Every Pregnant Woman Should Feel Beautiful!

This is the title used in a little article in Closer magazine this week. An article that featured one of my images!

Yes, you heard it right.

And wait . . . there is more! The same image also made it to the front cover!

Of course, this was a big win for me but also a big win for all the pregnant mums.

Yes, because I believe maternity photos are super important and every woman should be on the cover for her bravery in this journey.

Even if pregnancy is not always an easy journey of glowing and beauty, actually it could be a very troubled and uncomfortable journey indeed, it’s so worthy to be captured. It’s one in a life time opportunity because even if you get pregnant again, the experience will totally be different every time.

But wait a second! Are you curious to see the image? I bet you are . . .

demi moore style maternity shot

It’s a Demi Moore style image. That iconic maternity photo that was in Vanity Fair cover in 1991 and created a lot chatting! And it is on the magazine cover

closer magazine cover: real mums-to-be celebrate 30 years of doing a Demi

Why maternity photos are worth it?

I wrote a post about why maternity photos are worth it but I believe I can better answer with the words of the mums interviewed.

“I contacted Valentina to arrange a shoot with my newborn-to-be and toddler. And when I spoke to Valentina she suggested I should also do a bump shoot. I knew this was likely to be the last pregnancy I’d ever have – and I’d always secretly thought that it would be fun to recreate the famous Demi Moore pregnancy shot – so I said yes.

“Surprisingly doing a naked shoot didn’t feel scary at all – Valentina was so relaxed and I felt comfortable. I felt empowered – and it was a great distraction from the sleepless nights, back pain and heartburn that pregnancy often brings!

“When I saw the pictures, I was thrilled to have such a unique shot to remember carrying a little human being, and I even uploaded one to Instagram. I didn’t feel self-conscious about people seeing it because there’s nothing embarrassing about being a pregnant woman. It’s a gift and one of the biggest milestones in any woman’s life.

“I think it’s great that so many normal women are following the celeb trend of embracing their pregnant bodies with maternity photos.

Related article: Unveiling the Truth: Debunking 5 Myths About Maternity Photography

article talking about the importance of maternity photos

Of course you don’t have to be naked to celebrate your body. Every woman decides the way she wants to be photographed but it’s an experience that I recommend to all pregnant mums. Because it’s empowering!

Please find more information about my photography on my website and feel free to get in touch with any questions.

📞 07577 978246 or ⁠
💌 vale@photographybyvalentina.com

London Maternity and Newborn Photographer

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We live in a world where everything is fast, filtered, automated. 

Where perfection is polished and every flaw can be edited away in just a click.

But what happens when we pause?

When we slow down…

When we really look?

Not just at the photos, but at ourselves.

This is where the true power of photography lives—not in capturing a perfect image, but in creating space for reflection, for presence, for seeing yourself as you really are.

No filters. No rush. No expectations.

Just you.

In the stillness, the truth becomes louder.

In the quiet, we see what was always there.

Because the answers we’re looking for, the confidence, the worthiness, the values, they’ve been inside us all along.

This is the beginning of Reflections Beyond the Frame. A space for honest conversations. For slowing down. For seeing yourself again.

When was the last time you truly paused to listen to yourself?

#ReflectionsBeyondTheFrame #empoweredthroughphotography #photographyforthesoul #lookwithin #selfdiscovery  #celebrateyourself 
#londonportraitphotographer #londonphotographer
Did you know your newborn might cry, but without actual tear, for their first few weeks?

Even though they definitely make their voices heard (we know those cries well!), their tear ducts are still developing, so you might notice a lot of crying, but no real tears. 

It’s completely normal and just another fascinating part of their early days.

Did you already know this? Or do you have another favourite newborn fact? Share it below, I’d love to hear it!

#FunFact #NewbornLife #BabyFacts #NewbornPhotography #MumLife
As a small business owner, we’re told to show up, to be visible, to build a personal brand.

As small business owners, we’re told to show up, stay visible, and build our personal brand.

And on social media? It can feel like everyone else is always on: always networking, always glowing, always travelling, always achieving.

Perfect homes. Perfect outfits. Perfect nails.
Even rest has to look productive and aesthetic.

But here’s the truth I’m holding onto lately:
Not everything needs to be loud to be meaningful.

Sometimes, we need to go quiet to make space for what really matters.
I’ve been a little quieter here - not because I’ve disappeared, but because I’ve been working on something really special (my book is getting so close!!)...

And also giving myself the gift of slowing down and reconnecting with what matters most.

This is your gentle reminder that stepping back is still moving forward.
And you’re allowed to do the same.

#gentlereminders #mindfulentrepreneur #londonphotographer #slowbusiness 
#femaleentrepreneur #fentrepreneur 
#behindthescenes
Coming soon to toy stores near you... not really. But imagine!

Introducing the Valentina action figure:

Wearing the classic jeans + white tee combo

Armed with a Canon camera (obviously)

Comes with accessories like a laptop, lit candle (for vibes), white orchid (because aesthetics matter), AND my real-life Labrador sidekick 

Mood: somewhere between “let’s create magic” and “I need chocolate.”

Honestly, this was such a fun little thing to try and kinda hilarious to see myself as a 3D mini-me! 🙈

But behind the toy box, there’s a real woman who’s spent years telling stories through photos. Helping mums feel beautiful. Cheering on women rediscovering their confidence. 

Freezing the messy, emotional, magical in-between moments that make life what it is.

And while I don’t come in packaging (thank goodness, can you imagine the plastic hair??), I do show up with camera in hand and music in the background, ready to turn your moments into something timeless.

So tell me… if YOU were an action figure, what would your accessories be?

Mine better come with a never-ending SD card.

PS. My daughter said the figurine looks like an Oompa Loompa.
I might have laughed a little too hard… mostly because she’s not wrong.

#womenwithcameras #photographerlife #empoweringwomen #londonphotographer #smallbusinessfun #actionfigureenergy

VALE@PHOTOGRAPHYBYVALENTINA.COM

07577 978246

LONDON NEWBORN & MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

BASED NEAR RICHMOND - TWICKENHAM