The Pregnancy Stage of a Woman’s life is one of the fastest growing developmental times. You are growing a baby – yay you! I know it’s not always comfortable…the cramps, the bloating, the swelling…oh my not feeling so amazing?! It’s ok. My job as a photographer is to make you look and feel amazing for just about an hour. Then you can throw your legs up and eat chocolate the rest of the day!
The best time to schedule your pregnancy session is around 28-34 weeks, when the tummy is nice and round. This will vary with each women – and some women who carry small, or gain little weight may choose to wait until they are 36-38 weeks.You want to come when you feel good, have a nice belly but before the downward venture begins! Other women who are growing a bit more rapidly, may choose to come around 28-32 weeks. The idea is to come when you are nice and comfortable and have a nice round belly. It is best to schedule at least 1-2 weeks in advance. Our studio always leaves room for the expected Mama and new arrivals, so if you near the end of your term and need a session, just call me, so we can get you in!
I get questions on what to wear all the time for maternity sessions, on what to wear and what to bring – not only for the mama to be, but her significant other also. I always try to give a list of guidelines to the mama so that she can prepare the session to be everything she wants it to be and more! Here are a few of those.
What to Wear/Bring
Wear something that expresses who you are! Don’t feel you have any standards to meet – wear something that expresses your personality. Try to stay away from overly busy patterns, and logos; solid colors tend to work best, but don’t be afraid to throw a bit of a pattern or some fun accessories in there!
Long flowy dresses are AMAZING in maternity photos!
Best clothing for a maternity photo shoot
This answers the big questions for women: “What should I wear to my photo shoot?” and, “What should I bring to my pregnancy photography session?“
Wondering what your husband should wear to a maternity shoot? Look Below—
Keep in mind that these are just guidelines. If you love prints and plaid, bring them!
What clothing should I bring to my maternity photo shoot?
- Colors – I like solid colors: white, black, brown, gray. Neutrals make your photos TIMELESS!
- Fabrics – look for thin clingy, not necessarily tight, fabrics with a little stretch.
- Pants – jeans (any color), black pants (yoga pants work well). It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing maternity jeans with a big, stretchy band. I make it all work.
- Dresses – these can be incredibly sophisticated and sexy, but choose carefully. Look for dresses that cling to your shape, not the loose, comfortable style. Dresses with ruching at the side seams work beautifully.
- Tops – I like big, white, button-down, slightly rumpled men’s shirt. Any shirt or cardigan that opens down the front works well.
- Sleeves – Long-sleeved shirts tend to be the most flattering, but sleeveless and spaghetti straps also work.
- Necklines – select v-necks, square necks, turtlenecks or deep scoop necks or off the shoulder.
- Tanks or camisoles – anything clingy, fitted or stretchy in solid colors (white, black, red, blue…)
- Jewelry & watches – in general, avoid them (unless there’s a really good story behind the piece). The BIG exception is wedding and engagement rings! Classic, small and tasteful pieces like pearl or diamond studs make sense and are totally appropriate.
- Special & unique – unusual items like large swaths of fabric in powerful colors like purple, red and royal blue can make for stunning results. Consider saris or large and luxurious scarves. Consider fabrics that are exceptionally sheer or have a little bit of sheen.
What should my husband wear?
- Men should bring jeans or khaki pants or any other dark bottoms.
- I encourage soft (not starched), plain white shirts. Cotton and linen are both great choices.
- Throw a regular, WHITE and/or BLACK crew-neck t-shirt in the bag, too.
- Bring solid, dark colors like black, dark brown, navy blue and charcoal gray tops and bottoms. Layers are great; wear the t-shirt under a crew- or v-neck sweater or jacket.
What else should I bring to my photo shoot?
- Bring large or small props that have meaning. Bring stuffed animals, building blocks, flowers, baby shoes, ultrasound…
- Unusual items: saris, native fabrics, wedding veil
10 things to avoid during your maternity photo shoot
- Colors – avoid yellow, lime green and bright pink. These colors frequently lie outside the color gamut most digital cameras can capture. That means you’ll see a color shift if you choose these colors, especially in print.
- Prints & Patterns – I prefer solid colors, but if you adore prints and plaids and they’re part of your identity, bring them!
- Fabrics – Avoid sharp-edged elastic that you find in lingerie, some camisoles and sock tops. You don’t want any impressions on your skin, especially if you’re going full nude.
- Tube tops – I really don’t like tube tops or bandeaux, but if you like them, I’ll let you wear them 😉
- Baggy – avoid anything that hangs off the belly. It’s really important to capture the under-belly shape.
- Sleeves – Women should avoid t-shirt length sleeves unless they have beautiful, sculpted or very thin upper arms.
- Necklines – Women should avoid all the men’s traditional necklines like crewnecks, polos and button-downs, as well as the sloppy women’s styles like cowlnecks.
- Shoes – You’ll be barefoot for the entire session unless you really want to put the heels on.
- Lingerie – Avoid baby doll lingerie. This is a personal taste thing for me.
- Jewelry – avoid large, clunky, shiny jewelry unless you are making a statement. Jewelry reflections can be very distracting; they can also totally make a photo. Choose appropriately.
- BONUS: stay normal – avoid wearing any type of clothing that is way outside your normal wardrobe. If you dress formally most of the time, you don’t want to exclusively bring simple t-shirts and ripped jeans. Conversely, if you’re nothing but casual, don’t dress up for your maternity shoot. You want to look at your pictures and easily, comfortably relate to the “you” in them.
This session was so perfect! This couple was gorgeous, and THEY found the location to do their photo shoot. We ended up at a horse stable in Penryn, where there was lush greenery and tons of horses, and white fences. The sun set beautifully behind the property and these parents to be. Check out some of their beautiful photos from their session!
