Ruth's Maternity Photoshoot at Santiago del Teide, Tenerife

A hat, a fashion shoot and a first meeting

I met Ruth on a fashion set. I was photographing Lupe Castro and her collection of vintage hats, and Ruth was there to wear them. It made perfect sense: on Instagram, Ruth is El sombrero de Ruth.

When she found out she was expecting, she wrote to me. She and her partner live in Tenerife and know the island well. They wanted a maternity session that felt like them: simple, warm, a little nostalgic.

Why we chose Santiago del Teide

Many of my sessions happen by the sea, in the south of the island. For Ruth I wanted something different. In summer the high meadows of Santiago del Teide turn the colour of honey, and the air is fresher than on the coast. Canary pines line the paths, some so old that their trunks open like small rooms.

It is a quiet place, far from the beaches most visitors know, and its colours matched Ruth’s cream dress and straw hat almost perfectly. You can find more ideas in my guide to photoshoot locations in Tenerife.

From golden hour to the last light

We started at half past seven and followed the sun until it slipped behind the hills.

Walking together through the golden grass

They walked hand in hand, slowly, the grass up to their knees. He held her from behind, both hands on the bump. She laughed every time the wind lifted the brim of her hat. I asked for very little: I mostly watched, and waited.

Ruth and her straw hat

Then a few moments just for Ruth. The crochet sleeves caught the light, the wind played with her hair, and she looked down at her belly the way you look at someone you are about to meet.

Under the old Canary pine

A little further along the path we found the pine. Next to its huge, cracked trunk Ruth looked tiny, and that was the point: a new life, held for a moment by a very old one.

Just the two of them

As the light softened, I stepped back and let them simply be a couple. Forehead to forehead, her head on his shoulder, his hand always finding its way back to the bump. These are the photos that will matter most one day, when their child asks what they were like before. If you love this kind of closeness, have a look at my couples sessions.

Resting in the grass

Seven months is not the moment to stand for two hours, so we made room for rest. Ruth lay back in the dry grass, hat tilted, and smiled straight into the lens. Some of my favourite portraits of the evening came from that pause.

A silhouette at sunset

The last minutes belonged to the sun. A small bouquet of dried flowers, the light behind her, and finally only her shape against the sky: the hat, the bump, the hills of Tenerife.

What Ruth wore

Ruth chose a long cream crochet dress and a wide-brim straw hat with a ribbon. Her partner wore a white polo shirt and light beige trousers. Soft, neutral tones sit beautifully in the golden grass and never compete with the landscape. If you are not sure what to bring, read my tips on what to wear for your shoot.

Planning a maternity photoshoot in Tenerife

• When in your pregnancy: Ruth was seven months pregnant, when the bump shows beautifully and moving is still comfortable.
• Time of day: we started about an hour and a half before sunset and finished with the last light.
• Duration: Ruth chose my two-hour session with video.
• North or south: in summer the inland north offers fresher air, golden meadows and pine forests; the south offers beaches and volcanic landscapes.
• Partner: always welcome, for portraits together and a few of you alone.
• What to bring: comfortable shoes for the walk, water, and one or two outfits.
• Delivery: your edited gallery arrives within 7–10 working days.

You can find every option in my maternity packages and prices.

If you are expecting and dreaming of a maternity photosession in Tenerife, write to me or send me a message on WhatsApp: I would love to hear your story.