Pregnancy – a milestone filled with joy and excitement, and a milestone often worthy of remembering with professional photos!
When it comes to having maternity photos taken, choosing what to wear can feel like an overwhelming task – but really, when you break it down, it becomes quite simple! There are no hard and fast “rules” when it comes to choosing what to wear (don’t be afraid to mix in your own personal style!), but there are a few tips I’d love to share with those who might be wondering where to start! In this blog post, we’ll discuss three simple tips for figuring out what to wear for maternity photos:
First, find something that accentuates your bump!
Maxi Dresses: Maxi dresses are personally my favorite when it comes to maternity sessions! They are typically tighter up top, then become looser around the belly, and go all the way down to the ground. They are SO flattering (elongating the body), and make it easy to accentuate the bump! The flowy fabric can easily be held under the belly to create that classic “bump” look. Maxi’s are typically pretty comfortable for mom, too, and are still breathable in the summer months.
Form fitting dress or shirt: If you feel comfortable with it, consider a more form-fitting dress or shirt! With a maxi dress, you’ll have to hold underneath and around your belly to get the “bump” look, but a form fitting dress or shirt means that you won’t have to have your hand on your belly the whole time!
A looser garment… but belt it! If you like the look of a looser garment, consider adding a belt (or tied fabric) above the belly to give additional shape! This can easily be done with a loose top or a dress without a structured waist.
Second, make sure you choose something comfortable.
Don’t forget to keep your outfit comfortable! Opt for comfortable shoes and clothing fabrics that aren’t too hard to move around in. If you’d like to wear heels, consider bringing a pair of comfortable shoes to change in to for walking from location to location!
If you’re having maternity photos taken in the warmer/summer months, consider choosing a dress with a “lighter,” more breathable fabric.
Third, consider choosing a solid color, and/or something with a textured material.
This is a tip that applies mostly to mom! We want the bump to be the main focus of your images, and while patterns can be beautiful in photos, if they are too busy, they can distract (or minimize!) your bump! Solid colors will ensure that the viewer’s eye is drawn straight to your little bundle of joy without distraction. If you’d like to add visual interest to your overall images, though, consider having your husband/partner wear a patterned shirt that compliments your outfit.
Textures are a great way to add visual interest with a solid colored shirt or dress! Textures include things such as: lace, knit, or embroidery. They add interest without being too busy or overtaking the photo!
What about dad and/or other family members?
I recommend starting with mom’s outfit, then building upon everyone else’s from there. The goal is to choose outfits that “go” together, without being completely matchy-matchy.
Aim for each person to have a “dominant” color, then tie the outfits together visually by using other people’s dominant colors as accents. For example, if mom is wearing a blush colored maxi dress, nude flats, and gold earrings, dad could wear khaki pants, a light blue button down, a navy overcoat, and add in a blush pocket square, to visually tie the two of you together – even one small accessory (in this example, the pocket square) will tie you both together visually!
You could also make the visual connection by choosing a solid colored maxi dress for mom, then find a patterned shirt for dad with that same color in the pattern.
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