Zionsville Maternity Photographer | Session Styling for Expecting Mothers

As a Zionsville Maternity Photographer, I understand that having maternity portraits taken is both exciting and overwhelming. It is one of those things that feels like the perfect way to capture the sweet season of pregnancy… until you start to think about how much time and energy goes into trying to find the perfect dress when nothing fits like it used to, not to mention coordinating outfits for the whole family, all of the trips to the store for the inevitable returns, all with kids in tow and the exhaustion that tends to come along with pregnancy as it is. 

Mama, can you relate? 

When you think about everything that needs to happen to pull this off, you may begin to feel like this maternity session might not be worth all the hassle.

You may not realize it, but the key to the perfect styling for a maternity session, especially in one of the busiest and most exhausting seasons of your life, is to choose a photographer who will help you with wardrobe! My clients have access to my full session guide with all of the information they need to confidently choose their outfits as well as style boards with links to for outfits chosen by me! Today, I’m sharing a quick guide to styling for your maternity session that will help us create a gorgeous and timeless look for your photos!

 

 

SESSION STYLING TIPS FROM A ZIONSVILLE MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHER

DON’T BE AFRAID TO DRESS IT UP

Have you dreamed about rocking a flowing, romantic gown with flowers in your hair, but just never had a reason to go all out? This is the perfect opportunity to dress up! There is no such thing as “too fancy” when it comes to your portrait session, especially if you feel valued and beautiful. So don’t be afraid to dress in the things you love! As a Zionsville maternity photographer, I’ve got you covered with a selection of elegant dresses! All in our signature neutral, light and airy style.

 

 

SAY YES TO THE DRESS

Dresses and skirts are made to accentuate a woman’s figure and allow you to look and feel like you’re on the red carpet. Those beautiful, flowing gowns look especially gorgeous on you through the lens of a camera! Because of this, it is best to avoid pants or shorts and stick to the dresses. 

Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement and elegance to the photos. Especially when photographed surrounded by nature, like wildflower fields, spring blooms or the greenery of a forest. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement and flow in the images.

When considering the length of your dresses or skirts, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. Shorter cocktail-length dresses may be fun for a night out, but if you are taking photos with your small child, a floor-length dress or skirt will make it more comfortable to interact on their level, and will make moving around with your kids much easier. Long dresses look perfect on camera, too!

If you’re an expecting mother, we always recommend floor-length gowns or maxi dresses, as these dresses create the best silhouettes to flatter your sweet baby bump. And they always look absolutely gorgeous on everyone! Some of our expecting mothers love to incorporate flower crowns or other hair pieces as well. We also love dresses that have beautiful detailing such as embroidery, lace, delicate buttons or petite floral patterns.

 

CHOOSING COLORS

When choosing the colors for your outfits, we recommend softer, lighter and more muted shades of neutrals. By avoiding the brighter and bolder colors, all eyes will focus on your faces and the way you interact with each other. The colors that are most conducive to produce light, airy and natural portraits are soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown, chambray, and white. This softer color palette fits organically and beautifully into all natural outdoor environments and neutral indoor settings. If you’re someone who likes a little more contrast, some of our favorite deeper colors to compliment the softness are charcoal gray, dark mauve, and olive green. For newborn sessions, I recommend sticking to simple whites, creams or soft grays.

 

 

FLATTERING YOUR FEATURES

From my experience, every woman regardless of size, shape or age has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about. Choosing dresses or gowns that flatter your silhouette and colors that compliment your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Our client closet is filled with the perfect, gorgeous neutrals in the most flattering styles for a timeless, classic and authentic look.

Long sleeves create a gorgeous, regal look while also having a slimming effect on the arms, so many BLP clients love this option and we have plenty to choose from in our client closet! Spaghetti straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on camera, so we recommend avoiding those whenever possible. 

When it comes to shoes, heels can elongate women’s legs and make them look fabulous, but may not feel comfortable or natural to everyone. We also love the look of barefoot mamas cuddling their kiddos!  If your toes are showing, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your feet show. It may also be helpful to bring a more comfortable pair of flats to wear when moving from place to place in between photos. 

 

 

HAIR & MAKEUP

We highly recommend soft, loose curls and hair down so it can flow in the wind and move with your dress during your session! This look is gorgeous for long and short hair styles, and provides an element of movement in your photos. We also love braided styles for something that makes a little more of a statement, especially if having your hair back feels more natural for you. For little girls, hair down is also the best bet, but you may need to consider a floral crown, cute head band or bow to keep hair out of her eyes. 

For makeup, you will need to apply more than you normally would while still keeping a natural, classic look. Mascara or high quality fake lashes can add a gorgeous feminine touch to your photos.

 

 

Looking for a Zionsville maternity photographer?

Learn how to find the right photographer in Indianapolis for your needs.

We would love to help serve your family! Schedule your consultation call today to learn more.

 

 

Hair and makeup provided by Something Blue Stylists and Faces by Jenni Smith