Pregnancy is full of milestones, emotions, and quiet in-between moments that deserve to be remembered. A maternity photoshoot is a beautiful way to celebrate this season and document your family's story before life changes forever. Whether you're working with a professional photographer or DIY-in it with your phone, these maternity photoshoot ideas will help you create meaningful, memorable images that you'll treasure for years. Maternity photographer Olivia Yuen joins Baby Notebook to share her insights.
7 Maternity Photoshoot Ideas You'll Love
1. A Studio Session
Any search for maternity photoshoot ideas will include studio photos. Studio sessions offer a clean, controlled environment and beautiful lighting to make your bump the star. Whether you go minimalist or editorial, a studio allows you to play with light, shadows, and textures that highlight your changing body in an artistic way.
As Olivia shares, “Studio maternity sessions… really are ideal to highlight and celebrate the expectant person's changing body in a way that feels editorial.” If you want portraits that feel timeless, empowering, and a little glamorous, a studio is a great place to start.
💡 Pregnancy Moment Cards are a fun way to mark how far along you are in your maternity photos. Download free beautifully-designed Pregnancy Moment Cards here.
2. A Photoshoot at Home
Your home is where so much of your pregnancy journey happens. Naps on the couch, nursery prep, and quiet moments daydreaming of your baby all play out in your nest. We love maternity photoshoot ideas that showcase your home life. You can preserve a sense of your real life and surroundings in a way no other setting allows.
“Honestly, my favorite place for a maternity session is the couple's home,” Olivia told us. “I love to create images that read easily and make contextual sense, and it makes sense to embody the full feeling of pregnancy within your home. Maternity sessions at home can capture what life looks like prior to baby entering it earthside.”
💡 If you decide to DIY these maternity photoshoot ideas at home, make the most of your phone camera. You'll be glad you took a few minutes to up your game, especially when your little one arrives. Learn how to take great phone photos in this blog post.
3. A Walk in Your Favorite Place
Another of Olivia's favorite maternity photoshoot ideas? Go to a location that you grew to love during pregnancy. A park, beach, trail, or café that draws you back time and again can be a sweet part of your story to preserve.
Walking in your go-to spot also creates candid, relaxed images. You can feel more at ease in front of the camera. If you have other kids, it can be easier than trying to manage them in a studio, too.
4. Sibling Bonding
If this isn't your first baby, include older siblings in your maternity shoot. Involving them helps document the family dynamic as it is now before everything changes. It also gives kids a chance to start bonding with their sibling-to-be.
💡 Try prompts like having your older child kiss your belly, help decorate the nursery, or pick out a baby outfit. These sweet moments highlight their excitement about becoming a big sibling.
5. Moments with Your Partner
If you're sharing this journey with a partner, you're walking in it together—side by side. Maternity photoshoot ideas highlighting the love between you and your partner hold a special place. Quiet hugs, bump kisses, and laughter in the kitchen become part of the support that's carried you through.
💡 Don't worry about being overly posed. Go for connection, not perfection. Think of it as being present in a tender moment before your world expands.
6. Outfit Options
That sparkly pregnancy glow doesn't last forever. If you're working with a professional photographer, take advantage! Bring a comfy outfit and a more glam one to your session. Whatever you decide to wear, the most important thing is that you're comfortable and feel like yourself.
💡 Layering is your friend. Choose a mix of pieces that go together so you can adjust the aesthetic in different ways.
7. Print Your Photos
It's easy to ride the rush of a maternity photoshoot all the way to crafting the perfect social media post – only to let the photos collect digital dust afterward. Printing your photos keeps your memories of this incredible time alive.
Olivia agrees. “I believe photos are meant to be held in our hands,” she said. “Holding a physical image almost feels like a portal to transport you back to that exact moment. It's also so important for your future little one to be able to experience it.”
Make Your Maternity Photos Your Baby's First Chapter
We couldn't agree with Olivia more. That's why we created the first three chapters of our Baby Book to tell the story of your pregnancy and family before your baby's arrival. You are your baby's beginnings. Make your maternity photos an integral part of the keepsake your family will treasure.
Download the Baby Notebook app and preserve this moment in your family's story.
Thank you to Olivia Yuen for the maternity photos featured in this blog post.