Maternity shoot style ideas

Posing for maternity portraits is a way for pregnant women to celebrate their pregnancies and have a photographic keepsake of their experiences. Portraits of pregnant mothers can range from artistic to traditional, with mothers donning sophisticated clothes that accentuate the pregnant belly. Regardless of what they wear, however, maternity photos give pregnant women the opportunity to boost their confidence during a time when they may not feel they look their best. If you're planning to take maternity photos in the near future, read on to find out more about what to wear for maternity portraits.

• Considerations

When considering clothing for maternity photo shoots, it is important for each woman to take into consideration her sense of style, level of comfort and types of maternity photos she wants to have.  Conservative photos tend to consist of a pregnant woman from the belly up or a full body shot. For these, the pregnant woman dons clothes that shows off her stomach.

• Types

Clothing for maternity photo shoots should be tight-fitting around the belly. Loose and baggy shirts and pants will only hide the pregnant stomach. Stretch pants and pants that have low waistlines won't bunch up as the woman is posing or sitting, and are a good idea to wear during a shoot. In addition, tight-fitting tank tops and maternity tops that have thin fabrics that cling to the body are also good choices for maternity portraits.

For pregnant women who want to include their other children in their shoots, they may don a more playful style of clothing. White tank tops accentuate the stomach and have thin fabrics. Casual fitted khaki pants are a good wardrobe choice for these types of shoots.

• Time Frame

A pregnant woman should consider taking maternity photos as far along in her pregnancy as possible. If she does this later in the pregnancy, she will be better able to show off her stomach in the clothing that she wears. The third trimester tends to be the best time to schedule a maternity photo shoot. The belly is extremely visible at this point, and I can capture the fullness of the stomach.

• Warning

Keep clothing selections for maternity portraits simple. Stripes and busy patterns can hide the stomach or detract attention away from it. Instead, stick with solid colors. In general, black and white clothing tends to work best. In fact, something as simple as a husband's button down shirt works well, according to "Maternity Photo Shoot Ideas" by Maleesha Perera.

• Function

The function of maternity photo shoots are to capture the essence and beauty of the pregnancy. Women can also wear tops that show their stomach. Crop tops, half tops and belly shirts work well. According to New York photographer Koren Reyes, pregnant women should avoid bright colors like pink and yellow. Instead, Reyes recommends that moms-to-be wear black yoga pants, jeans or cardigans that button down at the front. V-neck shirts, square neck tops and long-sleeved tops also tend to be the most figure-flattering for pregnant women.