose can work against someone — and stops there.
Can you fix melasma and the dark line on the stomach?
Yes. Melasma across the cheeks and forehead and a darkened linea nigra are both evened out as part of the standard edit, without flattening the skin or shifting her overall tone.
Can you rescue a backlit shot where her face went dark?
Usually, if you shot RAW. The aim is keeping the rim light around the bump while bringing the face back, which is a local adjustment rather than a global exposure lift. Send the RAW where you can.
Can you tidy the gown and fabric?
Yes. Creases, clip marks at the back, and bunched fabric are tidied, and flowing gowns cleaned up so the drape reads the way it looked in the room rather than how it froze in the frame.
Do you edit outdoor and location sessions?
Yes, at the same rate. Location work usually needs more background cleanup — distracting branches, litter, passers-by — and that is included rather than charged as extra object removal.
Do you edit couples and sibling maternity shots?
Yes. Everyone in frame gets appropriate treatment, with children handled at the lighter end. It stays $1.50 per image regardless of how many people are in the shot.
Can I see it on my own photo first?
Yes. Send one maternity image and we will edit it free, with no card required. Judge the stretch mark handling specifically — that is the choice that varies most between studios.
Other Retouching Services
Maternity is one tier of several. These are the rest.
Get Started
Send Us a Session
Tell us how many images and what she asked for, and we'll quote within 24 hours.
Maternity Photo Editing
Project Details
Tell us how many images, and how the client wants stretch marks and contouring handled.