Maternity Photoshoot Clothing Ideas

 

Maternity portraits are a great way for mothers-to-be, as well as their partners, to celebrate their pregnancies and to capture those moments on camera for a beautiful memory and keepsake. Maternity portrait sessions can range anywhere from the traditional look to a more artistic one. And because of that, one of the most often asked questions we get prior to a maternity session is what we recommend for clothing options. So, if you’re searching for maternity photoshoot clothing ideas for your next session, Three16 Photography recommends these four areas for you to consider in 2025.

One of the beautiful aspects of a maternity session is that it allows the future mom to wear more sophisticated styles of clothing that would highlight her pregnancy, or they can simply opt for a bare belly. Regardless of what you choose to wear, these maternity photos will give you an opportunity to build your self-confidence at a time of your life where you may not always feel so special. If you are planning on taking maternity shots, consider four important guidelines to achieve the best results:

• Types Of Clothing
• Clothing Colors
• Considerations Of Personal Style
• Time Frame of Pregnancy and Due Dates

 

Types Of Clothing

From our experience, when shooting maternity sessions, we recommend clothing that is a little tight-fitting around the belly. Loose and baggy clothing will only hide the pregnancy more than highlight it. Tight-fitting tops that are thin in fabrics tend to cling to your body and those too make good choices for maternity shots as well. For pants, we suggest stretch and/or regular pants that have lower waistlines because they don’t typically bunch up while you are posing or sitting.

Pregnant women that want to include their other children in the shoots, may consider a style of clothing that is more playful. White tank tops highlight pregnancy and usually have thin fabric material. Khaki pants that are casual fitting are a good choice of wardrobes for these types of photo shoots.

 

Warnings About Clothing Colors

Keep your selections for maternity portraits easy and not complex. We have found that busy patterns or stripes often can take the attention away from the pregnancy or even hide it altogether. Therefore, we recommend sticking with solid colors. As a general rule of thumb, black and white clothing often works the best. However, if you prefer to wear colorful clothing, consider both vibrant and certain pastel colors. If you prefer a more intimate photoshoot where you want to wear lingerie, black and white tend to be used most often because they give your photos a more artistic flair to them.

For the men that will be posing, you can always go with a pull-over shirt, but according to an article published several years ago, “Maternity Photo Shoot Ideas” by photographer Maleesha Perera, button down shirts on men often work the best.

 

Considerations Of Personal Style

When it comes time to consider the types of clothing for your maternity session be sure to incorporate your sense of style, your personality and the types of comfort you prefer, as well as the types of maternity shots/poses you want. Many mom’s-to-be are very modest and will prefer to stay conservative and keep everything, including the belly covered up. Others will want to highlight their pregnant belly and want photos where the stomach is bare.

In terms of nude photography, they tend to be more of an artistic photographic representation with the focus on her pregnancy. If you feel you find yourself somewhere in between modesty and artistic, then just consider exposing just your stomach or topless versus full nude.

 

Time Frame of Pregnancy and Due Dates

Another thing you should take into consideration for her maternity photoshoots, is how far along you are into your pregnancy. If you choose to do the photoshoot later in the pregnancy, the better you will be able to show off your stomach and do so in the clothing you want to wear, as well as comfortable. The third trimester generally tends to be the best time to schedule a maternity photo session. The stomach is extremely visible, and the photographer can capture that fullness that the pregnant stomach can offer.

 

Conclusion

When it comes to planning for a maternity photoshoot, you want to commemorate your pregnancy for a lifetime of memories. Select outfits and colors that will highlight your pregnancy versus items that will hide it. So, take into consideration the color theme and style of clothing. Consider how artistic you want your photos and consider a location that meets your personality. We often photograph maternity sessions at your home, but for those looking for locations, we suggest some of the locations that we have photographed engagements, couples, families and other maternity sessions, and you can see those here.

Remember what the function of a maternity photoshoot is designed for. It is about capturing your beauty, your glow and the essence of your pregnancy.