Elegant white cursive letter 'L' and 'B' on a black background.

MATERNITY SESSION ADVICE

WHAT TO WEAR

A happy couple standing under a blooming pink cherry blossom tree, with the woman touching her pregnant belly.

Get Dressed Up

Your maternity shoot is a perfect excuse to have fun and get dressed up! There is no such thing as being “too dressy” for your photos! Here’s some outfit inspiration.

A pregnant woman and a man sitting on the beach, smiling and embracing near the shoreline.

Start with Fancy

Some couples want to wear two outfits, one fancy and one casual (or two fancy looks). You’ll need to book a 1.5 or 2-hour session to have time to change. I recommend starting with the fancier outfit so you don’t have to worry about wrinkles! 

A black-and-white photo of a man and woman holding hands, standing under an ornate stone archway with stained glass windows in the background. The woman is pregnant, wearing a fitted dress, and the man is wearing glasses, a button-down shirt, and jeans.

Coordinate, Don’t Match

The goal is for your outfits to coordinate, not match. A good idea is to have only one person wear a pattern (if that’s your thing) or wear white, not both.

HOW TO PREP

Close-up of a pregnant woman wearing a light blue dress with a bow, gently cradling her baby bump with her hands. She is wearing a wedding ring and has manicured nails.

Get your Nails Done

A pregnant woman with blonde hair smiling and looking to the side, standing among pink flowering bushes in a garden.

I will take many shots of your hands on the bump during your shoot. And your maternity photos are a great excuse to treat yourself to a mani / pedi!

Hair and Makeup

This is the fun part! I always encourage my couples to make sure that they feel their very best. If you don’t love doing your own hair and makeup, this may be the perfect opportunity to give professional hair and makeup a shot! 

A couple is holding and kissing their dog outdoors on a sunny day.

Bringing Your Dog

I love it when pups come along! When dogs are at a photo session, I highly recommend that you ask a family member or friend to come along. We'll capture photos without your dog too so you'll want someone to tend to your dog while we shoot.

LOCATION, TIME, WEATHER

A pregnant woman and a man walking on the beach, smiling and talking to each other.

Location

When it comes to picking your location, pick a spot that means something special to you! 

Pregnant woman with red hair in a denim jacket and a white dress, standing outdoors near water, holding her belly and smiling, with city skyline in the background.

Timing

The best time to shoot portraits is 1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset. This applies to any time of the year. We want to capture your photos with the prettiest natural light.

A pregnant woman dressed in a white lace dress and tan heeled sandals stands under a blooming tree, gently holding her baby bump and smiling while looking down outdoors.

Avoiding Tourists

Choosing an iconic NYC location is an amazing idea for your shoot! Having tons of tourists in the background is not so great. To best avoid tourists, I recommend shooting in the early morning.

A pregnant woman with blonde hair in a blue dress holding hands with a man in a checkered shirt and khakis, walking inside a historic building with large windows and decorative balconies.

Entrance and Permit Fees

This may not apply to your shoot, but some parks, gardens, estates, and locations will require an entrance fee or permit. Please research beforehand and make arrangements in advance.

A pregnant woman with long wavy hair and a bright smile holding a young girl who is hugging her belly and smiling with eyes closed. The woman is wearing a teal tank top and a beige pleated skirt, inside an industrial-style room with large windows, exposed brick, and string lights.

Weather

Sunshine and overcast weather are perfect for photos! If rain is in the forecast, you have 3 options.
1) Move forward, bring positive vibes, and get ready to use the clear umbrellas provided by me! 
2) Reschedule and we’ll find another time that works.
3) Move your shoot to an indoor location. 

A pregnant woman and a man stand together near a river, smiling, with trees and historic buildings in the background, during daylight.

Be on Time

This is huge! If you don’t allow for traffic/subway delays that could arise, you may easily be 20 minutes late for your shoot. We have to be mindful of sunlight, especially sunsets. Once the golden hour is over, that beautiful light is gone. I will time your shoot for the best time of the day with the most amazing light so be sure to keep an eye on the clock so we don’t run out of natural light!