Maternity photoshoot ideas for poses
Most maternity poses come down to one rule: show the curve of the bump in profile. These poses do that:
- Side-on profile, one hand above the bump and one below.
- Looking down at your hands on the bump, eyes lowered.
- Leaning back against a tree trunk or a wall, smiling at the camera.
- Walking away slowly, with a long skirt trailing behind.
- Seated on a blanket or a step, knees to one side.
- A close crop of the bump alone, in black and white.
Eyes down to the bump
In a blush tulle gown with sequinned sleeves and a jewelled headband, she looks down and smiles, hands above and below the bump, sunlit bush glowing behind. The black and white frame repeats the idea in a floral halter dress, the tree trunks behind turned to soft grey shapes.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksIdeas with your partner
- Partner standing behind, arms around the bump, cheek to cheek.
- Four hands on the bump, faces cropped out.
- A kiss on the forehead or the temple, eyes closed.
- Partner kneeling, ear or lips to the bump.
- A wide frame of the two of you small in a big landscape.
Small in a big landscape
Seen from behind, the couple stand hand in hand facing a wall of rocky mountains, her red gown trailing across the dry ground. In the next frame they turn in for a kiss, and the long train pools behind her like a brushstroke of red in the veld.
Photograph: Lee-Ann Alicks
A heart on the bump
He wraps his arms around her from behind and kisses her temple, while together they shape a heart with their hands on her bump. Bright sun and golden fynbos behind keep the whole frame warm.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksProps that tell the story
A prop works when it means something to you. Keep it to one or two per session.
- The ultrasound scan, held up together towards the camera.
- A tiny pair of shoes resting on the bump.
- A children's book you plan to read to the baby.
- A letter board with the due date or the baby's name.
- Balloons in pink, blue or neutral pastels.
The scan above a heart
She holds the scan print at chest height while his hands make a heart shape over the bump below. The frame is cropped at her smile, and the soft, washed-out trees behind leave the scan and the heart in charge.
Photograph: Lee-Ann Alicks
The scan on its own
A single ultrasound print laid in dry grass, photographed from above. The straw adds texture and warmth around the dark scan: a still detail to set between the portraits.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksSiblings and the bump
Older children are best photographed early in the session, while they are still interested. Give them something to do:
- Ear or cheek pressed to the bump, listening.
- A kiss on the bump.
- Holding mum's hand on a walk.
- Holding the scan photo or the baby's first toy.
A kiss and a nose rub
On a boardwalk through fynbos, a girl in denim dungarees kisses her mother's bump while mum smiles at the lens. In long grass, another mum in a blush gown leans down to touch noses with her daughter, both of them laughing in dappled sun.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksOutdoor maternity ideas: beach, fynbos, forest and garden
- Beach: a silhouette against the sky at sunset, or bare feet in the shallows. Flowing fabric moves well in a sea breeze. A silhouette needs open sky behind you.
- Fynbos and mountains: wide frames that place you in a big landscape.
- Forest: tree trunks as texture and open shade for even light.
- Garden: flowering shrubs or long grass as a soft foreground.
In summer the south-easter blows hardest in the afternoon, so a sheltered spot or an early start helps when the plan includes long trains and loose hair.
Black and white and detail ideas
- A tight crop of the bump in profile, in black and white.
- Rings on both your hands, resting together on the bump.
- Bare feet in the sand or the grass beside your partner's.
- A partner's hand in yours, photographed close.
Black and white removes colour clashes and draws attention to shape and light, so it suits close crops in a busy setting.
A heart in monochrome
Two hands shape a heart on a bump covered in tiny printed flowers, a beaded bracelet on one wrist. Black and white turns the grass behind into soft streaks of grey and keeps the eye on the hands.
Photograph: Lee-Ann AlicksAt-home maternity ideas
- Standing in the finished nursery, beside the cot.
- Window light on the bump, the rest of the room dark.
- On the bed in white sheets, with your partner.
- Folding the baby's first clothes.
At home, the best light comes from a large window to one side, not from behind you. Sheer curtains soften direct sun, and switching off ceiling lights keeps skin tones natural.
Outfit, colour and timing ideas
A fitted dress traces the curve of the bump, and a long, floaty skirt adds movement. Soft neutrals and pastels suit an airy look, and one strong colour such as red or emerald stands out against green. Aim for the hour before sunset, and check the sunset time for your date, because it shifts by more than two hours between June and December. Book the date around 20 weeks, and a little earlier for twins, when the best window moves forward.
| Idea | Best light | What to bring |
|---|---|---|
| Profile and silhouette | Last hour before sunset | A fitted dress |
| Flowing train | Low sun, little wind | A long, light gown |
| Partner and hands | Backlight or open shade | A plain shirt in a matching tone |
| Scan or baby shoes | Open shade | The scan print, tiny shoes |
| Nursery at home | Morning window light | A tidy nursery corner |
Every idea here works in a maternity photoshoot in Cape Town. To budget for one, the photoshoot prices in Cape Town page lists Lee-Ann's R950 maternity hour, and her other sessions are on her photographer in Cape Town page.
Questions people ask
Is 36 weeks too late for a maternity shoot?
No. It is still possible, but long sessions become tiring after about 36 weeks and the baby may arrive early. Keep the session short and close to home.
Can my partner and children join a maternity shoot?
Yes. Most sessions mix solo portraits, couple frames and a few with the children, who go first while they are fresh.
Do I need a special maternity gown?
No. Any fitted dress shows the bump well. A long gown adds movement, but a jersey dress or a shirt and jeans work too.
Should I bring props to a maternity shoot?
Yes, if they mean something to you. One or two, such as the scan photo or baby shoes, are enough.