As a maternity session photographer Spokane couples come back to for real, unposed moments, I have to say this one was especially fun — by the time Aeriell was about 35 weeks along, I’d already been with her and Sam for their elopement at Farragut and the afternoon we found out Yumi-ko was a girl. A studio maternity session felt like the natural next chapter — slower, quieter, just the two of them and a little bit of styling.

We started against Afterglow’s wood-slat wall, which is one of my favorite backdrops in that studio — warm and textured without competing with anything. Aeriell wore a dark green ribbed sweater and a cream skirt for this first look, and we moved between solo portraits and shots with Sam, who showed up in a corduroy jacket over a flannel shirt that played really well against the wood tones. Some of my favorites from this set are the simplest ones: her hand resting on her belly, him standing close, both of them just existing in the moment instead of performing for the camera.

From there we moved into the studio’s window area — sheer curtains, a big window looking out over the brick building next door, a brown leather couch, a jute rug underfoot. The light in that corner is completely different from the wood wall, softer and more natural, and it changed the whole mood of the shots. There was a playful stretch where Sam spun Aeriell around, and then it settled into something quieter — him wrapped around her from behind, a kiss on her cheek, both of them just looking out the window together.

We also moved to a lighter wall elsewhere in the studio, still in the same green sweater and cream skirt, for a few more solo shots — a quieter, softer feel than the wood-slat wall, with Aeriell in profile, one hand cradling the bottom of her belly, looking back over her shoulder.

Aeriell changed twice more over the course of the session — once into a flowing white dress for a few more window shots, and then into an open denim jacket and jeans for a completely different backdrop: a deep olive green wall that gave the whole set a moodier, more editorial feel. She stood for this last set, both hands cradling her bare belly under the open jacket, eyes closed — a quieter close to the day than where we started.

What to Expect from a Maternity Session Photographer Spokane Couples Can Trust

If you’re considering a session like this, a few things are worth knowing. Booking around 32–36 weeks tends to be the sweet spot — far enough along that the belly is fully there, early enough that you’re not too uncomfortable to move around for an hour or two. Multiple outfit changes and backdrops, like we did here, give you real range to choose from afterward instead of one look repeated forty times. And working in a studio means weather and daylight are never a factor — something I can’t always promise for an outdoor session in Spokane in November.

Six weeks later, Yumi-ko arrived on December 14, 2025, and I got to be there for that too. If you want to see the rest of the story: Aeriell & Sam Gender Reveal, Aeriell & Sam Farragut Elopement, and Yumi-ko Fresh 48.

If you’re expecting and want a session that feels more like a series of real moments than a stiff photoshoot, I’d love to talk about it. https://www.archandelm.com/contact