What to wear to your maternity photoshoot is one of the top questions that I get asked. I am a newborn and maternity photographer here in Montreal for the past 7 years and have a lot of great advice on what to wear.
In addition to the advice I include here and in my prep guide, every single maternity and newborn photoshoot includes complimentary wardrobe styling with local stylist Amanda Eaman. You can read more about what she does here.
What to wear to your maternity photoshoot
Decide what you like
Choosing what outfits to wear to your maternity shoot can feel overwhelming but it doesn't need to be. Take a look at my maternity Pinterest board and other Pinterest boards and create a mood board of your own. You will probably start to see a pattern in the types of clothes the women are wearing. If you don't see a pattern or can't really tell, you can always consult with Amanda Eaman. Amanda is a stylist and her services are included in most of my sessions. You can read more about what she does here.
Consult with your Wardrobe Stylist
Amanda is there to help you narrow down your looks, perhaps source any links online or select from my client closet. Here services are included, and she can help you with both your looks and co-ordinating your family.
Narrow down your looks
For outdoor shoots, I recommend only one look. Most of the places I shoot are very public and there is nowhere to change. If you really want to change I do have a pop up tent.
For in-home shoots, you can do as many looks as you feel. If you have kids I'd say 1-2 is probably all you want. If you are without kids you have time for up to 3.
Studio shoots with a 1 hour session we can do 2 or 3 looks (max).
Studio shoots with a 30 minute sessions it's 1-2 looks.
Borrow Dresses
If you'd like to borrow a dress you can either pick it up in advance or show up to the studio a little earlier. I often book sessions pretty much back to back so it's important to communicate with me if this is something you are interested in. Regardless, it is important to arrange borrowing dresses in advance. I am often gone on weekends and my weekdays are busy. I am not at the studio everyday. In addition I need to make sure your dresses are as wrinkle-free as possible.
TRY ON YOUR CLOTHES
I cannot stress this enough. Very frequently I can tell clients have not tried on new clothes or any of their looks. This simply eats at the time you have. One of the most frequently rejected looks is unbuttoned jeans and a bra. For some reason, women love this look in photos but don't love the way it looks on them. This is also a good time to check for and remove wrinkles and make sure your clothes are not stained.
Remember Underwear
If you are borrowing a sheer item or even a white dress, remember we can see underwear underneath. If you are wearing a white dress, make sure you have a nude bra. I do have silicone pasties that you can borrow in a variety of shades that I absolutely love. They offer nipple coverage without a full bra. If you want to get your amazon sells a variety of shades and colours. Just look up 'reusable silicon nipple covers'. These do not offer any breast support.
My Dream Outfit List
If it were up to me, everyone would choose a combination of the following:
-dress (or jumpsuit - whatever is your vibe)
-sheer dress/robe
-bra and underwear with a chunky cardigan, loose robe or oversized button up shirt
-bra and jeans with a chunky cardigan in pastel or jewel tones, or an oversized button up shirt or a very loose sweater
However, some choose multiple dresses or one look only. It is really up to you!
Partners
I would say that partners keep the same outfit or maybe change the top/dress. They will not appear in every image, and sometimes not in a sequence at all. The starring role is really the pregnant mom.
I love creating beautiful maternity photos in your home or at my studio in Montreal. If you are interested please get in touch!
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