There are two ways to look at a pregnancy. Some women think of it as a time when they are unbelievably fat and unattractive, while others view it as a time of utmost and almost otherworldly beauty. It’s really the latter group that has the right of it. A woman’s pregnancy is one of the most special times in her life, and it should be enjoyed, celebrated, and remembered. Getting some maternity photography taken is a fantastic idea, but it has to be done just right. One important part of that is choosing the right clothes – or lack thereof.
A lot of women who are having maternity photos taken opt to do so in their birthday suits, or topless with some flattering underwear. This really plays in to the purity and beauty that is a woman with child. Obviously not every woman is going to be comfortable with that idea, but keep in mind that naked doesn’t have to mean exposed. You can always shoot from different angles or cover up the most private areas with an arm while still presenting that beautiful form. However, if that isn’t something that the mom-to-be is into, there are plenty of clothing options.
When choosing clothes, keep in mind that the primary focus of any maternity photo should be on the woman’s belly. At the very least, this area should be open and exposed to the world. That means any tops should be open around the midriff area – obviously a belly shirt isn’t really the thing to go for, but a flyaway blouse or something similar is great. Even just a normal shirt rolled up over the stomach can look really good. Make sure that the clothes are not too loose; otherwise the belly will not appear as defined.
Bottoms are also important. If mom doesn’t want to make memories in your ‘pregnancy pants,’ she might take her favorite pair of jeans instead and just wear them unzipped. There’s nothing wrong with getting a little sexy in a maternity photo shoot. Obviously, sexuality is a big element of pregnancy, and it should be celebrated as such.
One important piece of ‘clothing’ that is sometimes overlooked is the woman’s partner. While motherhood and parenthood are two very different things, the special connection that two people share when they have a baby together should also be honored. The mom-to-be’s partner should be in some shots, showing their deep love and affection for mom and the baby to come. For that matter, including newborn photography in the whole family in some pictures can be a great idea.
Ultimately, there are relatively few ‘wrong answers’ when it comes to choosing clothing and accessories for a photo shoot. Whatever type of clothes speak to the mother should work perfectly. If she wants to stay casual, then casual clothes are great. If she wants to celebrate her more matronly qualities, then a nice maternity dress is just as good. There’s no reason to shy away from a little experimentation and variation in order to get some perfect pictures.