What to Wear for Your Maternity Photo Shoot: Clothing Tips for Timeless Images

Maternity photo sessions are special occasions. They’re a celebration of the start of a new life and of your growing family, and most of all they’re a celebration of you at the peak of your power and womanhood. When clients ask me about maternity photo shoot clothing, my advice is always the same: you have to choose pieces that make you feel beautiful, comfortable, and true to yourself.

Best fabrics for maternity shoot clothing

The best fabrics for your maternity photo shoot clothing choices are going to be the ones that you feel best in and that meet the goals you have in mind for your session. While you can keep these fabrics in mind as you purchase clothing for your maternity session, also keep in mind that they can be used for draping without buying a specific garment (I do this a lot in my Red Deer studio).

Chiffon - a light and airy fabric that works great for draping and throwing. Chiffon is very versatile in mood - it can be photographed in colour or in black and white beautifully and can be used to achieve a light and airy look or a dramatic and contrasty mood. It hugs the body and flows in the breeze, and can be used as a single piece for transparency, or folded and layered for a touch more modesty.

Cotton Gauze - a loosely woven cotton fabric, sometimes also called cheese cloth. Cotton gauze is a great fabric for a maternity photo shoot with a beachy or relaxed vibe. It can be draped loosely for an easy boho look.

Cotton Poplin - a sturdy fabric that holds its shape, cotton poplin can be used to drape a garment that appears more structured and gives more of a fashion magazine vibe.

Polyester Jersey - a stretchy fabric that hugs your curves. Any garment with four way stretch will work well for maternity photo shoot wardrobe when your goal is to accentuate your figure.

Chunky Knits - we all know a chunky knit sweater can be SO comfortable, but we also know that it can make us look very boxy. When our bodies are already different (bigger) it’s not always the best idea to add more volume. The good news is though that if you’re a comfort queen, you can still get your chunky knits in by choosing a cropped piece and pairing it with a simple bottom like a pair of neutral bikini underwear, or even by wrapping yourself in a chunky but soft and flowy knit blanket that gives a sense of homey comfort but can still be arranged to show off your figure.

Jeans and Tees - a classic fitted jean, unbuttoned at the top, works great with a crop tee, a bra, or even implied nudity for a Calvin Klein vibe or a rock and roll feel.

Colours that photograph beautifully

Always start off your planning with something neutral. White, black, grey, brown and beige are timeless classics that allow for balanced focus in your images instead of pulling the viewer’s eye to a bright piece of clothing. Jewel tones photograph very nicely as well, as do muted or less saturated colours like lavender, dusky blue, moss green, or dusky pink. Keep in mind the mood you’re trying to create with your images, and choose colours that will help bring that to life. If you’re interested in incorporating the gender of the baby and traditional male or female colours into your photo session, this can be done in subtle ways that are elegant but effective like choosing accents, or choosing a colour theme that surrounds blue or pink instead of hitting blue or pink right on the nose. Also, the thing about colour is that while it may photograph nicely in general, there are some that you feel just don’t look good on you. You tend to know what these colours are for yourself, and you should definitely plan around that.

Dresses VS Jeans - choosing your style

While your maternity photoshoot is focused on baby, obviously, something that I really love to underscore is the importance of yourself in these photos. You have grown into the person you are now and likely have your own personal style that doesn’t revolve around motherhood at all. While your viewpoint and fashion sense may shift throughout this time of immense change, you should feel comfortable incorporating your personal style when deciding what you wear to your maternity photo session. Trends come and go, and while big flowy puffy dresses are beautiful and very popular right now, if you identify more with messy hair than soft curls, you should really ask yourself if you want to follow the puffy dress path set out for you or go your own way. A maternity shoot wardrobe can look any number of different ways, the beauty is that you get to decide what’s right for you.

When we meet for your design consultation, we’ll talk at length about your personal style and the vision for your session and then curate your maternity shoot wardrobe based on what we talk about. Together, we’ll put together fabrics and pieces that will help us achieve your specific style goals.

What to avoid in maternity photo shoot clothing

There’s no denying that the intention of a maternity photo shoot is to shine a light on your pregnancy and your pregnant form. The materials and style choices outlined here all focus on pieces that will either hug your figure or reveal the outline of your form in some way, be it with transparent fabrics or with more structured pieces that can be arranged to highlight your belly in a flattering way. To feel the best about your maternity images, it’s best if you stick to these guidelines and avoid garments and fabrics that add a lot of volume or that don’t make your figure apparent.

Every body is different, and every person has different feelings surrounding their body. If you tend to feel more comfortable in clothing that doesn’t “draw attention” to your frame, don’t hesitate to open a dialogue with your photographer on the subject - we can work together to find pieces that will make you feel beautiful and confident.

With these tips, and with open communication and collaboration with your photographer, you’ll find maternity photo shoot clothing ideas that are right for you, you’ll feel confident and unstoppable, and you’ll rock your photo shoot and fall in love with your finished images.

If you’re planning a maternity photo session and are interested in timeless, magazine-style portraits, check us out! You can find more information on maternity shoots and get in touch using the form here. We love creating maternity portrait experiences that empower and celebrate you as a woman during the most powerful time in your life.

To check out more examples of current work, head over to the gallery page. Curious about what a photo session looks like in my Red Deer studio? Click here to join the VIP list and access THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PORTRAIT PHOTO SHOOT - plus get $100 off as a new client.

Draped in cotton, this garment provides form but still flows nicely

A soft chunky knit blanket used in a way that does not add volume and still reveals the pregnant form.

Cheese cloth looks great wet, too