Expecting a new baby is an exciting moment in every woman’s life. The feeling of growing new life makes every new mother glow and shine. And what a better time and way to capture the joy and excitement than maternity portrait session. If you are choosing to document this very special time, make sure you prepare yourself as much as possible to get the most out of your photographs. The information  below serves as a simple guide to help you to get ready for your maternity photo session. The more prepared you are for the day, the more smoothly your shoot will go. 

CHOOSE PHOTOGRAPHER WISELY

The most important advice of all when it comes to your maternity photos - CHOOSE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE STYLE YOU LOVE. There are many different styles out there, so book the one you connect with. Do you prefer in-the-home lifestyle maternity, studio maternity or natural and airy outdoor session? By choosing your photographer by style, you can be assured that you will get images you want.

PICK THE BEST TIME
I recommend to schedule your session is between 28 and 36 weeks of your pregnancy. During that time, woman’s belly has a lovely round shape. After the 36th week most women start to feel uncomfortable during the session. 

YOUR NEEDS  ARE UNIQUE 
It’s a good idea to discuss with me any ideas about poses, look, location or props you might have in mind. Sure as the maternity portrait photographer I would have the experience and suggestions for you, but every client is unique. Your needs and expectations are unique. If you have collected any maternity portrait examples, send it to me before session.  There are so many great examples on the web: Pinterest or blogs. Visual examples are easy to understand and discuss. 

PAMPER YOURSELF

Enjoy it while you can and this is the perfect excuse for it. Get your nails and toes ready for the shoot. Fix your hair nicely, maybe some light curls.
Do your makeup. Put a little more than what you normally would as usually the pictures tend to not reflect the makeup. If you don't know how to do your makeup ask your Photographer if they know anyone they can recommend. The purpose of this is for you to feel the best you can.
I know for me, I felt that my last pregnancy made me feel 5 years older. Getting all dolled up helped a lot with self confidence and to feel comfortable in front of the camera.

WHAT TO WEAR

Wear whatever you feel comfortable and pretty in. Wear things that are flattering to your body and show off the main reason for this session, your bump!
- MAXI DRESS - a maxi dress is incredibly comfortable and it looks amazing on any pregnant body because it’s incredibly flattering. It covers up anything you don’t want shown, but can also be pulled against the belly to show off your adorable baby bump. The flowing fabric looks amazing in the wind and creates a lot of movement in a still photo. You certainly can’t go wrong wearing a maxi dress for your shoot.

- TIGHT CLOTHING  - If you are comfortable with wearing tight clothing and don’t mind showing off all of your gorgeous pregnant body curves, opt for a beautiful tight bodycon dress. They look absolutely stunning on pregnant women because they truly show off the amazing body of the pregnant body. Tight top and trousers works really well as well.

 - SOLID COLOURS - Since the main focus in your maternity shoot is your bump, then don’t let anything take attention away form that, like a pattern or print. Wear solid colours for your bump to stand out the most. If you feel solid colours are too boring, then bring in some fun, bright and bold accessories like necklaces and scarves.
 - BELT - An easy way to make that bump stand out a little more is to add a belt between your breast and belly. Wear things that are tight around your belly.
- CHOOSE TWO DIFFERENT OUTFITS - I always suggest to my clients to come with 2 or 3 different options to a shoot. You will have two different looks. Always go with the casual and dressy option. Dressy doesn’t necessarily mean suit and dress, but just something a little nicer that jeans and a fitted tee. Remember to always choose clothing that is true to your style and personality. 

SESSION AT YOUR HOME

Do not become stressed out about my coming to your home. I am here to help you in any way that I can and capture beautiful images of you and your beautiful bump. 

- LOCATION - I mostly shoot in the living room, master bedroom or nursery. If you could remove few unnecessary items from these rooms and located close to the windows or bed, that would be brilliant; your photos will look much better without busy background. I might be moving furniture, but I will put it all back when we are through!
- BEDDING - There is nothing more simple and gorgeous than a new family cuddled up in bed together. I often suggest to move the session to your bedroom. If that is something that appeals to you, then I
recommend white to light cream or neutral and solid bedding to keep things light and airy (or something that is not too busy).
- LOVELY LIGHT - Please open all of the blinds and curtains in your home prior to my arrival. This enables me to find the best source of natural light in your home. Nothing flatters like natural light, so I prefer to use it whenever possible. When I arrive, I will walk through your home looking for the best light and that is where we’ll do a majority of the shoot. Sometimes the best location ends up being a foyer, by the backdoor or kitchen, usually wherever there is a large window.

THE WAY YOUR PHOTOS WILL BE DISPLAYED 
Make sure to let your photographer know in advance, what is the final use of your photos: it makes a difference if you going to keep these images private (in your bedroom, or share with only close family members) or display in public (in your living room or share online with all of your friends).  The shooting style is different for clients, who ordering Wall Art or large format prints and different for photo albums, where you create a photo story that a single images.

HAVING COMPANY IS FUN
I encourage bringing your husband and older children to your session. Having others be part of your session allows the photographer to create full of emotions family images and it is a great time for your older children to show the love for your unborn baby. If you plan to have them all, plan to have your children photographed first and arrange for someone to take them home after that. You would need the privacy and quiet time for images with your husband or alone. More intimate maternity portraits require you to feel relaxed and undisturbed.

TIPS FOR DADS

Whilst there is always a lot of focus on the woman and her baby bump, attention should also be given to husbands and partners.  New dads get just as excited and have a right to shine too.
Here are ideas on what a man should wear to a maternity photo session:
- Dark Pants, if possible. Jeans, beige or khaki pants are fine.
- Light coloured shirts. A lovely simple plain white/light coloured shirt always looks fresh. Cotton and linen are both great choices.
- A classical white or black crew-neck top or jumper is also a great idea.
- Solid colours. Just like women, avoid loud bright colours or wild patterns.  
- Layers are great options and help to create different looks.
- For a more casual look, wear a polo shirt.  Tuck into a nice pair of pants with a belt.
And men, don’t forget to have a freshly shaved face or trim your beard.  Just like women, make sure your nails are clean and hair styled just as you like it!

More helpful articles:

What to wear for maternity photography session

Ideal dresses for your Maternity Shoot