What to Wear for a Maternity Photo Session

Choosing what to wear for a maternity session can bring up lots of questions.

A long dress or a short one? Something fitted or something with movement? Light colors? And what should your partner wear?

The good news is that you don’t need to buy a special wardrobe for your session. The most important thing is to choose clothes that make you feel like yourself and that complement this very special moment in your body.

There are a few things that work particularly well from a photographic point of view.

Clothing that highlights your bump

During a maternity session, I love for the baby bump to have its moment.

That’s why dresses that gently define your silhouette work beautifully, as do fitted pieces, tops paired with skirts or low-rise pants, and looser dresses that we can shape naturally with your hands or through movement.

Not everything has to be fitted.

Very often, a flowing piece of clothing, used in the right way, can create beautiful and very natural photographs.

Fabrics with movement

Long dresses and skirts are especially beautiful for outdoor sessions because they move with the wind and add so much to the photographs.

Linen, cotton, silk, soft knits and fabrics with a natural drape usually work beautifully.

I especially love pieces that feel light and organic and that move naturally with the body.

Colors

Neutral and natural tones tend to work especially well with the Onedrop style.

White, cream, beige, off-white, sand, soft browns, muted greens and earthy tones blend beautifully with the landscapes of La Barra, Manantiales and José Ignacio.

That doesn’t mean everything has to be beige.

If there is a color you love and that feels like you, we can absolutely incorporate it. The important thing is that it doesn’t compete too much with you or with the landscape.

What should you avoid?

I would generally avoid large logos, very bold graphics, tiny or busy prints, and overly structured clothing.

It is also usually best not to introduce too many different colors within the same session.

The idea is not for everything to match perfectly, but rather to create a sense of harmony between the clothing and the surroundings.

Dresses, skirts and textured pieces

Texture works particularly well for maternity sessions.

A soft wool knit, a linen dress, an oversized shirt, a flowing skirt, a wrap or a poncho can add depth and personality to the photographs.

We can also play with open or layered pieces to show the baby bump in a more spontaneous way.

What if I want some photographs showing more of my bump?

Of course.

We can take some photographs with a top, an open shirt, a cardigan, a kimono or another piece that allows us to leave the bump uncovered.

It doesn’t have to feel like an overly posed production.

The idea is for it to remain natural, delicate and true to you.

What should my partner wear?

Ideally, we think about both outfits together without dressing exactly alike.

If you are wearing light, natural tones, your partner can complement them with white, beige, grey, muted blue, olive green, brown or other earthy shades.

Linen shirts, plain T-shirts, sweaters, neutral trousers and clothing without logos all work beautifully.

The most important thing is to avoid having one person dressed in a very statement-making outfit while the other is dressed very simply.

What if older siblings are joining us?

With children, the same idea applies: comfortable clothing, soft colors and pieces that allow them to move and play freely.

During a maternity session with the family, I want them to continue being themselves.

If a child feels uncomfortable in what they are wearing, it shows.

One session, more than one look

During longer maternity sessions, we can include wardrobe changes.

For example, we might begin with a more natural and relaxed look, then change into a flowing dress, and finish with a few more intimate photographs showing the baby bump.

There is no need to bring lots of different options.

Two or three thoughtfully chosen looks are usually more than enough.

My most important recommendation

Don’t choose something simply because it “looks good for maternity photos.”

Choose something that feels like you.

I want you to look at these photographs many years from now and still recognize yourself in them.

Your body, your style, your partner, your family and this moment in your life.

The clothes are simply part of the story.

You — and this beautiful time of waiting — are the true focus.