Tips for Maternity Photos
Tips for Perfect Outdoor Maternity Photoswith Your Family
Congratulations on your growing family! The nursery is almost ready and you’re anxiously awaiting your baby’s big arrival. Things may feel busy now, but when you close your eyes, you can perfectly imagine your sweet baby looking up at you, and imagine holding them in your arms.
This chapter of life is such a whirlwind of emotions, joy, and anticipation. It is a huge journey of transformation for every parent. And even though the days may feel long, the year will fly be SO quickly. The powerful journey of pregnancy soon becomes the life-changing journey of baby’s first year. There are SO many milestones to be captured here, both for you as an individual; for your family as a unit; and for your sweet Little One, too!
In this blog post I will be sharing everything you need to know about capturing maternity photos, especially in a gorgeous outdoor location. Read along to see my tips, tricks, and FAQ’s about Maternity photos.
When should I take Maternity Photos?
The best time to schedule maternity photos is at the end of the second trimester, or the early beginning of the third trimester. Generally photographers agree that the best time can range from 30-34 weeks. You don’t want to wait too late in the pregnancy to schedule your maternity photos because sometimes babies can arrive early.
What should I wear for my Maternity Pictures?
You should definitely plan to wear a long flowing dress or skirt. Wear something that makes you feel beautiful, stunning, radiant, and confident. This is a very special occasion! A maxi dress with a train is a great choice for your maternity images. Choose minimal patterns, and something classic and timeless.
Where can I buy gorgeous Maternity Dresses for my photos?
Great question! You can find gorgeous Maternity Dresses perfect for your photoshoot at stores like Lulus, Shein, PinkBlush, A Pea in the Pod, Hatch, Joyfolie, BalticBorn, and many more. Many clients order maternity gowns from Etsy, too.
I encourage my mamas to reflect carefully on their maternity gown choice. Sometimes women are hesitant to spend extra money on a nice dress, knowing they won’t wear it very often—which I completely understand. But a nice, flattering dress is a really important element of a beautiful maternity gallery, and I want to ensure you love your photos and feel gorgeous in them!
I also have maternity friendly gowns available to borrow! Please reach out if you’d like to borrow a dress. All dresses are dry-cleaned between use.
I love this soft pink, solid, flowing dress this Mama chose for her Maternity Photos! She dressed her boys in neutral earth tones which are a perfect compliment to her Pink dress. Choosing neutral, subtle colors allows the focus of these photos to fall on their beautiful interactions and this stunning landscape. Loud, busy, or bright clothing can be distracting and visually overwhelming.
How to dress the family for Maternity Photos:
Dressing the rest of the family for your Maternity photoshoot is exactly like dressing your family for any other family photoshoot. Dress in a complimentary color palette without matching perfectly. I always recommend my families to wear solid, neutral palettes: white, cream, gray, beige, soft pastels, khaki, and other neutral earth tones. If Mama is opting to wear a bright color dress (like radiant red or mustard yellow), it is especially important that the rest of the family wears soft, neutral colors.
Dressing guys is usually very easy. Typically dads and little boys can wear khaki pants with a white, gray, or baby blue shirt, and brown shoes (no tennis shoes.)
This mama is perfectly modeling the “under under” hand position. Both of her hands are under her belly, holding her sweet baby inside. The alternative placement is “over under” with one hand underneath and one hand on the top. This hand placement frames the beautiful belly and draws attention to this special occasion!
How to Pose for Maternity Photos
I promise, posing for Maternity photos is SO easy! Honestly you really need to remember only two things: one, hold your belly, and two, bend the knee closest to the camera. Truthfully, that’s it!
There are two ways to hold your belly: both hands holding the bottom of your tummy, and one hand holding the bottom and one hand holding at the top. And that’s all you need to know! I’ll be handling the rest of the posing and guiding during the session.
I will take photos of you individually, with your spouse, and with the whole family (if you already have a Little One!) Just like all my photos, I will encourage you to relax and interact naturally with your partner and the rest of your family. I don’t want anything becoming to feel forced or stiff. We will likely try lots of different arrangements and areas for your photos, so you can have a big final gallery to choose from!
More Tips for Maternity Photos:
Are you coming with your family? I recommend reading this comprehensive blog post:
Check out my checklist filled with 30+ tips for great family photos! In this checklist I cover everything from what to bring, how to plan, how to dress, and what to expect. It is an invaluable resource for families planning photoshoots.
Still deciding which photographer to choose for capturing this milestone?
5 Tips For Choosing a Photographer
Learn More about me and my process!
The Art of Editing and 10 Things You Might Not Know About Me
Ready to book beautiful maternity photos? Click below to get in touch!