Pregnancy is a truly wonderful time in your life. It’s the moment when your family is about to grow – a time filled with hopes, dreams, excitement and plans for the future. It’s also the point where the story of your baby’s life begins. This time will fly by and before you know it, your baby will arrive. While you’ll undoubtedly have a lot of things to do in preparation for your baby, it’s also important to take some time out to savor this special moment in your life.

Maternity photography provides the perfect way to capture this moment in time, leaving you with memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. As your child gets older, you’ll be able to share these memories with them as well, making these photos even more special.

Your maternity photography session is an exciting time for you and your husband, and you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared so that you get the best photos possible. The following tips will help you know exactly what to expect so that you can relax and enjoy a great maternity photography session.

Maternity Photography Do’s

There are several things you should keep in mind when preparing for your maternity photography session. The following “do’s” will help you make sure you get the most out of your session.

Do – Schedule Your Maternity Photography Session Between 28 and 36 Weeks of Pregnancy

The ideal time to schedule your maternity photography session is typically between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. This is the best timeframe because:

You’ll have a prominent baby bump – By this point in your pregnancy, you should have a well-defined baby bump, making it clear that you’re pregnant. This is critical since your pregnancy is the main focus of your maternity photos.
You’ll be more comfortable – Most women are still relatively comfortable during this phase of their pregnancy, and this will make for a much more enjoyable photo shoot. If you wait until the later stages of your pregnancy, you may find that you’re experiencing more discomfort, and this may make it harder for you to get through your session and achieve the beautiful photos you want.
You’ll avoid early labor – The other issue with waiting until late in your pregnancy is that babies typically come at unpredictable times. When you schedule your session closer to your due date, you run the risk that you’ll go into labor before you’re able to capture these special moments.

We encourage you to book your session early, ideally by the end of your second trimester, to ensure availability during the optimal time of your pregnancy.

Do – Put Thought into Your Location

Your maternity photography session will capture this amazing time of your life and provide you with memories to look back on fondly. You’ll want to make sure you choose a location that will create a beautiful backdrop for your photos.

Outdoor photoshoots in nature always make for beautiful photos. If you have a picturesque park near your home or a scenic backdrop behind an open field, you may want to choose these places. Many of our maternity photography clients choose to have outdoor sessions due to our studio’s close proximity to the beaches on Kauai. Whether you live in town or are visiting Kauai on your baby moon, a maternity photography session on the beach will never disappoint.

If you prefer indoor photos, we recommend that you consider scheduling your session at your maternity photographer’s studio. This will ensure ideal lighting to get the best pictures. You’ll also have access to a variety of different backdrops and props that will enhance your photos.

Do – Plan Your Wardrobe in Advance

Make sure to be thoughtful about your wardrobe, as the clothes you wear can significantly impact how the final photos look. You’ll want to bring several outfits so that you can wear the right clothing to accentuate the nuances of each photo you’re posing for.

Your maternity photography session will include several pictures that focus on your baby bump. For these photos, we recommend that you wear stretchy clothing that shows off your shape to its fullest. Simple outfits are ideal because they allow the focus to remain on the baby bump. Avoid prints and textures that may detract from your beautiful belly.

We recommend choosing outfits that highlight your personal sense of style and that you’ll feel comfortable in. This can be as casual as jeans and a sweater or a little fancier with a long, flowy dress.

It’s also a good idea to coordinate colors on the outfits for everyone in your family. Just keep in mind that coordinating doesn’t have to mean everyone is wearing the same outfit – rather, think about having everyone wear similar, complementary colors in their outfit to give your photos a little more cohesiveness.

Don’t forget about accessories. Choose a few accessories that will accentuate your personal style.

Do – Get Pampered Before the Photoshoot

You want to look your best for your maternity photos. Professional hair and makeup, along with a fresh manicure and pedicure, will make you look and feel amazing. This will translate into a radiant mother-to-be in your photos.

Do – Include the Entire Family

While mama and her unborn baby are the primary focus of the photo shoot, you’ll want to have pictures with everyone in the family. If this is your first child, it may just be you and your husband. But including your pets can make for fun photos. If you have other children, they should definitely be involved as well. Make sure each child gets their time in front of the camera so that they each have a moment to shine in the spotlight with you.

Do – Use Props

Props are an easy way to vary your photos. They can add an element of fun to your session and accentuate your personal style. Some great props to use during your maternity photo shoot include:

Sonogram images
Items from your nursery
Baby clothes or shoes
Stuffed animals
Balloons
Chalk or letterboard with the baby’s name (if you’ve already chosen a name)

Do – Have Fun!

Your maternity photo shoot is a special time that will provide you with priceless memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. There’s no reason to be stressed out or anxious about your photo shoot. Just arrive at your session prepared to laugh, smile, show off your baby bump, and have a great time.

Maternity Photography Don’ts

Now that you know what you should do to help ensure your photoshoot delivers the priceless memories you desire, it’s time to review some of the important pitfalls to avoid. Keep the following “don’ts” in mind as you plan your maternity photography session.

