What To Wear For Maternity Photos

There are many options for what to wear for your maternity photos, and as a maternity photographer, I want you to look amazing. What you wear in normal day-to-day life may not look the best for photos, so keep reading for my recommendations. Finally, I include links to my favorite dresses and stores to shop at.

Choose a Flattering Silhouette for Your Maternity Photos

I’m adding this first because it’s the most important. If you stop reading after this tip, at least you will see this one! You want to wear a dress that will give you the most flattering silhouette for your maternity photos. So here is what to look for:
A dress/top that is tight up top means that it is tight to just above the belly.
A dress or skirt that flares out starting just above the belly. You don’t want it to be tight underneath the belly. I know there are a lot of dresses like that, and maybe this is a personal preference, but I love a flowy skirt that allows lots of movement. It looks more flattering and gives you something to play with/swish around.
The length should be to the floor. It's not much longer than that because you don’t want to trip on it (unless you plan an epic, long dress for just a small portion of the session). And it’s okay if it’s midi-length if you want to show off your shoes. But typically a floor-length dress looks more romantic and flowy.
And when I say these recommendations, I’m talking about your main dress. You can bring another completely different outfit, but for the main part of the session, this is what I love best.

What Color Should You Wear?

The reason you’re booking this maternity photo session is to show off that beautiful bump, so make sure to wear colors that will show it off. Meaning do NOT wear black or navy or any other super dark color. It hides the bump and makes it hard to see, and that’s not what you’re going for. But at the same time, you don’t want to wear bright neon colors, either. Light to medium colors will look best.

What fabric should you wear for maternity photos?

This is something that I think gets overlooked when moms are planning for their maternity photos. Fabric makes a huge difference!!

Fabrics to avoid for maternity photos

First, let’s talk about fabrics to avoid. Don’t wear stiff cotton because it doesn’t flow nicely and it can be super wrinkly. It’s just not my favorite. The second fabric I would avoid is that super stretchy fabric. You may think it will be good, and there are tons of maternity dresses made from this, but it’s a mistake. It shows every little bump, so if you have a bra on, you can see all the bumps on your back and side. It also can cling awkwardly to your legs while you walk.

Best fabrics for maternity photos

Now onto fabrics that I would recommend! I love texture so gauze or crepe fabrics are amazing. I also love the texture of soft cotton. Polyester has a great flow. Rayon also photographs well. Anything that has a nice flow when you swish it! I also love lace.

What patterns are best for maternity portraits?

You can’t go wrong with solid colors, and dresses with some texture (like maybe some lace or crepe fabrics). But patterns can be great for maternity photos, too! You just want to select the right one. If you select a pattern that is too tiny, it can be too busy and distracting, especially if there are two contrasting colors (like black against white). But you also don’t want to select patterns that are too big, which isn’t all that flattering. Medium-sized patterns are what you’re going to shoot for here. You also want to make sure that the contrast between the colors in the pattern and the color of the dress isn’t too much. For example, a dark navy pattern on a white dress would be too much contrast. But a cream-colored pattern against a dusty rose-colored dress would be subtle and beautiful.

Dress for the Season

Make sure to think about the weather when deciding what to wear for your maternity photos. If it’s going to be hot out, pick a more breathable fabric. If it’s going to be cold, look for a long-sleeved dress, or bring a chunky knit cardigan to go over the top. Chunky knits are great because you can wear them off your shoulders and they look amazing, and then between shots, you can cuddle up and get warm.

What undergarments should you wear for maternity photos?

Depending on the dress you choose to wear and also your comfort level, you may want to consider some shapewear underneath your dress. Or just get some seamless underwear so the seams aren’t creating bumps in your dress. For your bra, be sure that the straps will not show, or rather than wearing a bra, you can also get some pasties instead. That way you don’t have to worry about bra straps at all. Just make sure that what you wear makes sense for the dress you choose. And don’t forget about the color of your undergarments. Wear colors that won’t show through your dress

Bring an Extra Maternity Outfit

Bringing another outfit to your maternity session is a great idea and gives you some variety. I can bring my changing tent so changing on location is quick and easy. Sometimes the extra outfit is just a lacy cardigan over underwear so we can emphasize your beautiful belly. Or maybe you want some casual photos in your overalls or a crop top with jeans. Possibly you just want two different dresses. Whatever your style is, just let me know ahead of time so we can decide when the best time to wear it is, at the beginning, or the end of the session. I can help you brainstorm and I might have something in my client closet that you would love to use!

What should your partner or kids wear for your maternity photos?

When deciding what your partner will wear, you want to coordinate but not match. If your colors are the same, you will blend into each other and it will be hard to see the separation. The same goes for anyone in your family, we don’t want anyone blending into each other. Put your partner and/or kids in complementary colors. You can search Pinterest for complementary colors or get ideas. I also have a Spring/Summer guide on my website or just message me for help if you’ve booked a maternity session with me! 🙂

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