TIPS + TRICKS FOR YOUR SESSION

WHAT TO WEAR (& NOT WEAR)




When choosing what to wear for maternity photos outside, you want an outfit that reflects your style, flatters your changing body, and makes you feel confident and comfortable. Dress in something that feels like YOU.

START WITH YOU (THE LADIES)...



If you are planning an outdoor maternity session, the first consideration should be the season and location. You will want to choose something that will be comfortable for walking around outside. If we are doing a session during the winter or chillier parts of spring or fall, you will want to bring a jacket to cover up between shots. Don’t forget good sturdy shoes.  You can also switch out layers and accessories for different shots throughout the session. This can help change up your look quickly and easily for a variety of portraits.   

Embrace your Baby Bump in maternity photos

You want to showcase that beautiful bump!  When choosing what to wear for outdoor maternity photos, think about outfits that accentuate your changing body. Form-fitting dresses, for instance, allow your baby bump to be the focal point of your maternity photos. 


Let’s be honest, the later stages of pregnancy are not when women feel their most confident or comfortable in their bodies. It’s best to do the session by 34 weeks of pregnancy. You may be worried about how you’ll look on camera. A long dress is the perfect way to conceal those swollen ankles, feet, or any other body part you feel self-conscious about. Knowing these can be concealed can help you lean into confidence when selecting what to wear for maternity photos outside.  


What Color Should I Wear?

  • Consider the Season: The season your shoot is scheduled will be a big consideration when deciding what to wear for maternity photos outside. Start by choosing your palette. 
  • Fall/Winter, warm colors like mustard, brown, rust, cream, and taupe
  • Spring/ Summer, lighter colors like neutral and light toned, cream, white, beige, gray, muted pinks and purple, coral, rose and light blues


What Should My Partner or Kids Wear to My Maternity Photo Session?

If you plan to include your partner or kids in your outdoor maternity photo shoot, the key to selecting their outfits is that they “coordinate.”  If everyone is wearing the same color, they tend to blend.  Your partner and kids have distinctive personalities, and that should be reflected in your maternity photos. Simply select 2-3 colors from your palette and build outfits with a variation of them. This will help showcase this unique and loving family your little one is coming into. Incorporating different textures into your family's outfits for a maternity photoshoot is a great way to add visual interest and dimension to the photos.


Coordination is key, but there is such a thing as matching too much. Don't choose identical outfits. Instead, choose a color palette that each person can make unique with variations of texture and style, accessories, or a subtle pattern. Wear colors that compliment each other, but aren’t exactly the same. And if someone is going to wear a print, it should be one or a max of two people. Everyone else should wear a solid color.


CHECKLIST:

HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR PHOTO SESSION

A few tips to prep for your photo session:

  1. Hydrate: In the days leading up to your photo session, make sure to drink lots of water for your best, most hydrated skin.
  2. Get your sleep: This one's obvious, but try to get a good night sleep before your shoot.
  3. Choose your outfits: choose outfit(s) that help you feel your best.
  4. Press your clothes: Wrinkles are a photoshoot's worst, most avoidable enemy! Iron, steam, or dry clean your clothes, to ensure your 'fits are wrinkle-free.
  5. Makeup: Camera tends to show more than we like! Wear a tad more extra coverage than you are use to cover up any blemishes you dislike. Fake lashes or extra contour can help create a slimming effect for mamas that have swelling in their face. Even if you're a natural gal, a subtle lip tint will help bring out your features and not look washed-out on camera.
  6. NAILS - I will be taking close ups of your hands! Make sure you are either embracing all-natural or treat yourself to a manicure.


WHAT TO BRING:


  1. Water! — stay hydrated!
  2. Lip color for touch-ups, makes a big difference
  3. If it’s summer or spring, be prepared to get a little sweaty - bring a Kleenex or napkin to gently pat away any shine from sweating
  4. Spare Shoes if you tend to swell up or want to change into something comfortable after.
  5. Not all locations have an available bathroom - if you have a second outfit, be prepared to change in the car or public restrooms (not always available)!


Optional Props to Bring:

  • Ultrasound photo
  • Baby shoes or onesie
  • Floral crown or bouquet
  • Blanket
  • Letter board or sign with baby’s name or due date



What to avoid/no-no list:
  • ball caps (dressier fedora type hats, bennies for boys are cute though!)
  • logos or prints (especially on kids clothing)
  • patterns, especially large patterns such as that hawaiian shirt hubby got on the cruise last year.
  • neon, fluro, and other super bright colours (pops of colour are ok, but a solid tangerine shirt will be jarring in a photograph)
  • running tennis shoes
  • very short skirts (it limits poses)


A NOTE ON GLASSES: If you always wear them, plan to wear them in your photos. We can always do some photos with & some without so you have options. Do not wear transition lenses to your session. There will be a fee per image for retouching dark lenses.