Maternity photoshoot ideas and tips

Beautiful maternity photos start with a camera and these three basic ingredients:

1. Style: Choose clothes that make you feel comfortable and beautiful while showing off the shape of your belly. It could be jeans and a t-shirt or a long flowing dress, what matters most is that you feel like yourself.
2. People: While you only need yourself for a maternity photoshoot, you may want to have your partner, older child or children, or parents in front of the camera with you. If they're hesitant, remind them that it's for the baby. Before you know it, your baby will be a child looking at these photos and seeing how their family anticipated their arrival. Rewards like a sweet treat or a family movie night can do wonders for small children who are reluctant to participate.
3. Lighting: The best lighting is not too bright. Outdoors, avoid shooting in the middle of the day because it can give your photos a harsh appearance. The softer light in mornings and evenings will create better pictures. Photographers swear by "the golden hour," which is the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset.

If you're taking photos indoors, photographer Karla Martin recommends you plan to shoot during the brightest time of day (noon or close to it), stand near a window, add a plain white curtain or hang a white sheet to diffuse the light, and be sure to turn off all artificial lights so they don't add weird shadows or garish lighting to your photos.

If you can, splurge on a professional photographer to take your maternity photos. A photographer will use professional-quality gear, and can also help you relax and look your best.

"Photographers have a lot of experience with helping people look their best in photos," says Martin. "It takes the pressure off of planning, styling, and thinking about poses. Someone who's doing this every day will help you get shots that you'll love."

Whether you hire a photographer, grab a friend or relative to take pictures, or take photos yourself, we recommend putting some thought into your pregnancy photos. Read on for creative ideas on when, where, and how to do your maternity photoshoot.

Take your maternity photos in a place that's meaningful to you, whether that's your bedroom, your backyard, a nearby park, or in front of your home.

The natural world is a foolproof background. Head to your favorite park, the beach, or somewhere you have a special memory.

Indoors, pose in front of a fun background that reflects your personal aesthetic. It could be a painting you love or something you made yourself. Or, try the place where you feel most comfortable – maybe your bedroom or even your couch.

Posing in a tub (perhaps with artfully arranged flowers) makes for a great maternity photo. Water is a symbol of life, and floating in water represents your baby floating in your womb. You may have heard of milk bath maternity photos, where moms-to-be pose in a tub full of milk. The white liquid frames a pregnant belly beautifully.

Take maternity photos when your bump is quite visible, but before you get too uncomfortable. This will depend on your body and pregnancy.

Most people take maternity photos between 28 and 32 weeks. If you carry small, you might want to wait longer, but don't wait too long since you never know when your baby will arrive!

Take advantage of the coziness of the season and holiday decor. Pose in front of something festive like your Christmas tree or twinkly lights. Or, bundle up and find a beautiful winter landscape. A snowy winter wonderland guarantees magical photos.

Spring, the season of new beginnings, is a lovely time to take pregnancy photos. Hold a few pretty flowers in front of your belly. Cherry blossoms, which appear for only a few weeks in spring, make an unforgettable background if you can catch them.

Capture the light of a warm summer night. If you're shooting during the golden hour, stand to your side with the sun behind you for a silhouette effect. It will draw attention to your bump and give you a halo effect.

Autumn is a magical time to do a maternity photoshoot. Take advantage of those gorgeous fall colors. See how your belly compares to a pumpkin. Channel your inner sorceress with a long gown. Or, hold the perfect leaf in front of your belly.

A winning pose for maternity photos is to hold your belly like you'll soon cradle your baby. This will naturally accentuate your gorgeous shape. For profile shots, frame your bump with the arm closest to the camera, and rest your other hand on top of your bump.

For head-on shots, try placing both of your hands under your belly, framing it with your arms. Another head-on pose is to put one hand on top of your bump and the other on the bottom.

Grab your sweetheart for some cute couple maternity photos. Idea: Customize matching t-shirts with your own brand of humor. (In a few short years, your child may find these images hilarious.) You may want to take pictures in your baby's nursery or just in your favorite room at home.

Ask your partner to kiss your belly, or have your partner stand behind you and hold your belly. Another pose: Stand facing your partner and join hands.

Snuggle up with your older child or children. Ask your child to pat or kiss your belly. Or, get playful and capture some candid shots with your family.

Use props that are meaningful to you, like sonogram photos or shoes you wore as a baby. Hold a bouquet of balloons to celebrate. Or, don a flower crown and hold a bouquet.

Learn more:

• Video: How to take bump photos
• Pregnant belly photos