What to Wear for Maternity Photos: Gowns, Fabrics & Maternity Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
Maternity portraits can be as modest or as revealing as you want them to be. Here, sheer fabric provides soft, strategic coverage while allowing the shape of pregnancy to remain the focus. Careful posing and dramatic studio lighting create an intimate maternity portrait without requiring a traditional gown.
One of the first questions expecting mothers ask when planning maternity portraits is, “What should I wear for my maternity photos?”
There isn't one correct maternity photoshoot outfit.
Some women want elegant portraits in a full maternity gown with very little skin showing. Others want to celebrate the shape of pregnancy with an open gown, draped fabric, or a more revealing portrait. Some women love the idea of an implied nude maternity portrait, while others would never feel comfortable creating one.
All of those choices are completely appropriate.
The best maternity wardrobe is not simply the dress that photographs well. It is the wardrobe that creates the type of maternity portraits you actually want to have.
That is why wardrobe planning is an important part of every maternity photography session I photograph in Los Angeles, Glendale and Pasadena.
Start With How Much You Want to Show
Before choosing colors, gowns or accessories, I think there is a more important question:
How much of your body are you comfortable showing in your maternity portraits?
There is a wide range of maternity photography styles, from completely covered to implied nude.
Understanding where you fall on that spectrum makes it much easier to plan your session.
More Modest Maternity Portraits
If you prefer to show very little skin, a full maternity gown is often an excellent choice.
Long fitted gowns emphasize the shape of your baby bump while keeping the body covered. Flowing maternity dresses can create a softer, more romantic look.
Sleeves, higher necklines and additional fabric can provide more coverage while still allowing us to create a clearly defined maternity silhouette.
Modest does not mean boring.
Lighting, posing, color, fabric and accessories can create dramatic maternity portraits without revealing much skin at all.
Maternity Gowns With Slits or Openings
Some women want a traditional gown but also want to show some of their belly.
A gown with a slit or opening provides a middle ground.
These dresses maintain the structure and elegance of a maternity gown while allowing us to reveal part of the baby bump, a leg, or both.
The amount shown can usually be adjusted through posing and fabric placement.
This makes an open maternity gown particularly useful when you want variety. We may be able to create a more covered portrait and then adjust the gown to create a second look without changing the entire wardrobe.
Draped Fabric Maternity Photos
You don't necessarily need a dress to create beautiful maternity portraits.
Fabric can be wrapped and draped around the body to create a maternity look specifically for the photograph.
This style allows more of the baby bump to be visible while strategically covering areas you prefer not to show.
Fabric can also create movement. Depending on the material and the way it is arranged, it can appear soft and romantic or much more dramatic.
Because the fabric is being styled around your individual body rather than worn like a conventional dress, the photographer has considerable control over the finished shape.
These portraits require planning. The right fabric, color, amount of material and accessories need to be selected before the session.
Implied Nude Maternity Portraits
Some expecting mothers want to document pregnancy with very little clothing.
An implied nude maternity portrait can celebrate the shape of the pregnant body without actually showing everything.
Strategic posing, hands, fabric, flowers or a bouquet can provide coverage while leaving the belly, shoulders, legs or silhouette visible.
These photographs can range from very subtle to much more revealing.
There is no requirement to create this type of maternity portrait, and there is no reason to avoid it if it is something you genuinely want.
The important part is discussing your comfort level before the photography session.
I don't want a client standing in the studio trying to decide in the moment whether she is comfortable with a particular level of coverage.
We can make those decisions during planning.
Fitted Maternity Dresses Show the Baby Bump Beautifully
Fitted maternity dresses are one of the simplest ways to emphasize the shape of pregnancy.
Unlike a loose everyday dress, a fitted gown follows the curve of the belly and creates a clear maternity silhouette.
This is especially important in photographs taken from the side or at an angle.
A fitted maternity gown can be completely modest or more revealing depending on its neckline, sleeves, slit and construction.
Solid colors generally work especially well because they allow the shape of the body to remain the focus.
Flowing Maternity Gowns Create a Different Look
A flowing maternity gown creates a softer, more romantic style.
Extra fabric can add movement and drama to a portrait, particularly when it is carefully arranged around the body.
These gowns can also be useful for mothers who prefer more coverage.
The important thing is making sure the fabric does not completely hide the baby bump.
Maternity photography is about shape. Even with a flowing gown, posing and fabric placement should define the belly rather than allowing the dress to overwhelm it.
You Don't Have to Wear a Maternity Gown
Maternity gowns are popular, but they are not the only option.
Some of my favorite maternity portraits can be created with surprisingly simple clothing.
A fitted dress, bodysuit, jeans, simple top, or other piece from your own wardrobe can create a completely different look from a formal maternity gown.
Jeans paired with a simple or partially open top can create a more contemporary portrait and put the emphasis directly on the baby bump.
The important question is not:
“What are women supposed to wear for maternity photos?”
It is:
“How do I want my maternity portraits to look?”
Choosing Colors for Maternity Photos
Color affects the entire mood of a maternity portrait.
Cream, beige and other neutrals can create a soft, understated appearance.
Black can be elegant and dramatic, particularly with carefully controlled studio lighting.
Rich colors such as red, burgundy, blue or green can create strong statement portraits.
The best color also depends on your skin tone, the background, lighting, and the other looks we are planning for your session.
This is another reason I prefer selecting wardrobe before the photography session rather than simply having clients arrive with several dresses and hoping something works.
Plan More Than One Maternity Look
For my maternity sessions, I generally try to create three different looks.
That doesn't necessarily mean three elaborate gowns.
