Tips To Prepare For Your Maternity Photo Shoot - Baobab Photography

I have moved!

Thanks for your interest but I am no longer taking sessions in San Diego.

Tips To Prepare For Your Maternity Photo Shoot

Congrats, Mama! You’ve got the nursery ready and picked out the stroller, but what about capturing that special time before the little one gets here? Booking a maternity shoot is the perfect way to capture this special time and to remember how amazing your body was to carry such a precious load! Read on for some of the best tips on how to prepare for your maternity photo shoot.

Choosing Your Photographer For Your Maternity Photo Shoot

So how do you go about choosing a photographer to capture such a special moment? Pick one whose style resonates with you. Do you like light and airy? Rich and moody? True to life color? There are so many different editing styles out there so hop on Pinterest or Google and take a look at what catches your eye. Then try and find a local photographer whose style is similar. Google is a great way of finding local photographers as is social media. Peruse the local hashtags on Instagram (like #sandiegophotographer), or search something like “San Diego Family Photographer” in Facebook and you’ll find plenty of options.

Book Ahead!

Photographers joke that the best time to book a maternity photo shoot is as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant! While that may be a little early, we do book up, especially if you are nearing the end of your pregnancy during busy months like summer and fall. So as soon as you find a photographer in San Diego whose work you love, dont’ wait! Book a date with them!

Pregnant woman standing in the waves at sunset

Talk To Your Photographer

Chances are if you are booking a maternity photo shoot, this is your first baby. And that means you will have questions. Ask away! Any good maternity photographer will have shot plenty of maternity sessions and will be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Ask about whether or not they offer a client closet (that’s a wardrobe of gowns that you can borrow for your session. I have covered the advantages of hiring a maternity photographer who has a client closet here), ask about what their favorite location is and why, and make sure to find out what their policy is if it happens to be raining on the day of your session. Fortunately in San Diego, that’s rarely a problem! Also, if you have a specific vision in mind, or would like certain poses at your maternity photo shoot, let your photographer know!

Pregnant couple pose on the beach at Scripps Pier

Choose Your Gown

Boho? Flowy? Form fitting? There are a lot of different styles out there. As mentioned above, make sure to ask your photographer if they have a client closet that you can use. There are a lot of advantages to being able to use one of your photographer’s gowns rather than having to buy one yourself. And what about the season? Fortunately in San Diego we don’t have to worry about anything colder than low 60’s but it is always good to consider the season of your maternity shoot so you can dress appropriately. Most of the gowns in my client closet are from Chicaboo which has some amazing styles. They are also very versatile and fit a variety of sizes.

Maternity photo shoot at sunset in La Jolla

Do A Fitting Before Your Pregnancy Photo Shoot

This is one of the best maternity photo shoot tips I can offer! Do a gown fitting a week or two before your session to ensure that the dress you are planning on wearing fits well. If you do a fitting too early, your bump may be bigger by the time of your session. Make sure your gown is not too tight, especially around the bust, arms and belly, and allows for plenty of free movement. If you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, it is going to show in the photos.

Woman in boho dress at Scripps Pier maternity shoot

Hair & Makeup

Pregnancy can be tough so treat yourself! Getting your hair and makeup done is a great way to ensure that you look and feel amazing for your maternity photo shoot. It’s also one less thing for you to worry about. Pro tip: if you are having your session at the beach, I recommend wearing your hair up or use hair clips as it can get windy at the beach and you will want to keep those pesky stray hairs out of your eyes.

Dress Your Partner/Kids

If you plan on including your partner and/or children, you’ll want to make sure that their outfits compliment what you are wearing. I recommend avoiding anything with heavy patterns or logos on it, and stick with a nice neutral color palette. You don’t want everyone to look “matchy,” but by mixing up the color palette enough so that everyone is wearing something a little bit different that will result in a beautiful cohesive look. You can find some more of my outfit tips here.

San Diego beach maternity photo shoot