How to style creative Maternity photos at home
I’ve been a family, maternity and newborn photographer in the Spokane area for around a decade. Maternity sessions have changed an morphed so many times in my years of work, I understand how coming up with a creative look for maternity photos can be intimidating, especially when you’ve never styled one before. Let’s dive into my expertise on what I think creates a truly creative maternity photo session at home.
Keep it simple. Creative almost never means over the top with extravagant props and outfits. It usually means doing the unexpected in a way that causes the viewer to stop, be curious and ponder the art. I am a big believer that more creativity in sessions comes from simpler everything and very intentional selections of visual elements.
Unique Wardrobe Selections. Unique wardrobe selections can go a long way in adding creativity to your newborn photos. I always recommend sticking to a more neutral and earthy palette, because it will age the photos less, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make selections with texture or that your selections have to be boring. Dressing down a bit, but not going to the extreme of a full nude belly can be a great option. For example a pair of flare leggings and bralette being covered by a sweater can be a cute look. Or a chunky sweater that you hold up over the belly to expose it a little bit. There’s so many ways to play with wardrobe. You could also consider foregoing your pants to wear boy short underwear and that chunky sweater. There’s so many ways to create pops of uniqueness in your wardrobe. If you decide to select some more “colorful” pieces, choose a toned down red or at least a cool toned red, like a burgundy as it tends to edit a little cleaner.
Interesting Visual Elements and Texture. While I always believe less is more when it comes to styling photoshoots, there are some subtle things that can be done to increase visual interest in photos. For example, if you have a bathroom with a beautiful soaking tub and ample natural light, taking maternity photos in the bathroom surrounded by your other children can create an intimate and interesting look to your photos. Keep your wardrobe neutral and dress it down a bit- like underwear and a loose sweater. I’m not saying you’d be in your soaking tub for photos at all, but posing around the bathtub with your kids could be an interesting and appealing look. If intimate in that way isn’t your style, you could plan your session in your kitchen, baking cookies with your family and dress in flare yoga pants and a bralette with a sweater to show off your bump. Changing up the typical scene of where maternity photos happen can create unexpected visual interest and invoke curiosity in the viewer of the photo- meaning the look is more creative.
Hire the best photographer for your family. The best photographer can be very subjective as we are artists. I recommend finding a photographer whose art makes you feel deeply when you look at it. Choose a photographer that will jive with your family and allow them to feel comfortable being themselves. Selecting a photographer is a deeply personal decision and should not be done lightly or based on pricing alone.