If you've decided to have a maternity photoshoot to capture beautiful images of your pregnancy and this time in your life, you might be wondering what to wear. Whether you're planning casual family photos outside at your home or favorite park, or a studio session with dramatic lighting and backdrops, our maternity photoshoot shopping guide is designed to help you find the perfect outfit!
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Where to Find the Perfect Dress for a Maternity Photoshoot
Image credits and shopping sources: 1. Light Blue Maternity Gown from BeautyNaturalDesign on Etsy 2. Silk Maternity Dress for Photoshoot from RallysDesign on Etsy (available in several colors) 3. The Magnolia Rental Dress from WanderingThreadsUS on Etsy 4. Floral Maternity Dress from bumpandbohomaternity on Etsy
A maternity photoshoot is one of the most special occasions to dress up for during your pregnancy. Since the pictures will live on forever, it's a chance to celebrate your baby bump in style. Whether you're planning an intimate session at home or a full outdoor maternity photography shoot, finding the right maternity photoshoot dress can make all the difference in how you feel and how your photos turn out.
Shopping Guide: Maternity Photoshoot Dresses for Your Photoshoot
Here's our shopping guide with what we think are the best maternity photoshoot dresses and where to find them!
We also have a few tips to help you choose the perfect dress for your session. Whether you've already booked your maternity photographer or are still in the early planning stages, figuring out your outfit is one of the best ways to feel prepared and excited for the shoot.
What to Look for in a Maternity Photoshoot Dress
The best maternity gowns for a photoshoot are ones that make you feel beautiful, showcase your baby bump, and photograph well. Finding the perfect pregnancy dress doesn't have to be stressful. We've tried to find some of the best sources for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Draping fabrics are your friend. Soft, flowing, draping fabrics like chiffon, tulle, and silky jersey are some of the most flattering choices for maternity photography. They move beautifully in photos, drape the belly beautifully, and give your outfits a dreamy, ethereal quality.
Consider your sleeve preference. Long sleeves add an elegant, formal feel that works beautifully for indoor or fall- and winter-maternity shoots. Short sleeve and off-the-shoulder styles feel more relaxed and romantic and are especially pretty for outdoor sessions in warmer months.
Think about color. White maternity dresses are a classic choice for maternity photoshoots and always look stunning against natural backdrops. If you want to dress in traditional gender reveal colors, light blue, dusty pink, and blush tones are perennial favorites. Jewel tones like sage green, deep blue, and burgundy are also wonderful choices, especially for fall maternity sessions. Dramatic black gowns can give that magazine photoshoot look a glamorous, timeless feel.
Consult with your photographer. Your maternity photographer has probably done this many times before and knows what style of dress or outfit will look best in your photos. Discuss your creative vision for the photos, including the setting and time of day, the clothes you'll wear, hair, accessories, and any other styling details. Some photographers even have a collection of dresses that they loan out for photoshoots, so you may not even need to go shopping!
More Places to Look for Maternity Dresses
Image credits and shopping sources: 1. Lace Off the Shoulder Dress from PinkBlush Maternity 2. Sequin Dress from SeilaArt Dresses Shop on Etsy 3. Gauze Maternity Dress from ZuBuBeYou on Etsy 4. Dedysler Long Sleeve Maternity Gowns from Amazon
While we've done our best to pick some potential dresses for you, there's really nothing like picking out your own look that suits your personal style. Here are some of our favorite places to look for maternity dresses for photoshoots.
PinkBlush Maternity
PinkBlush Maternity is one of our top recommendations for maternity photoshoot dresses and gowns. They have a dedicated collection of photoshoot-ready maternity gowns in flowing silhouettes, beautiful colors, and a wide range of sizes. Their off-the-shoulder lace styles are particularly popular for maternity photography.
But if that flowy maternity dress isn't your style, PinkBlush still has one of the largest collections of stylish special occasion clothes, everyday dresses, and maternity wardrobe staples. It's definitely a top spot for getting dresses and everyday pieces during your pregnancy.
