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5 Tips on What to Wear for a Maternity Session

Hi Everyone! I’m Rachel with Rachel Clesi Photography . I was so excited when Erin asked me to write a guest post for Sixth Bloom. One of my goals this year is to share my knowledge and love of photography with others, what better way to kick that off that this? Maternity sessions have always been one of my favorite sessions to shoot. I love how mommy and daddy to be are just glowing and so focused on that beautiful baby bump! Now, what does one wear to a maternity session? I’m here to tell you! Before I begin, I highly recommend getting your maternity pictures done between 30-33 weeks. This way your belly has really shown itself and you aren’t at the point of feeing like a beached whale (if you’ve ever been pregnant you know what I mean!)

 1- Choose two different outfits. I always suggest to my clients to come with two different options to a shoot. You will have two different looks. Always go with the casual and dressy option. Dressy doesn’t necessarily mean suit and dress, but just something a little nicer that jeans and a fitted tee. Remember to always chose clothing that is true to your style and personality. Be careful to stay away from busy patterns as they can take away and sometimes hide your belly.

2- Accentuate that Bump! Wear things that are flattering to your body and show off the main reason for this session, your bump! An easy way to make that bump stand out a little more is to add a belt between your breast and belly. Wear things that are tight around your belly.

3- Bare belly or not?  This is totally a personal preference. Some women don’t feel comfortable showing off a bare belly and that’s totally okay! If you do want to do a few shots of your bare belly, make sure you plan your outfits accordingly. Be careful of wearing things that will leave elastic marks on your belly before the shoot. For my own maternity session(Photo credit: Erin Rachel Photography) I knew I wanted a few shots of my bare belly. A custom made peek-a- boo skirt was the perfect fix. I had the option of opening it up to show some skin or closing it and giving the appearance of a maxi dress.

4- Wear comfortable shoes. After all, you are eight months pregnant, your ankles are probably looking more like “cankles” and it’s getting a little uncomfortable to walk around for long periods of time. If you are comfortable in heels and that is your style, then go ahead and flaunt them! If you are anything like me, I prefer bare feet or some type of flat.

5- Props: This is another thing that is a personal preference, some people have got to have them, others see their bump as the only prop they need. An ultrasound picture, the first letter of the baby’s name, or a pair of booties are all items that can be tastefully added to your shoot.

I hope these five simple tips will help you plan ahead for your maternity shoot and congratulations on your beautiful baby in the making!

Be sure to hop over to our Ultimate Guide with resources and extra tips –> What to Wear for Pictures