New Mom Guide: Maternity Photo shoot Poses, Props and Dresses

Maternity Photo Shoot Ideas

A mother to be, looks the most prettiest, happiest and gorgeous as she awaits to welcome her baby. It's the most blissful phase of her life. Every mother dreams of a fairy tale like maternity shoot to live this moment forever.To celebrate this phase of her life, she plans to have photo shoot.

Tips to plan a beautiful maternity shoot

It's always good to involve your closed ones and friends to help you in arranging it all to make it relaxing for you.

1. Finalizing the Photographer

It's the most important job of the whole process. He should be a thorough professional, experienced and talented.Before deciding, it's advisable to check your photographer's previous work, if it's good then you can freeze and go ahead. He should be creative in his work to get the best out of you. It's nice to have a short meeting to discuss everything one to one prior to keep things sorted to avoid last minute hustle.

Few important things need to be discussed with your Photographer:

1. Date and time of the day

2. Duration of photo shoot

3. Dress change is needed or not

4. Which props to be used- whether dress & props are to be arranged by him or not

5. Which lenses he will be using? What other instruments to be used ? How many total photographs and edited pics he will provide

6. Charges to be paid

So, basically these are basic questions which need to be get cleared before the shoot, so that everything has clarity and things will get planned smoothly beforehand.

2. When to plan the maternity shoot :

It's a general query in every pregnant woman's mind.

It's advisable to plan the shoot in the beginning of your last trimester.7th of pregnancy is the best time.It depends from women to women depending on their health condition and interest. Beyond 35 weeks, it becomes uncomfortable to move around, getting up and down, doing poses.Bump visibility is important.Show it off, flaunt your belly.Picking your maternity shoot date wisely is the key.Its hard to look pretty if you are not feeling good.So, you need to be relaxed.

3. Choose your Prop:

Props are used to enhance your beauty, and it's a way to express your emotions through it. Props can make or break any portrait session.

Elegant Maternity gowns for photography be yours best prop.Tight and firm fitting is better, at the same time it's important to feel comfortable wearing it. Trial is important prior to the shoot date. Solid colors work best, you can never go wrong with white. Gowns and flowing maternity dresses add sophistication to clothing depends on location too. If you're near a beach, you can wear a gowns. Tiara and shell necklaces goes well here.

If you're at urban locations, cool boots and bright colour dresses are in order. If you're around nature, you might have opt for floral dresses. Flowers or flower crowns add an element of interest to the photos. Books, hats, balloons, baby dresses, baby booties, your's babies ultrasound report can also be used as props. Props can also be hand made like you can write relevant quotes, wishes or feeling related to your baby's arrival on a chart paper.

These quotes expresses yours happy state of mind and lovely emotions.

In addition, finalize on your hair do, make up , jewelry, shoes you are planning to wear on the shoot day. Some photographer's help with dresses and props too, check and confirm. If photographer is getting it for you, it should be properly dry cleaned before you put on.

Discuss all these with your photographer, and close it in advance so you would be all sorted.

4. Posing:

Best photos comes from a natural, genuine and spontaneous moments.That means your favourite picture might come when you are not actually posing.

Feel happy, joyful and be yourself, poses will automatically come to you.

Angles are suggested by the photographer.

Side Profile, it highlights bump, still gives you a proper shape.

Holding your belly with your hands helps to define the shape.

Happy and up-close with your partner, caressing and kissing you, brings in a very lovable pic

Sitting/Standing/Walking alone or with your partner

Emotions is the icing on the cake. Some funny conversation with your partner, emotional moment of this phase, happy feeling, all these can be captured and made a great album for life.

Having your family by your side, would be awesome.Couple pictures is to capture the emotional connection between both. Can create intimacy by couple holding hands, hugs and kiss. Eye contact shows the bond and connect. Another beautiful idea is to get your partner touch and feel your belly. This can be combined with standard full length pictures with close ups. Involve older sibling also for the shoot. Pets are great addition to maternity pictures.

Make time take lot of Mom alone pictures as well, selfies will be great too..

It's good to take selection of full length portraits, close ups and cropped images.

Avoid straight-on, square shoulder shots that makes belly look flat.

Baby bump should be properly visible.

Maintain eye contact.Bear a smile on your face

5. Location:

Natural light and outdoors are the best set up for maternity shoots. It's gives an organic and natural feeling in the images. Outdoor pictures will produce candid and glowing shots.

Opt for familiar outdoor places where you can be comfortable and travel without any issues.

Check the weather report a day before the visit.

Check whether you need permission or any permit to use the place.