Etsy
Etsy is a wonderful source for unique designs or handmade maternity gowns designed specifically for photoshoots. Many Etsy shops specialize in made-to-order maternity photography gowns with a fitted bodice and a dramatic, flowing skirt. This is exactly the look that photographs beautifully. They also have quite a varity for different body types, if you're leaning toward a custom look. This is the place! Shops like Bumpandbohomaternity, RallysDesign, Dreams Dresses, and Maeve Unique Creations have some gorgeous styles.
Etsy is also a great source for maternity dress rentals. WanderingThreadsUS and The Traveling Dress are both great shops to look at if you're thinking about renting.
As always with Etsy, you want to check the ratings and read the reviews to make sure each seller is legit. The star sellers with the purple star indicating they are Etsy-approved are the best to pick.
Club L London
Club L London is a favorite of ours on our sister site, Dress for the Wedding, for wedding attire, but we really think it's a hidden gem for formal, designer-style fitted maternity gowns. Club L London offers lots of monochromatic maternity looks in sleek silhouettes with a slim fit bodice that really shows off your shape.
These modern styles look amazing if you want a streamlined, upscale look for your photos or an elegant look for other events like your baby shower or a wedding. Many of the dresses feature capes and are interestingly draped; the perfect detail to add a bit of movement to your photoshoot.
Amazon
Amazon has a surprisingly strong selection of maternity photoshoot dresses at very accessible price points, including flowing maxi styles, off-the-shoulder options, and lace gowns.
Since most Amazon purchases offer fast shipping and easy return options, Amazon can be a great choice for last minute dresses, especially if your maternity photo shoot is coming up soon or you want to try a bunch of dresses and return the ones that won't work.
ASOS
ASOS is also an excellent source for elevated maternity styles and dresses for special occasions. While these aren't the flowy statement dresses, there are lots of pretty styles, especially from the label Hope & Ivy, that work beautifully for both a special event like a baby shower or as a wedding guest, and to wear for a maternity photoshoot.
Tips for Choosing Your Maternity Shoot Outfits
Talk to your maternity photographer first. Some maternity photographers have strong preferences about colors and styles that work best in their shooting locations and lighting. Before you shop, ask your photographer what they recommend. They may have a list of preferred colors, and as we mentioned before, some even maintain a wardrobe of gowns for clients to borrow, or can get you discounted rates at. This is one of the best ways to ensure your maternity shoot photos come out exactly as you're imagining.
Think about more than one look. Some expectant moms choose two perfect outfits for their maternity shoot. One more formal flowing gown for the ethereal, dreamy shots, and one more casual or fitted style for relaxed, candid moments. If you're planning a longer session, having a change of outfit adds variety to your photo gallery and makes for a much more versatile collection of images.
A beautiful dress doesn't have to be expensive. Some of the most stunning maternity shoot photos feature simple, elegantly draped gowns that cost very little. It's truly all about the fit, the color, and the fabric. Your photographer will have some ideas for how to best use the dress in the shoot. Focus on finding a dress that makes you feel like the most radiant version of yourself, and the photos will reflect that.
Bump-friendly is always another option. Don't forget that the dress you choose for your maternity shoot doesn't have to be exclusively a maternity style! Many moms wear regular clothes, just sized up when needed during their entire pregnancy. There are also more stores, like Lulus, Baltic Born, Petal & Pup, even maternity stores like PinkBlush, that highlight bump-friendly and wear again post-pregnancy styles you can wear after your pregnancy and shoot.
With the right fabric, many flowing maxi dresses, formal gowns, and special occasion dresses work beautifully for pregnant women and can double as a baby shower dress or a dress for another special event during or after your pregnancy.
Try to find something with premium stretch material, smocking, or an empire waist to ensure it can be worn again postpartum. Shopping with that dual purpose in mind can help you get much more wear out of your perfect pregnancy dress.
More Maternity Style Ideas
Hopefully, this guide has given you some great shopping ideas, and you're on your way to narrowing down your favorite style and are that much closer to finding the perfect maternity dress for your photoshoot.
Keep reading our shopping guides for all your maternity clothing needs, like baby shower dresses, casual maternity dresses, and our picks for spring maternity styles.
