Pregnant pix

haha cool!

oh and having pictures with the fathers is nice too

oh yeah baby...

Actually I'm more surprised that this "maternity photo studio" isn't using an L lens for the photo shoot. Surely they should be investing in better lenses.

Well most of the time this kind of narcissism is harmless, but I note that her hair is tinted, and wonder if there are any scientific studies fetal absorption of such chemicals. Will the newborn have chapatsu?

Nice.

yuck

Jeeze, she's let herself go a bit :-D

Absolutely beautiful.....Japanese women look so sexy when pregnant!

Posing nude in front of a professional photographer seems to me like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of these people. Why start now? I'd say it’s disgusting. I hope they're not planning to show this around to relatives and friends or to the child when they grow up...

It's not disgusting, it's beautiful! I love the way pregnant women look (not sexually...) and it's a wonderful memory to keep. The pic above could be done better but meh.

thepro: why yuck ??????? I think it's a wonderful idea to have your pregnant belly pictures taken.. how many times would Japanese women get pregnant in their lifetime? great memory to cherish.

Yuk! is right. Its a very scary sight.

ewww

Yeah, jokes aside, not something I want to capture with photos.

Pregnant nude photography: definitely a (celebratory) form of art for me.

Exclusive!!!

So, do we have Britney Spears to thank for this one? I recall her causing quite a stir a few years ago with a semi-nude photo spread for Harper's Bazzar that was subsequently used as a poster ad in Japanese train stations. At some point they were either covered up or removed altogether. Geesh...what next?!

By the way, my vote is for "YUCK!!"

Nearly NSFW image on the front page.

TSRnow

I hope they're not planning to show this around to relatives and friends or to the child when they grow up...

Quite the contrary. It's wonderful for children to see (tasteful) photos of their mother while she was pregnant with them and to see how happy she was while carrying them in her body. Makes them appreciate their mother's love more IMO.

Nice face! But those legs ... ugh!

The problem with this is that by treating pregnancy as a once in a lifetime "event," they aren't focused on the idea that pregnancy is the beginning a hopefully long and fruitful life of another human being, one that the presence and love of the mother is an absolute necessity. Getting pregnant is not something to do to keep up with jones'.

This photo is very selfish if you ask me, and discounts the importance of the life growing in her belly.

@bamboohat Your reasoning is unfounded. Why should this woman not keep photographic memories from when she was preggers?! There's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Scroll down so you can't see her face and you'd swear you were looking at Asashoryu...

Well there are beautiful pregnant women and there are pregnant women

owaaaaaa. legs like tree trunks

wasn't there a better pose? Is the belly supposed to be pointy like that?

it's either the belly button or one of those big ole cocoa pops

lets hope the photographer does a better job than this.

It is possible to take a photo from the belly while still wearing bra and underwear. Then it might be even more beautiful, because it gives a better contrast.

her feet are huggggeeee

I took some photos of my wife wearing a camisole when she was pregnant. Used natural light for the whole thing and the results were great. This whole studio thing is a bit gaudy for my taste, but to each their own.

My former husband took pictures of my "watermelon belly" and my two watermelon babies were all over 8.5 lbs...

Is the belly supposed to be pointy like that?

Another reason this kind of photo is good- it teaches some people what a normal pregnant woman actually looks like. Yes, her belly is supposed to be like that. At some point the navel basically turns inside out due to the pressure from the growing fetus, and that is what you are seeing there. Totally normal.

Yes indeed, how dare a woman celebrate the changes to her body while pregnant. She should stay at home and cover up with vast swathes of material so that her huge, disgusting body not offend any of your delicate sensibilities. Really, is there anyone you people won't insult? Fair enough, have opinions on whether or not maternity photography is a good thing or not, but to go to town on a pregnant woman's body like some of the comments above is loathsome.

Ignorant is the only way I can describe the words of some people here. As men we don't even begin to feel the beauty women do when they are with child. A little off putting to look at for me too but I fully support it. For them it is one of if not the most important memory of their lives.

keepcalm / virgo: A woman can celebrate her body anyway she wants, you can feel or see the beauty in a pregnant woman that's upto you, but I am entitled to my own opinion and I don't have to like it.

What gogogo said. I personally think the idea of nude photography is great, whether pregnant, fat, thin, ugly or pretty. But so long as a woman is willing to be photographed in the buff - and particularly in a non-conventional way most people aren't used to seeing but which will be posted online for the entire planet to see - I think you can expect some criticism or otherwise silly comments. Who cares.

Item:

1) Lady does, indeed, have tree-trunk legs. (Not that that is terrible or anything, but its not really up for debate.)

