Best Maternity Photo Ideas: Classy Poses and Outfit Inspiration for Your Pregnancy Photo Shoot
Pregnancy is a special moment in a woman’s (and couple’s) life and it’s a moment that couples want to cherish forever.
Although sometimes, the nine months of pregnancy seem like an eternity as you wait for your baby to arrive while dealing with all sorts of unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy, it does come to an end.
Nine months is not enough for all the sweet memories to stay with you forever and the next best thing is to capture those moments in photos.
Of course, pregnancy photos don’t have to be professionally done if you are not willing to fork out a few hundred dollars on a photo shoot.
There are ways to DIY your maternity photos by having a friend take photos with a good camera and simply being creative in the way you take photos daily.
How to decide on the type of maternity photo shoot
As you may already know, there are many ways to take photos of your beautiful belly as well as locations, outfits to choose from, and poses to strike.
So, your next question may then be, what types of photos and poses should I use? Where should I take maternity photos? What should I wear? How exactly do you decide on what kind of maternity photos to ask your photographer for?
The answers really depend on the weather, your preferences (e.g. indoor versus outdoor), what you feel comfortable wearing, and much more.
These inspirational photos of pregnant couples, baby bumps, and poses are all done in different settings and with various lighting. So have a look at each of them to see what makes you go “that’s perfect.”
That’s the only way you will know what will suit you and your partner – by looking at what’s already out there and even adjusting it to your liking.
You may also like to choose different settings for consecutive pregnancies. For example, I chose a simple studio photoshoot with my husband with us both wearing white shirts and denim for the first pregnancy.
But the second time around, I went with a brightly colored dress that was snug around my bump and we took those photos outdoors and on the lakeside. Both photoshoots turned out perfect in their own unique way.
So this is something you can keep in mind if you plan on having more kids… especially if you disagree about the types of maternity photos to take. 😉
Let’s get started.
Best Maternity Photo Ideas: Classy Poses and Outfit Inspiration for Your Pregnancy Photoshoot
Intimate and couple maternity photo shoot
Maternity photos are not just about the baby but also about celebrating your love for each other and your new family to be.
It’s a celebration of the transition from being just the two of you to becoming three (or in some cases, four or five) – you get the idea! HA!
For some couples, the whole theme is set around photos together. For others, it’s a combination of both individual photos of the mom-to-be as well as couple photos. It’s really up to you, but I recommend both.
Here are some ideas for a couple and intimate pregnancy photo shoot ideas:
This photo captures your amazing baby bump sideways which really highlights the shape of your belly. But it also has both of you in the pictures – with your partner’s hands on your bump and your hands on top of his.
Quick tip – When choosing your outfit for these types of photos, try to stick with light colors and maybe a pop of color. It also helps to have some color coordination with both of your outfits (the red in the photo above looks great).
This intimate pregnancy photo is enhanced by the silhoutte effect. Although you can try to DIY this type of photo, I have to warn you it’s quite hard to get the lighting just right. You’re better off going with a professional if you want this kind of photoshoot.
In a similar fashion as the one before, but this time, the woman is facing the camera and looking down at her belly. Front-facing photos are good to have since they capture your facial expression and emotion.
Outdoor photography can super simple but classy like the one above. This photo is a classic maternity pose with the woman leaning against either a wall, tree or something similar, and the man gazing at her.
The focus here is on the baby bump, with both of them embracing the belly from all sides. It’s a great way to capture the third trimester bump – be proud of it!
Photos with cute tiny baby shoes are everywhere, so this one shouldn’t be a big surprise. However, it’s still a classic. You can also use other props instead of shoes, such as a small soft toy (teddy bear) or even flowers. However, you probably want the pose slightly different if you go for these options. See below.
By the way, if you still haven’t decided on what color to wear, white always looks great in photos – both indoors and outdoors.
Quick tip – Maternity photos should be done in the margins of the day, either sunset or sunrise. This gives your photos the perfect lighting and it’s really easy for your photographer (or good friend) to take nice photos.
By the time we hit the third trimester, most of us can’t stand the thought of sitting without a little support. Find a big tree or something else to lean on when doing photos like this.
Or sit on a chair instead – so much more comfortable. This photo boasts classic neutral colors too.
Holiday pregnancy photoshoot
If you’re pregnant through the holidays, you may not think it to be so enjoyable especially if you’re in the uncomfortable third trimester phase.
But, why not try to embrace it instead by getting dressed up and taking a Christmas photo with your partner. You never know, you might just end up enjoying it.
Photo idea for announcing a pregnancy
We’ve already mentioned putting the baby bump as a focus point. In the same way, ultrasound photos are also great for a photoshoot, especially if you want to use your photo as a pregnancy announcement.
Funny pregnancy photos
There are plenty of ways to have a little fun while taking these photos. From writing some quirky remarks on your bump and his beer belly to doing a mid-air high jump pose (maybe not you though!).
Either way, when you infuse your photo session with humor and laughter, it relaxes both of you and you end up getting those freshly candid snapshots that everyone adores!
Outdoor or lakeside / beach photos for pregnancy
Want to rock your swimmers for the photoshoot? Why not! You can even wear a kimono if you want a little extra coverage.
Photos by the water always look great. Outdoor photos can also be done elsewhere of course. Having photos while walking with your partner gives you candid photos without you having to try to “act natural.”
Maternity family photoshoot
If you have other kids, you will likely want to include them in the photoshoot. For family photos, outdoors usually look and work better especially if you have a toddler that needs to run around to keep entertained.
Pregnancy photos of mom-to-be
White chiffon shawl makes for a good silhouette photo whether that be in a studio or on the beach. You will need a bit of help from someone to keep the shawl from falling off mid-shoot.
A dress with an open front like this one shows off your bump while offering good coverage of the legs and hips.
This outfit is a good compromise if you want to do a boudoir style photoshoot but want to avoid nude or almost nude photos. Not every woman is comfortable with those, and that’s okay.
Here is a simple black and white photo of a pregnant woman. Again, that’s one you should leave for the pros 🙂
In case you haven’t already thought about it, you might want to think about asking your photographer for a few black and white photos – they’re absolute classics.
Pregnancy photo with a dog
Isn’t this photo so cute? If you have a four-legged friend, you might have thought of including them in the photoshoot. This winter photo is simple but sweet.
And that’s a wrap! Hope you enjoyed this roundup of maternity photography ideas.
Please share by pinning this on Pinterest or sharing it on Facebook, Twitter or wherever else your pregnant friends find themselves scrolling 🙂
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