My Tips on How to Dress for Your Maternity Photo Shoot

This is the #1 question I get asked – What should I wear for my Maternity Shoot? Just like with any other type of session, there are a TON of options for you to choose from. With Maternity photo shoots, it feels like the weight is a little extra heavy because this time of your life is special. Unique. I completely get that. That’s why I want you to look and feel amazing. Keep in mind that you can do more than 1 outfit too! But, even with more than 1 vibe, we want you to look or feel your best! So, let’s start talking about my best tips on what to wear for your maternity session.

At the end, I will include links to my favorite stores, shops, or dresses.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, but only for products that I use and love (I seriously only included things I’m obsessed with!). If you buy through them, I’ll earn some cash for coffee (or tea). But don’t worry, I’ll use that energy to create more helpful content for you!

1. Flattering Silhouette

This is the MOST important thing. So, if you only take away 1 thing – let it be this! For your Maternity shoot, you want to wear a dress or outfit that gives you the most flattering silhouette for your maternity photos. So here is the most important thing that I look for: a dress or top that is tight up top, or right above your belly (also empire waist). You don’t necessarily want a huge or boxy looking top, in general. They will just give you one huge rectangle shape and not be flattering at all.

2. Wearing a Maternity Photo Shoot Dress

Now, if you want to wear a dress for 1 or more of your outfits during your maternity session, then there are a couple of things that you should look for.

1. Make sure the length of the dress is down to the floor. That way it covers everything it is supposed to but doesn’t trip you as you are walking around and such.
   There are a couple of exceptions to this, of course. Some studio styles work really well with a midi length dress (mid calf length). And, if you are looking for something extremely dramatic, then you are gonna want to wear a dress that fulfills that with a long train and dramatic fabric.
2. Make sure it has that empire waist. So, make sure it’s tight up top in order to give you some shape.

3. Fabrics that can break it!

Speaking of fabrics, what should you be looking for? Well, let me tell you what to AVOID.

1. Stiff cottons is terrible – it doesn’t flow, doesn’t conform to shapes, and wrinkles SO easily. Just a bad choice altogether.
2. Super tight stretchy fabric – I KNOW – Amazon puts ALOT of these mermaid-style dresses on the maternity dress page! And those models look great, right? But, I will say, there are very few style boards that I will create with those dresses included. The reason is that those fabrics highlight all the insecurities we tend to have about ourselves. Sometimes the vibe is exactly what we are looking for, but for the most part (like for this Mama who rocked it below), even during a maternity session, I won’t suggest it.
3. Ribbed. Again. I know. This is something that alot of apps, including Amazon, puts as their first choice when you look up options. However, these maternity dresses tend to also be super tight and stretchy, while ALSO being ribbed. They fold weird in weird places along your torso. They highlight all the bumps you DON’T want to highlight. And, they distract from you being in the moment because you always feel like you have to fuss with it.

4. Fabrics that can make it!

So, now that we kinda know what to avoid, let me give you some examples of what fabrics WORK.

1. Gauze or crepe – nice, light, and flowy! Checks all the boxes!
2. Polyester
3. Swiss-dot
4. Soft-Cotton – I know! I just said that cotton isn’t good, but not all cotton is created equal lol. THIS dress from Free People is soft cotton and it is soooo good!
5. Rayon – like the fabric from this one!
6. Satin or silk
7. Linen – this is not ALWAYS gonna work, but it really does work for alot of situations.

5. Wearing Textures and Patterns for Your Maternity Shoot

When you are choosing what to wear for your maternity shoot, You can’t go wrong with solid colors, and dresses with some texture (like lace, knit, crepe etc). Solid neutrals and earth tones are always going to edit beautifully. Put some texture variations or layer texture in there and it’s just *chef’s kiss* perfect!
But patterns can be great for maternity photos, too! You just want to select the right one. If you select a pattern that is too tiny, it can be too busy and really distracting. And, quite honestly, the camera does really weird things with tiny prints and it just isn’t good. But you also don’t want to select patterns that are too big, because they aren’t all that flattering either. In fact, they are incredibly distracting and take all the attention away from the person wearing the pattern, YOU.
You wanna be like Goldilocks and look for the perfect middle. Finally, you also want to make sure that the contrast between the colors in the pattern and the color of the dress isn’t too much. For example, a dark navy pattern on a white dress would be too much contrast and takes all the attention away from you and your beautiful bump.

6. What Colors to Wear for your Maternity Shoot

I know I’ve kinda said this in passing, but honestly, it needs to be said all on it’s own too. When you are choosing what to wear for your maternity shoot, the colors we are shooting for neutrals and earth-toned colors here, not for pastels, neons, or bright and bold colors. We are trying to highlight you and your beautiful bump, not distract or steal the show. So, no logos, no lime green, no character shirts, etc. Now, there are some vibes where we pull a band tee in and it looks rad, but logos and such are pretty much always a no-go.

7. What Should You Wear for Your Maternity Shoot and the Texas Seasons

We all know that Texas basically has 1 season all year round. So, please do not buy or invest in anything that is too heavy or uncomfortable for the Texas spring/summer. If it ends up being a little chilly, we can ALWAYS put a layer on top and make sure you are warm enough without overheating you.
On the flip side, there are just a couple of months out of the year that we will have to look for clothes that are alot heavier, like sweaters, chunky knits, etc as your primary layer.
But, for the most part, keep the fabrics light and breathable so you do not die of heat exhaustion.

8. What do your Children Wear to your Maternity Session?

When deciding what your partner will wear, you want to coordinate but not match. This is so important. If your colors are the same, you will blend into each other and it will be hard to see the separation. You know the white tops and jeans look that everybody did in 1996? Yea. Some vibes call for something that nostalgic and retro. But, most of the time, we want to coordinate and put a couple of other colors in there for some balance and variation. So, put your partner and/or kids in complementary colors. You can search Pinterest for complementary colors and get ideas.
PS. I also have a what to wear guide that I send you in your emails once you book with some color palette ideas. AND, if you have booked with me, I personally send you style boards that take into consideration all of your styling concerns and send you direct links to purchase OR try to find similar looks in your own closet.

9. What Undergarments Should you wear to your Maternity Session?

Ok! So, now you know what to wear for your maternity shoot ON THE OUTSIDE, let’s talk about what’s underneath real quick! Unless we have styled you with a different aesthetic in mind, then you should opt for a bra and underwear that are nude or skincolor.
Bras should be convertible or strapless, OR if you really wanna go for it – just wear pasties and then you don’t have to worry about the rest of the bra at all lol!
For underwear, try for seamless because that will definitely help in not creating those panty-lines that we all hate.
There are a few more intimate stylings that have the look of black bikini or undergarments underneath a kimono or open cardigan. But, that look is always secondary, so we usually have a more look when we do something like that!

10. More than 1 Outfit?

YES! The answer is absolutely yes! We can’t really go crazy and do a million looks in an hour, but we can fit in 1 outfit change (sometimes 2 if there aren’t little ones to also change). So, if you want the look of a dramatic dress with a long train, and then a more intimate look with lots of skin showing, then that is 100% possible. I always bring my changing tent so we can pretty quicky switch the look up and keep going.
All I ask is that you share your vision with me. I am usually 100% in support of it, and I can usually help you tweak it to help you make it epic and over-the-top!

Here are some other titles that you might be interested in if this was helpful for you!

Capturing Family and Siblings in Maternity Photos

When is the Best Time for Maternity Photos?

Capturing Chaos: A Mom’s Guide to a Stress-Free Photoshoot