Top 50 Maternity Photoshoot Ideas

Rarely is the Pinterest rabbit hole as deep and enticing as when looking up ideas for maternity photos. It is easy to get sucked into the otherworldly goddess and majestic beach photos but do you hire a photographer and give her a list of exact poses you want? Or do you say “screw it” and just take selfies with your phone?

Either way, we’ve found 50 ideas that may give you some inspiration thanks to the folks that make the MaterniT® 21 PLUS test.

50 Maternity Photoshoot ideas:

#1 Let’s get straight to the star of the show. The belly. The bump and nothing but the bump.

#2 Are you early to every party? If so, how about surprising the dad?

#3 Lovely in its simplicity

#4 Classic and beautiful silhouette

#5 Every season has its beauty, so capitalize on that

#6 Incorporate the baby’s name, and make sure to double check the spelling!

#7 Beautiful. Simple. Classic.

#8 Let dad’s love for the baby – and you! – shine through

#9 Let people know when to start hounding you daily to see if you have had that baby yet (send them to haveyouhadthatbabyyet.com)

#10 A simple shot can become visually interesting with a change in perspective

#11 I had always wondered what teeny tiny baby shoes were actually good for. Now I know.

#12 Tell your story. “It all started with a bottle of whiskey…”

#13 Get a picture of the baby in the picture of the baby bump. Meta!

#14 Is the dad away and unable to be there? Check out this idea!

#15 Get the whole family in the picture!

#16 You’re going to need a sense of humor to make it in this parenting gig

#17 So many maternity photos look somber and serious. Laugh!

#18 Make sure to get some classic black and white shots

#19 I find everything about this gorgeous

#20 Beautiful. Kinda meadow maiden!

#21 I love this mom and daughter shoot. Girls just wanna have fun!

#22 Two in diapers is going to be challenging, but it is also adorable

#23 It’s like herding cats, but you’re a pro

#24 A cute idea for older siblings

#25 Get out just before sunset for some beautiful golden light. They don’t call it the “golden hour” for nothing

#26 Delicious puns. Use sparingly!

#27 So many women are asked, “but what’s going to happen to that tattoo when you get pregnant?” The answer? This! And it’s awesome!

#28 “My pets are my kids.” But really, could this be any cuter?

#29 This is the only time that nursery will be clean enough for professional photos

#30 It is easy to get carried away with trendy ideas, but sometimes a well-framed photo is all you need

#31 You will cherish pictures that highlight your hobbies. One of my favorites from my pregnancy was me at 36 weeks pregnant, on roller skates

#32 Life isn’t always pretty, but the photos can be

#33 Your maternity shoot can pull double duty as a gender reveal

#34 What’s not in focus can be just as important as what is

#35 Candid and fun

#36 What have you been craving? I would have been surrounded by frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

#37 Fireman? Teacher? OBGYN? Incorporate your careers into your shoot

#38 Pick your favorite kids’ book. Or read Hunger Games. Whatever, they’re your photos

#39 Before and after: Some photographers offer package deals for this

#40 I’m not saying to reenact scenes from 50 Shades, but I am saying that you can still be the sexy while you’re pregnant

#41 Water is especially poignant if you are planning a water birth

#42 Tandem nursing? The Facebook comments alone will make it worth capturing this moment

#43 Did your baby come early? Celebrate the due date or the day he comes home from the hospital in lieu of maternity photos (I should know, this is me and my 31 weeker)

#44 Twins? Make sure they get equal billing. Sibling rivalry starts early.

#45 Surrogacy? A great way to highlight the village you have created

#46 If you are one of the many parents expecting after a loss, this is a lovely way to celebrate your rainbow baby

#47 Is someone you love going through this journey with you? It’s great for commiseration, but also for photos!

#48 Are you and your best friend both pregnant? Sing it with me now, “I’ll be there for you….”

#49 Honor your service

#50 Adoption is its own type of expecting, so celebrate it!

I hope you have found some inspiration within these lovely photos. Do you have others you think are even better? Share the links in the comments!

Related: 5 Tips for Great Maternity Photographs

About MaterniT® 21 PLUS:

The MaterniT® 21 PLUS laboratory-developed test gives you highly accurate answers to pregnancy’s important questions.

As early as nine weeks, our test can tell you if you are having a boy or a girl, and screens for both common and rare chromosomal abnormalities that can affect your baby’s health. Plus, the test gives simple-to-understand results within five days after the sample is received in the laboratory.

 Learn more: www.Sequenom.com