2) Nothing wrong with taking a picture of yourself pregnant to celebrate the event; No women need be ashamed of her body when pregnant. She looks radiant/joyful, so good on her.

3) You will have to accept that there are a good number of guys who don't particularly want to look at naked pictures of some random pregnant lady. (they might feel different if it was their girlfriend/wife, but...) Those guys should try to be a bit more polite with their comments (or better yet, silent) but to expect them do do a little dance celebrating "the miricale of birth" or the wonderous-ness of the female body is a bit much.

Those guys should try to be a bit more polite with their comments (or better yet, silent)

sod that. it's a forum. this photo was deliberately chosen to instigate comments. if people want to say either bleeeuch or get all huggy either are better than nothing

bamboohat you said it well. I agree with the many who say that it is something personal. Would you like the whole world to see when you are making love? Maybe some do. But in all cultures this is something personal and not a thing for public display.

Totally normal

thank goodness it's not any unusual deformation. Thnx 4 the explanation

I think it's nice, something I wouldn't do myself but to each his on. As for her legs, she's pregnant people! Some women body parts swell up during a pregnancy, it's natural.

And just because she's taking a picture doesn't mean she's selfish, maybe she wants a memento of a wonderful time in her life.

I think there is ZERO wrong here. You have a woman who is absolutely beautiful in her pregnancy, showing off what nature gave her. Sometimes with all the taboos we place on society we forget that we are still natural beings and that natural processes such as pregnancy should be celebrated, not hidden. No, I'm not suggesting that pregnant ladies frolic around in the nude in public, but if a woman wants to mark her progress in what is entirely natural with some nude photos, all the power to her.

yeah I have the same fetish as smith. there is ZERO wrong here.

Not something I would ever do (have a child), but it is quite awe-inspiring when you think about what's really happening here: she has a human being inside of her. She's just a regular woman, and yet she's created another person. That is something to celebrate and mark, and yes - she's going to need those sturdy legs. She'll be carrying a baby, diaper bag and purse soon.

I look forward to photographing my pregnant wife! =D "This is what you looked like before you were born, a big lump in mommy!" Hahah, good times.

I think it's good the ladies are doing this.

wassamatter?? I was pointing out that celebrities's pics (i.e. Demi Moore, etc) were usually taken from the front, so that the belly didn't look pointy like this one here. what the hey

Truly a most memorable and personal moment in life and worthy of documentation. I wouldn't call the photo above a nude portrait although it is a portrait. Congratulations to the expectant mother and child.

sod that. it's a forum. this photo was deliberately chosen to instigate comments. if people want to say either bleeeuch or get all huggy either are better than nothing

You know, they say: "If you can't say something nice..."

Excellent!

Tree-trunk legs? Well, I'm assuming she's Japanese... not exactly known for their long, slim legs! But seriously, her legs look bad, but as for the pregnant bit, good for her. I'm sure her partner would love the pic. I'm also sure the pic is not really taken for that many other people to look at critically...

An increasing number of women who have just one child later in life are flocking to photo studios

Well, this may be one way to curb the declining birthrate in Japan. It seems that women here sometimes follow the latest fads, and if this is really starting to become popular, maybe it will lead to more women having babies. Hopefully, they will be the ones in a stable relationship, and not just doing it becuase it is the latest "fad" thing to do.

Hopefully, the really young impressionalble ones will not just get pregnant to get the photos made, and then abandon the baby like was done in a story here a few days ago.

Tree-trunk legs? Well, I'm assuming she's Japanese... not exactly known for their long, slim legs!

I looove Japanese legs. But actually, this photo was taken with a wide angle lense (hehehe).

Such lenses have the nasty side effect of distorting the perimeter of the photo. As a result, her legs have been stretched horizontally. Her over-sized right foot confirms this. It's all messed up. She will look different in real life...

I am interested in the amount of people saying "yuck". Yuck in what sense? I can understand that it may not be erotic for many people, but the human form is beautiful and women are often at their most beautiful when pregnant, particularly in the later stages, when they bloom for some reason.

The "yuck" crowd to me are those who are most unable to deal with nature - the kind of people who object to breast-feeding in public and who feel that all hair on the female, except that on the head, is in someway repulsive, unnatural and should be removed.

You know, they say: "If you can't say something nice..."

I never really listen to 'they' but if you want to that's all hunkydory. it's ok, some people need someone to hold their hand and point things out for them.

Ah_so: Yes, no one wants to see a woman breastfeeding in public, you might like it, sure it's natural but so is farting and people don't do that in public.

Each to their own, don't write off other people because they have a different opinion.