For example, a session might include:
A classic full maternity gown
A more revealing fabric or open-gown portrait
A simple fitted or implied nude look
Another mother might choose three completely covered looks in different colors and styles.
The purpose is variety.
Pregnancy can be photographed as elegant, simple, dramatic, romantic, intimate, or contemporary. Creating several looks allows the finished gallery to show more than one interpretation.
Why Your Maternity Wardrobe Needs to Be Planned in Advance
A maternity photography wardrobe does not simply appear in the studio on the day of the session.
Once we decide which looks you want, I prepare the appropriate gowns, fabrics and accessories beforehand.
Gowns may need to be cleaned, steamed or pressed. Fabrics need to be selected and prepared. Accessories need to coordinate with the wardrobe and background. The lighting and sets may also be planned around the colors and styles we have chosen.
If your partner or children will participate, their clothing needs to work with your maternity wardrobe as well.
This preparation is one of the reasons a maternity photography consultation matters.
It allows the actual photography session to be spent creating portraits instead of making wardrobe decisions.
Why a Maternity Photography Consultation Matters
You can find thousands of maternity photoshoot outfit ideas online.
What those photographs cannot tell you is whether the same wardrobe will work for your body, your comfort level, your baby bump, your skin tone, or the type of portraits you want.
During a maternity photography consultation, we can discuss:
How much or how little skin you want to show
The types of maternity portraits you like
Gown and wardrobe options
Colors
Fabrics
Accessories
Whether you want implied nude portraits
Whether your partner will participate
Whether your children will participate
How the different looks will work together
This information gives me time to prepare everything before you arrive.
For me, the consultation isn't an extra step in the process.
It is part of creating the photographs.
What Should Your Partner Wear for Maternity Photos?
If your partner will be included, their clothing should complement your wardrobe rather than compete with it.
Simple clothing generally works best.
If you are wearing an elegant gown, your partner's clothing should have a similar level of formality. If you are creating simple portraits in jeans or neutral clothing, their wardrobe can be equally relaxed.
Large logos, distracting graphics and very busy patterns can pull attention away from you and your baby bump.
Your outfits do not need to match.
They need to look intentional together.
What Should Children Wear for Maternity Family Photos?
The same principle applies when older children participate.
Coordinate rather than match.
Their clothing should work with the colors and level of formality of your maternity wardrobe without making everyone look as though they are wearing a uniform.
Because children may only participate in part of the session, we can plan the family maternity look first and then move into additional portraits of Mom alone.
What Should You Bring to Your Maternity Photoshoot?
Exactly what you need will depend on the wardrobe we select during your consultation.
You may be asked to bring items such as appropriate undergarments, nude or strapless undergarments, personal clothing, jewelry, or meaningful accessories.
If we are using wardrobe from my maternity collection, those pieces will be prepared before you arrive.
Knowing what we are photographing in advance means you don't need to bring half your closet to the studio.
The Best Maternity Outfit Is the One We Plan for You
There is no universal best dress for maternity photos.
For one woman, the right choice may be a completely covered floor-length gown.
For another, it may be an open gown revealing her belly.
Another may prefer carefully draped fabric.
And another may want an implied nude portrait created with nothing more than strategic posing and flowers.
The goal isn't to fit you into a predetermined maternity photography style.
The goal is to determine how you want to be photographed during pregnancy and then prepare the wardrobe, lighting, posing and styling necessary to create those images.
Maternity Photography in Los Angeles, Glendale and Pasadena
I photograph maternity sessions for expecting mothers throughout Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank and surrounding communities.
Wardrobe planning and posing guidance are part of the maternity photography process. We discuss your preferences before the session so that gowns, fabrics and accessories can be prepared in advance.
Whether you want completely modest maternity portraits, something more revealing, or a combination of several styles, the session can be designed around your comfort level and the photographs you want to create.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Wear for Maternity Photos
What is the best thing to wear for maternity photos?
There is no single best maternity outfit. Fitted gowns emphasize the baby bump, flowing gowns create movement, and draped fabrics can create more revealing portraits while still providing coverage. Your choice should reflect the style of maternity photographs you want.
Do I have to wear a maternity gown?
No. Maternity portraits can be created with gowns, fitted dresses, fabrics, bodysuits, jeans, simple clothing, or other wardrobe choices.
Can I wear jeans for maternity pictures?
Yes. Jeans can create simple, contemporary maternity portraits, particularly when paired with styling that keeps attention on the baby bump.
What colors are best for maternity photos?
Neutrals create a soft, classic look, while black and richer colors can produce more dramatic portraits. The best color depends on your skin tone, background, lighting, and the overall style of the session.
Can I show my bare belly in maternity photos?
Yes. Your maternity portraits can be as covered or revealing as you are comfortable with. Open gowns and draped fabrics are two ways to show the baby bump while maintaining coverage elsewhere.
What are implied nude maternity photos?
Implied nude maternity portraits use posing, hands, fabric, flowers, or other strategic elements to provide coverage while creating the appearance of a minimally clothed portrait.
Do maternity photographers provide dresses?
Some maternity photographers maintain a client wardrobe. At Panos Productions Photography, maternity wardrobe options are discussed during the planning consultation so the appropriate gowns, fabrics, and accessories can be prepared before the session. We have a large selection of gowns, draping fabrics and other wardrobe options.
How many outfits should I wear for maternity photos?
I generally plan approximately three different looks during a maternity session. The exact wardrobe depends on the session and the style of portraits we are creating.
Should my maternity outfits all be the same style?
No. Choosing different styles can give your gallery more variety. For example, you might combine a formal gown, a simple fitted look, and a fabric or more intimate portrait.
Continue Planning Your Maternity Portraits
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