Maternity photoshoots capture the beauty of expectant mothers and the anticipation of a new life. As a professional maternity photographer, I understand the importance of choosing the right wardrobe to make your photos truly memorable.
Whether you’re a first time mother or an expectant partner planning your maternity photo session, this guide will help you make the right clothing choices.
Top 10 tips for what to wear at your maternity photo shoot
1. Embrace Your Body: Maternity photos should highlight your changing body. Opt for clothing that accentuates your curves, such as maxi dresses and fitted tops. These styles showcase your baby bump beautifully. Crop tops can also be a great choice for a trendy look.
2. Keep It Simple: Minimalist attire works wonders for maternity photos. Solid-coloured dresses and outfits with neutral backgrounds draw attention to your baby bump, creating elegant and timeless images. Avoid busy patterns or prints that may distract from the main focus. As colours, one or two colour for each outfit should be enough. Black, white, cream, denim are the classics, but you can opt for bolder colours, such as burgundy, blue, light purple.
3. Declutter for Clean Shots: Before the photoshoot, I always recommend tidying up the shooting area, whether it’s in chosen location or at home. Removing any distractions, will ensure a clean and uncluttered background to let your baby bump shine.
4. Choose the Right Underwear: Undergarments play a crucial role in maternity photography. I recommend bringing two to three sets of underwear in neutral colours like white, black, or skin tone. For more intimate or nude shots, opt for plain and simple underwear to avoid visible textures or patterns under dresses.
5. The Importance of a Bandeau: Consider getting a bandeau or tube top to wear during your session. It provides coverage while keeping your look clean and elegant. These can be especially useful for silhouette shots.
6. Dress Comfortably Before the Shoot: If you plan having semi-nude photos, wear loose-fitting clothing before the session to prevent any marks on your skin. Pyjamas for an hour or so before the shoot can help ensure your skin is mark-free.
7. Embrace Stretch Marks: Every mother’s journey is unique. Some embrace their stretch marks as beautiful “tiger stripes” while others prefer to edit them out. I respect either choice, and it’s all about what makes you feel confident and comfortable.
8. Decide on the Look: Would you like more formal shots, perhaps with your partner dressed in a shirt and trousers while you wear a maternity gown? Or are you leaning towards a more casual, relaxed style? Your wardrobe choices should align with your desired outcome.
9. Show Off Tattoos: If you or your partner have tattoos, don’t hesitate to show them off. Tattoos can add a unique and personal touch to your maternity photos. Let your photographer know, and they can incorporate creative poses to highlight them.
10. Consider Renting Dresses: For those special, colourful dresses you may not wear again, consider renting them. This option can be more cost-effective than purchasing a dress you might only wear once.
Of course most of these tips/recommendations will guide you into deciding what you want from your maternity photography session. And I will always ask you beforehand what you want to get from your photo shoot and I will advice accordingly.
What to wear to your maternity photo shoot as a mother
| Showing off the bare belly | Crop top & jeans Dress with a slit in the front Underwear only Crop top & long skirt |
| Concerned about body shape/marks | Long-sleeve dresses Fuller volume dresses Dress with a slit in case you would like to show the belly but conceal the rest of the body Dark tone dresses/clothes |
| Semi-nudes | See-through tops Lingerie bodysuits Well-fitted underwear Comfortable underwear, a loose top and loungewear perhaps Underwear with lace details |
| Floaty fabric look | Wear plain underwear, preferably in a light colour. Wear long floaty fabrics or dresses (can be silk or cotton) |
What to wear to your maternity photo shoot as a partner/sibling
When comes to what to wear, I recommended to the partner or siblings to keep in mind two principles: dress for the same occasion and choose complementary colours. Dressing for the same occasion (theme) will bring the photos “on the same page” making look more cohesive.
Colour coordination is also an aspect which most of us wouldn’t think about it in our daily life’s. However, in photographs you will see the difference immediately. Thus, I highly recommend putting together a family’s colour scheme on the day. Choose one or two colours that run together. Usually, are colours such as white, cream, denim or black.
| Formal look | Any combo with shirt, jacket and formal trousers. Sometimes, a tie can work well. |
| Casual formal | Jeans and a shirt. |
| Casual | Well-fitted t-shirt and jeans. |
How many outfits should you have for your maternity photo shoot?
Usually I recommend having 2 to 3 outfits for your maternity session. This will add some variety to your gallery and also gives you the opportunity to mix the styles if you want to. For example, you can have a casual outfit, a more formal dress and a lingerie one; or you can have one style with three different outfits, like three gowns.
Your maternity photography images
Your photographs will be ready to view in an online gallery, approximately 1 week after our photo shoot. You will receive at least 7 edited digital files included in the most basic package. The remaining images in your gallery can be purchased as digital files, using an upgrade fee. Your gallery will be live for 7 days for you to make your selections.
To book your session today, you need to pay the £85 session fee.
I’m looking forward to meet you and to capture the magic of your family.