The "yuck" crowd to me are those who are most unable to deal with nature - the kind of people who object to breast-feeding in public and who feel that all hair on the female, except that on the head, is in someway repulsive, unnatural and should be removed.

nature and civilisation are not compatible. how's that? better?

Sorry to those who don't like it, but it's lovely, and she's lovely. How nice for a woman to celebrate her womanhood! We all should be so honest with ourselves and our bodies.

I just love pregnant women! Such beauties!

"her legs look bad"

They do not.

I just think "big deal" - Demi Moore did it like close to 20 years ago and then it was a bit of a shocker but now it is so old and uncontroversial. I say each to their own but I will say her leg would make a front row forward proud!

My wife and I took the same type of photos (together) when she was about 8 months' pregnant. Both in lingerie and not. Black and White photos came out the best, they just looked damn elegant. A great way to mark the first page of a family photo album.

I have a lot of respect for the lady who is being photographed. It takes guts to let it all 'hang out', especially for a Japanese lady. Good for her, I hope her man appreciates what a catch she is!

Good for them!

She is lovely. Lucky father of the child!

An increasing number of women who have just one child later in life are flocking to photo studios to have their pregnant bellies photographed to celebrate their bodies during a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

it's a bit like meeting Mickey in TDL, you won't get another chance, get the cameras out.

I think it's a great photo. Good on her and any other expectant mother who wants to have this done.

I like the picture as well. It shows the beauty of getting pregnant and the joy of the new mother. Thinks the neo prudes of the world want to inflict their views on the world.

I think its wonderful. Most women with children feel they've completed one of the most important steps in their womanhood. Most (respectable) men feel more like they've also completed this important step when they become fathers too. For those of you in the "I feel repulsed" crowd, how many of you have children or a pregnant wife? Just out of curiousity.

Calling pregnancy a "once in a lifetime experience" suggests that the Japanese are a doomed people, unable or unwilling to have enough kids to maintain their race. Just a poor choice of expression, perhaps?

And for all the women who have had children and would still comment on her legs, I would guess you havent enjoyed your pregnancies as much as you can. Her legs are very in proportion to her body, the pose is, well, from a un-pregnant womans view perhaps. I still think too, better shots involve the father, and more sitting....but this is JT, and it gives the best shot for commenting.

Beautiful. An attempt to capture the miracle of child development taking place inside the womb. Very nice and good for her that she wants to capture this experience.

USNinJapan2,

It's wonderful for children to see (tasteful) photos of their mother while she was pregnant with them and to see how happy she was while carrying them in her body. Makes them appreciate their mother's love more IMO.

Yes, but it doesn't have to be nude! Where I come from, pregnancy is not that open. I don't oppose to people doing it at home, but making this a business is crazy.

I personally would not want to see my mother pose nude pregnant or not.

If they want those photos then that's fine for them. Why does anyone else really care. Personally I dislike seeing it and don't see anything beautiful about it but I'm not the recipient of the photos so it's fine. I don't think others have any reason to be prudish about it try to get others who want these done to feel ashamed. Can't everyone just let others enjoy what they want if it doesn't harm anyone?

I think its a great idea, I've taken photos of my own wife who is pregnant, its something i want to remember as well. There are lots of rude individuals here. I agree that is a personal thing, but they had this on tv about a month ago. Many woman have done it, as well as having their husbands involved in the photo shoot (thank go he wore clothes). Its natural, but still agree it should be a personal choice, having it JT/TV isn't for everyone.

My wife is pregnant, and the only reason I could think of to take a photo of her in this state at all, is to have a record of "Oh yeah, I remember this part of my life." However, WE (key word) both think shes fat and cant wait to get that kid out so she can go back to her old self. I for one would not like to see photos of fat chicks, no matter what the cause of said fat.

I think this a beautiful, capturing a women carrying a baby inside her. Its a wonderful thing :)

Too bad when the baby comes out its coming into a screwed up world.

I can see why a pregnant woman would want to record her (hopefully!) temporary pregnant shape as a future memory. I`m 8 months right now, and it is a strange and wonderful feeling that transcends what many people would describe as "beauty" - like your body is fulfilling a higher purpose and suddenly the short fat legs that people seem to love to point out here are just so unimportant.

On the other hand, I am hot, tired, have appalling leg cramps at times, and have to go with DarkKnghtZ and his wife on this one - that sometimes it really is no fun being a "fat chick"!

But to all the people - especially the guys - who have made constructive respectful comments about this woman and the whole idea of pregnancy - thank you! I am doing my best against the odds to look and feel as good as I can right now, and people like you are giving me hope that I am not putting poor innocent salarymen off their counter ramen as I waddle past the shop!