What to Wear for Your Maternity Photography Session

Written by Emma Williams — Newborn Safety & First Aid Certified Photographer, Founder of Manawa Studio.

"What should I wear?" is, without question, the question we hear most from mums-to-be booking a maternity session — and it's completely understandable. Your body is changing week to week, you want to feel beautiful rather than self-conscious, and you only get one chance to capture this particular chapter. Here's everything we tell our own clients.

Start With How You Want to Feel

Before thinking about colours or fabrics, ask yourself one question: do you want your session to feel soft and romantic, bold and editorial, or natural and relaxed? Your answer shapes every other wardrobe decision, and there's no wrong choice — it's entirely about what feels like you.

Fabrics That Photograph Beautifully

Flowing, lightweight fabrics are almost always the most flattering choice during pregnancy. Look for: Jersey and stretch knits that skim rather than cling

Chiffon and silky fabrics that move beautifully with studio fans or gentle motion

Fitted bodices with flowing skirts, which highlight the bump while still feeling elegant. Stiff, structured fabrics tend to photograph less naturally, since they don't move with your body the way soft fabrics do.

Colours to Consider

Muted, warm tones — think terracotta, sage, dusty blue, cream, and soft neutrals — tend to photograph timelessly and won't feel dated in ten years the way a trend-driven colour might. If your session includes a partner or other children, coordinating (not matching) within the same colour family creates a cohesive, polished look without feeling overly staged.

Bold jewel tones like emerald or deep burgundy also photograph beautifully, especially for editorial-style sessions — just be mindful of very busy patterns, which can pull focus away from you and the bump.

You Don't Even Need to Own an Outfit — Our Studio Wardrobe Has You Covered

Here's something a lot of mums don't realise until they arrive: you don't need to buy a single thing. Our studio comes with a fully equipped wardrobe, built specifically for maternity photography — flowing silks, soft chiffon, clean and striking statement pieces, and beautiful floor-length gowns in a full range of colours, from soft neutrals through to bold jewel tones. Every piece has already been chosen with everything above in mind, so you can simply arrive and pick what feels right on the day.

That means you can turn up with nothing at all and still walk away with a wardrobe of looks that photograph beautifully, without the stress of shopping, ironing, or wondering if what you own will "photograph well."

Of course, if you already have an outfit you love — a piece that feels meaningful, or simply makes you feel like yourself — you're more than welcome to bring it along. We'll happily guide you on how it will work with the lighting and posing for the day, the same way we've talked through fabrics and colours above, so whatever you choose to wear, it's set up to photograph at its best.

If You're Bringing Your Own Outfit, a Few Things to Avoid

Everything in our studio wardrobe is already chosen with the following in mind — so this section is really only for anything you're planning to bring from home:

Large logos or busy prints, which can date an image or distract from the moment itself. Very short hemlines, which can be trickier to pose in comfortably as your bump grows. Brand-new shoes you haven't worn, if your session includes any standing or walking poses.

If you're at all unsure whether a piece from home will work, just bring it along anyway — we're always happy to look at it on the day and suggest whether it's better as your main outfit, a layering piece, or simply swapped for something from the studio wardrobe instead.

Bring Options — You Don't Have to Decide in Advance

Whether you're choosing from our studio wardrobe, bringing your own pieces, or mixing both, you don't need to have everything finalised before you arrive. Bring two or three options if you're unsure, and your photographer can help you choose what works best for the light, the poses, and how you're feeling on the day.

Don't Forget Your Partner and Other Children

If your partner or older children are joining the session, simple, solid colours in a complementary palette almost always photograph better than everyone in a different pattern. A neutral base — think cream, white, or soft denim — paired with one shared accent colour is a foolproof formula.