Maternity photos are a great way to capture this special time in your life with your family. However, it can be difficult to have a fun and successful photoshoot when you’re dealing with all the stresses of being pregnant. In this blog post, I will give you some tips on how to make your family maternity photo shoot a success!
Family maternity photoshoot general ideas:
-Pick a theme: A lot of families choose to do a beach maternity shoot, or a nature-themed shoot. If you have a specific idea in mind, it will be easier to plan your outfits and find the perfect location.
-Plan ahead: Make sure you give yourself enough time to plan the details of the shoot. This includes picking a date, time, and location that works for everyone, as well as deciding what you’re going to wear.
-Be flexible: Even if you have everything planned out, things might not go according to plan. Try to be flexible and go with the flow on the day of the shoot.
-Have fun: The most important thing is to have fun! Enjoy this special time with your family and make sure to take lots of pictures.
Hiring a Professional Photographer or DIY?
There are many great maternity photographers out there, and one of the first decisions you’ll need to make for your maternity photos is whether to hire a professional photographer or try to take them yourself. If you’re not comfortable being in front of the camera, it might be worth it to invest in a professional photographer who can help capture this special time. However, if you’re confident in your ability to take your own maternity photos, DIYing it might be the way to go!
Actually, I believe that taking good photos is not that complicated, especially when taking photos of a pregnant woman with an adorable baby bump with her family. So DIY should not be really complicated. Moreover, doing it yourself might give you the confidence to take more (and hopefully better) photos of your family in the future. So my recommendation is to try to take your own maternity photos!
Choosing the Right Location
Once you’ve decided whether to hire a professional photographer or go the DIY route, it’s time to start thinking about locations for your maternity photos. If you’re hiring a professional photographer, they will likely have some great ideas for locations that will suit your style. If you DIY, I would recommend just taking the pictures at your home. This way you can take photos of every-day genuine activities of your family playing, singing, cooking, reading, etc. You will not get better photos than these ones!
If you still want to go to the great outdoors, here are some popular locations for family maternity shoots:
-The beach: A classic choice for maternity photos, the beach is a great place to capture the beauty of pregnancy. Just make sure to keep an eye on the tide!
-A park or forest: If you want a nature-themed shoot, a park or forest is the perfect location. Just be sure to check for signs that forbid photography in the area.
-A lake: Another great option for a nature-themed shoot, a lake can provide a beautiful backdrop for your photos. Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather and water conditions.
As you can see, there are many great options for locations for your family maternity shoot. Just be sure to pick a location that works for everyone involved and that you feel comfortable with.
What should you wear to get the best family maternity pictures?
This is a question that plagues many pregnant women. The good news is, there are no hard and fast rules about what to wear for your maternity photos. If you’re hiring a professional photographer, they will likely have some great suggestions for what to wear. If you’re DIYing it, I would recommend just wearing something that makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. You want to be able to look back on these photos and feel happy about how you looked and felt during this special time in your life.
Solid colors always go well, especially white. Try to avoid patterns and logos, as they can be distracting. And if you’re planning on taking photos with your partner or other family members, it might be a good idea to coordinate your outfits so that you look like a cohesive unit.
Maternity Photo Ideas
In maternity photoshoots, sometimes less is more. You can get some great maternity pictures with your family in so many ways that don’t have to be complicated. First, if you are doing the “session” at your house, you can just take pictures of everyday activities as I mentioned earlier. You won’t need to pose anyone especially to get beautiful photos, just let them be themselves and capture the moment. If you want to pose a scene, here are my best maternity photoshoot ideas that you can do at home:
-The family sitting on the couch together with the mom-to-be holding her belly
-The family gathered around the kitchen table
-The whole family snuggling in bed together
-The dad playing with his kids in the yard. This might be good for older siblings.
-A photo of just the mom and dad (or the expectant parents if it’s their first child)
Of course, you can create many more scenes to get those stunning maternity photos. If you have a baby, or a newborn, here are some more maternity photoshoot ideas that can fit a baby too:
-The family sitting in rocking chairs on the porch, all waiting for the new baby to come.
-The mom reading to her kids. Make sure that the bump is visible!
-A close up of the baby’s hand holding onto his/her parent’s finger.
Funny Maternity Photoshoot Ideas
Maternity photoshoots don’t always have to be serious. You can totally have some fun with it and get some great laughs (and memories) in the process. Here are some funny maternity photoshoot ideas:
-The dad holding a pair of baby shoes up to his belly, pretending he’s the one pregnant
-The whole family wearing pregnancy t-shirts that say things like “we’re expecting”
-The mom and dad kiss with the mom’s belly in between them. Just make sure it actually seems like the bump is disrupting the upcoming kiss.
-The family making a human pyramid, with the mom’s belly as the apex. You might need some experience to take this picture, but it is a great pose.
-The dad holding a pair of kids’ shoes in each hand, as if he’s trying to figure out which one goes on which foot. These are hilarious especially when the shoes are one of those teeny tiny baby shoes.
-The mom balancing a stack of books or other items on her belly.
My top 5 Tips For Family Maternity Photos
Now that you have some ideas of what to wear and how to pose, here are my top five tips for taking great family maternity photos:
- Get a tripod. This will help you take crisp, clear photos without having to worry about someone else holding the camera steady.
- Take advantage of natural light. Maternity photoshoots are best done in the morning or evening when the light is softer. This is often called the “golden hour” and it makes for some stunning images.
- If you’re using a DSLR camera, put it on manual mode. This will give you more control over the settings and help you get the best possible photos.
- Be patient. With kids especially, it might take some time to get that perfect shot. But trust me, it will be worth it in the end.
- And lastly, have fun! This is a special time for you and your family, so enjoy it and make some great memories.
FAQ’s
Q: What is a pregnancy photo shoot?
A: A pregnancy photo shoot is a photoshoot that captures the expecting mother’s journey to motherhood.
Q: How many weeks pregnant should you be for a maternity shoot?
A: You can technically have a maternity shoot at any point during your pregnancy, but most women opt to do it between 28 and 36 weeks
Q: What is the best time of day to make my maternity photo session?
A: The best time of day to take maternity photos is in the morning or evening when the light is softer. This is often called the “golden hour.”
Conclusion
There you have it! These are just a few ideas to get you started on your family maternity photoshoot. With some planning and a little bit of creativity, you’re sure to end up with some beautiful photos that you’ll cherish for years to come. Thanks for reading!