Don’t – Make Inappropriate Clothing Choices

We already discussed the importance of planning your wardrobe in advance, but there’s another side to this aspect of your maternity photoshoot. Not all wardrobe choices will accentuate your natural pregnant beauty or deliver the great pictures you want. Some things to keep in mind when planning your wardrobe:

Avoid loud patterns – Busy patterns or clashing colors can distract from the pictures. Instead, opt for solid colors or subtle patterns that complement the setting.
Choose comfortable fabrics – Avoid stiff cotton or overly stretchy materials that can cling awkwardly. Instead, select flowing fabrics that flatter your silhouette.
Avoid outfits that will look dated – While your maternity photoshoot is capturing a moment in time, you’ll still want this moment to feel timeless. Choosing classic, timeless styles will help ensure your photos still look great decades later, rather than making you cringe if you were wearing the latest fad that has long been out of style when you look at your pictures down the road.
Be careful when coordinating outfits – We mentioned that coordinating the outfits of everyone in your family will provide for powerful pictures. But this coordination should focus on having everyone wear complementary colors that create cohesive photos, not putting everyone in the exact same outfit. Just as you may find yourself cringing when you look back at these pictures and see outfits that haven’t been in style for 20 years, you may find yourself cringing years from now when you see your husband and sons in matching polos and khakis, or all of your daughters in the same exact dress.

Don’t – Neglect Comfort

Expectant mothers may experience discomfort and fatigue during a long photoshoot. Always listen to your body and take breaks when you feel you need them. Also, include a variety of pictures that use comfortable posing options, like sitting on a chair.

Most importantly, don’t forget to bring comfortable footwear. It’s ok to pose for a few pictures in high heels, but you might find that you’re miserable if you have to wear heels for the entire session. Always bring a pair of comfortable shoes to wear during at least part of your photoshoot.

Don’t – Rush the Photoshoot

It’s understandable that you may feel like you’re on a time crunch. If you have older children coming to the photoshoot, their attention span may be limited. If you or your husband is taking off from work, you may feel like you want to limit your time off since you’re about to go on maternity leave. We get it. We all have busy lives, and time is one of our most precious resources.

But rushing your photoshoot is one of the worst things you can do. It can increase your stress level and prevent you from getting great pictures. Allow enough time for relaxed interactions and the ability to make any necessary adjustments during the session.

Don’t – Focus Solely on the Baby Bump

While showcasing the baby bump is important, it shouldn’t dominate your photos. Include other elements in the photoshoot that reflect your journey as a couple or family, such as interactions between partners and highlighting the personalities of your other children.

maternity photography focused on baby bump

Don’t – Neglect Your Emotional Wellbeing

Pregnancy can be an emotional time. You can manage these emotions by maintaining open communication with your photographer about your feelings and expectations to create a supportive environment.

If you have other children that you’re including in the photoshoot, they may also impact your emotional wellbeing during the session. Be mindful of how you incorporate them into the photoshoot:

Consider the time of day they are most attentive and emotionally balanced
Determine whether they should participate at the beginning or the end of the shoot to get the best results
Make sure you give them breaks if they start getting antsy or cranky
Lean on your partner to help run point with the kids to help reduce your stress during the photoshoot

Don’t – Stress Over the Small Details

Your maternity photoshoot is a special moment that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life, but that doesn’t mean you need to stress over making it perfect. You’re not doing this photoshoot alone. Your maternity photographer is there to guide you through the entire process – both as you prepare for the big day and during your photoshoot. Lean on your photographer for support, and let them make recommendations regarding the smaller details. This will allow you to remain relaxed and comfortable the entire time, and you’ll end up with better pictures as a result.

Award-Winning Maternity Photography on Kauai

If you’re considering a maternity photoshoot, Kauai provides the ideal location. Its beautiful landscapes and relaxing environment provide the perfect setting to capture this special moment of your life. This is one of the primary reasons why Kauai has become a popular baby moon destination. Whether you live on the island or are visiting for your baby moon, Betty Laurent Photography will deliver the priceless memories you desire during a maternity photoshoot.

Betty Laurent is an international award-winning fine arts photographer specializing in maternity and newborn photography. During your session, she’ll work closely with you to curate a photography experience that celebrates the joys of this special time in your life.

All of Betty’s photos are hand edited and handcrafted to showcase the natural beauty in her subjects. In addition, you have the ability to choose an on-location photoshoot that taps into the beauty of Kauai’s beaches, a studio session that provides the perfect setting for indoor photos, or a combination of the two (Betty’s studio is just a few minutes from the beach). Betty has the only commercial photography studio on Kauai, and it has been designed to achieve the best possible lighting and aesthetics for maternity photography. She has a variety of backdrops and props for you to use during your photoshoot to ensure your session accentuates your personality and style.

Betty’s unique Ohana Concierge Approach™ provides a tailored and handcrafted experience, allowing you to unwind, relax and enjoy these fleeting moments. With this approach, she’ll spend time getting to know you and your husband to learn more about your personality, style and vision for your photoshoot. You’ll also be taken care of throughout the process, as she will come prepared with snacks for your family and make sure you take breaks when you need them. She’ll also handle all the small details for you, providing a variety of outfits, accessories and props that will bring your photoshoot to life.