7 Tips to Maternity Photos by Indianapolis Professional Photographer
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Maternity photos are a unique way of documenting the beauty and joy of expecting a baby. In the Indianapolis area, there are many professional photographers who specialize in taking beautiful photographs of pregnant mothers. Whether you’re looking for classic maternity portraits or something more creative, here are seven tips for creating timeless maternity photos with an Indianapolis professional photographer.
I’m participating in a blog circle this month and linking to the sweetest photographer in Nashville! Check out that link at the end of the post.
Determine the style you’re Looking for in an Indianapolis Professional Photographer
There are numerous photographers to choose from, so it is crucial to take the time and decide what style will best suit your needs. Consider the type of photography you want, whether you prefer documentary-style photography or more traditional headshot photography. Also, consider the emotion you want to express in your photos, from laid-back to romantic and elegant. Additionally, look for an Indianapolis professional photographer who offers various services, such as framed artwork, albums, and digital images. Take the time to explore the options and find out which photo session best fits your vision and will provide you with the perfect shot.
Dress to Impress by Borrowing a Maternity Dress from the Client Closet
Selecting flattering, comfortable, and timeless clothing is essential when choosing your maternity photo session attire. Solid colors or delicate patterns are more timeless than loud prints and patterns, but if you want something more unique, opt for lace, chiffon, or velvet fabrics. Wrap dresses can help to accentuate your curves while providing a slimming effect at the same time. Also, consider picking out footwear and jewelry that matches your outfit without being too showy or distracting from the main focus of the photo—you!
When booking a maternity session with me, you can access my client closet of dresses to borrow. I have a collection of gowns and dresses that showcase the bump and make you feel like a goddess on your special day. Many of the dresses pictured on this website are in my client wardrobe! Contact me to learn more.


Consider Professional Hair & Makeup
Professional hair and makeup can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out, so it’s worth investing in quality services when planning your shoot. A classic updo or sleek blowout will bring out the natural beauty of your facial features while drawing attention to your bump. Soft makeup looks with neutral tones will help ensure that you always look like yourself throughout your session. For portrait photography, blush and lipstick can be a shade darker than your usual go-to because that will photograph well! Finally, I highly recommend lashes for a maternity shoot because they are so stunning in those photos where you look down at the bump!
Set up a Mood Board to Share with your Indianapolis Professional Photographer
Creating a mood board is an excellent way to understand what type of photos you want to achieve during your maternity photo shoot. I’ll be posing you to flatter your body type and highlight the size of your bump tastefully -from full-body shots to profile views. However, if you’re looking for a specific image, it’s always best to share that with your photographer in advance. Pinterest boards are great places to find inspiration for making these decisions before meeting with your portrait photographer so you can know what kind of look & feel you want for each shot during the session.
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Take Advantage Of Natural Light
Natural light is one of the essential elements for any photography and even more so when shooting maternity portraits. We will schedule outdoor shoots early or late in the day when the soft light creates beautiful, flattering tones – this will ensure all fine details are still visible in each photo taken! When shooting indoors, we will schedule the photo session for mid-morning when soft window light is most flattering for mom-to-be!

Don’t Overcomplicate the Maternity Shoot
While professional photography is essential during a maternity shoot, don’t be afraid to keep it simple. Documenting every angle of your journey into motherhood doesn’t have to mean creating overly complex poses or setups. Having too many distractions in the photo will take away from you and your gorgeous bump – which should be front and center! Keeping things minimalistic allows the focus to be on emotions rather than details or busy backgrounds. I’ll be able to document the genuine moments for you without overcomplicating the shoot.
Have Fun & Enjoy The Moment
Having a maternity photo shoot is a fantastic opportunity to freeze time and create beautiful, lasting memories. Collaborate with your maternity photographer to make sure you choose attire and poses that will feel comfortable and confident on the day of the shoot. Don’t be afraid to have fun while striking different poses – maternity photo shoots provide a unique and great experience, so enjoy the moment! You only get one maternity shoot for any pregnancy, so have fun and enjoy the moment!

Indianapolis Professional Photographer
Creating timeless maternity photos with an Indianapolis professional photographer is much more than finding a location and taking some shots. It requires careful planning and creative collaboration between the photographer and the expectant mother. Following these seven tips will ensure that your maternity photos are beautiful, captivating, and cherished for years to come. The right equipment, preparation, creative posing, background selection, and clothing choices will all work together to help you document this special moment. I can help guide you through this process to create genuinely unique artwork that honors your pregnancy journey in the most beautiful way possible.
So don’t delay— contact me to book a session with an Indianapolis maternity photographer! I offer indoor and outdoor sessions in the north Indianapolis area, and I specialize in maternity, newborn, and family portraits. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter to hear about upcoming mini-session dates and photography tips before anyone else. You may also be interested in reading:
- 5 Tips to Prepare for Maternity Photography Indiana
- Carmel Maternity Photographer: What to Wear for Maternity Photos
- Indianapolis Prenatal Massage: The Top 3 Spots for Moms
- My Amazon Favorites
Don’t forget to check out Nashville photographer Kristie Lloyd’s post on when to book newborn photos. She’s sharing why it’s important to book newborn photos early!
Till next time,
These photos are so beautiful and timeless. I love that you offer a client closet, what a great perk!
Thank you! I love to dress up mom’s and have them feel gorgeous in my client closet gowns!
I think it’s so important to have fun and enjoy the moment like you mention above. I never did a maternity photoshoot when I was pregnant, and I soooo regret it!
It’s hard when you’re pregnant and there is so much to do, it’s easy to let maternity photos slip away. That’s why I recommend moms-to-be get it on the calendar early!
I love that you included keeping things simple. Simplicity is timeless! Working with you takes so many “stress” factors out of the equation – wardrobe and makeup are amazing perks!
These are great tips for maternity sessions but those dresses are devine!
Such great advice! These photos are absolutely stunning and I love each and every one of these dresses!
Such beautiful maternity photos! The client closet is such a wonderful blessing for mommas!
Love these tips and your photos are just so stunning! I am so glad I did maternity photos when I was pregnant, I cherish them so, so much.
These are stunning! I may need to get details on those tulle dresses, LOVE them! Such great tips too, wardrobe + hair & make-up go such a long way before a maternity shoot.
Can I just say a resounding “AMEN” to not overcomplicating maternity shoots? We don’t need to be wrapped in the entire florist collection with a fog machine and commercial sized fan to celebrate motherhood! Love it. Well done.
Haha this comment made me laugh out loud! Simple and timeless is the way to go!
beautiful mamas – the dresses and make up can elevate a maternity session so much! Great tips!