It’s one of the most exciting times we go through as women: expecting a new baby. I don’t think any of that excitement goes away even when you’ve been there, done that, before. Whether you’re capturing the expectant mama on her own, or helping a family celebrate their newest arrival, here are some basic principles to help you bring out the beauty.
Maternity basics: photo prompts and ideas for pregnancy photoshoots
This prompt is part of the set New Baby Essentials, which is one of my favorite sets in the whole Promptographer Guide. When I was pregnant with my first son, I didn’t get any maternity photos done, and I wish I had. Second time around, with my now-four-month-old-son, I scheduled my photo session in before he arrived. For me (and I’m sure, many other pregnant women), it’s kind of weird to set out to document what your body looks like in significant detail, but a thoughtful photographer can help the nerves with these basic principles.
How to use this photo pose prompt
A maternity shoot is another one where you’ll want to add connection wherever you can (this applies for the couple and any older siblings).
As always, check with your couple what they want from the shoot: some people will find common poses overdone (belly kiss is not for everyone). Be playful and find the meaning: talk to the couple about what each photo means and why you like to include it in the session.
Emphasize positive features and be considerate of what the expectant Mum might consider flaws (but never point them out to her). For e.g. consider asking privately at the start of the shoot, “Are there any parts you’re self-conscious about at the moment?” Don’t make suggestions, for e.g. “Are you self-conscious about your arms?” (“Gee, I wasn’t, but now I am!”) Once you know what she’s worried about, choose angles and poses to flatter.
Keep specific posing instructions to a minimum: too many posed photos will leave your couple stiff and awkward. It will give them the sense they have to wait for you to “pose” them before you take the photo, or like they have a dozen things to remember. Bring flattering angle tips into play subtly by moving yourself. Prevent self-conscious reactions (stiffness and awkwardness!) by saying, “Just going to shift over here for a better angle with this light,” or simply say nothing at all.
Principle 1: Essential maternity poses
- Mother’s full body side-on (look down at belly, look at camera).
- Belly and breasts side-on. Crop below hips and at collarbones, or just above chin (experiment to see what works but don’t cut her head off at the neck).
- Get up high and shoot down to emphasize pregnant belly (what she sees).
- Have her walk and swish her dress to give some movement and show the belly in a more natural way. Consider investing in some one-size-fits-most maternity shoot dresses like an infinity dress (also known as an all-way dress) in case they’re not sure what to wear.
Principle 2: Incorporate other people and props
- Both parents’ hands on belly (add sibling hands).
- Partner or older kids kissing pregnant belly.
- Toddler peeking over pregnant belly with mom lying on her back (just for a few minutes; pregnant women shouldn’t lie on their backs for long).
- Props like tiny shoes, wedding rings, baby rattle, special hand-me-downs or heirlooms (teddy from when dad or an older sibling was a baby, etc).
- Incorporate other photos: ultrasound photo of this baby, baby photos of mom and dad (me + you = us), baby photos of other children in the family.
- Focus on the growing family: have everyone hug mom, everyone hug the older sibling, everyone hug dad.
Principle 3: Flatter her features
- Arms are slimmed by not being pressed tight to the side of the body. Create an elbow-triangle (space between arms and torso) to slim arms and body.
- Shooting from higher up slims the face (e.g. have them sit down). Same can be achieved by leaning slightly forward from the hips (push breasts towards camera) and pushing chin out and slightly down (imagine she is holding an orange under her chin).
- Choose an angle where the body is ¾ to the camera (instead of front-on) to slim the body.
- Light her face and body on the short side (short lighting). Imagine her face is ¾ to the camera. The cheek closest you is the broad side (you can see more of it), and the cheek furthest away is the short side (you can’t see as much of it). Position her in relation to your light source (be it sunlight, window light, or a speedlite) so that the light falls on her short side. This is slimming compared to lighting the broad side of her face.
Creative extension
- For first-time parents, treat the shoot like a romantic portrait session, and memorialize the end of their days as “just the two of us.” Incorporate prompts like Old Fashioned Romance (but without the lifting and dipping—safety first!), Two Rules Together, and Use Hands. Long lenses and tight crops are great to capture intimate moments without being in your clients’ personal space.
- I enjoy using my Fractal Filters during maternity shoots—there is something about the lighting effect for me that reflects the fractalizing of self that comes with motherhood. A cheap alternative is to grab a rainbow catcher (one of those crystal shapes you hang in your window to throw rainbows in the sun) and shoot with a long focal length, a wide-open aperture (e.g. I use my Tamron 70-200mm f2.8), and hold the crystal to the edge of the lens to throw light into the scene (try about 5-10cm from the lens on one edge).
What are your favorite maternity prompts? Tag me @promptographerguide and use the hashtag #promptographerguide to share with us.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarised onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards, with the details given in the accompanying Guidebook. All the ideas are given on the one card so you have a rich, comprehensive tool for sparking ideas. I’ve designed it this way so you only need five to ten cards to build a whole photoshoot.
If you want this prompt in your set, make sure you include Set 7: New Baby Moments in your Field Cards.
