What to Wear for Maternity Photos: A Guide for West Michigan Moms

What to Wear for Maternity Photos:

A Guide for West Michigan Moms

If you're planning maternity photos in West Michigan, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is: "What am I supposed to wear?”

Choosing an outfit for maternity photos can feel surprisingly overwhelming. You want to feel beautiful, comfortable, and like yourself—but you also want something that photographs beautifully and makes your growing belly the focus. The good news? You don't need a complicated wardrobe or a perfectly styled Pinterest-worthy outfit.

The best maternity photography outfits are the ones that make you feel confident, comfortable, and completely yourself.

Whether you're planning your maternity session along the lakeshore, in your home, or at a beautiful West Michigan location, here are some of my favorite tips for choosing what to wear for maternity photos.

Start With How You Want to Feel

Before thinking about colors, dresses, or shoes, think about how you want to feel when you look back at these photographs.

Do you want your photos to feel:

* Romantic and feminine?

* Minimal and timeless?

* Editorial and elevated?

* Cozy and intimate?

* Relaxed and natural?

* Playful and connected with your family?

Your outfit should support that feeling.

For my maternity photography sessions, I tend to love pieces that move beautifully, photograph naturally, and allow you to focus on your connection with your partner and growing family rather than constantly adjusting your clothes.

You don't need to look “perfect.” You just need to feel like you—on this particular, incredibly meaningful chapter of your life.

Choose a Maternity Dress That Follows Your Shape

One of my favorite choices for maternity photos is a dress that emphasizes your silhouette without feeling restrictive.

Flowy maternity dresses, fitted gowns, and dresses with gathered or stretchy fabric can all photograph beautifully.

A dress that follows the shape of your belly gives the photographs a beautiful sense of movement and helps document just how incredible your body is during pregnancy.

A few things to look for:

Movement:

A little extra fabric can create beautiful photographs when you walk, move, or stand in the breeze.

Texture:

Linen, knit, silk, cotton, and other natural fabrics add visual interest without distracting from you.

Length:

Floor-length dresses can create an elegant, dramatic look, while midi or knee-length dresses can feel more relaxed and modern.

Comfort:

This is especially important during pregnancy. If you're uncomfortable, it will show in your photographs—and you deserve to enjoy your session.

Don't Be Afraid to Show Your Belly

You absolutely don't have to show your belly in your maternity photos.

But if you've always loved the idea of documenting your pregnancy with a little more skin, this is a beautiful opportunity to do it.

A partially unbuttoned shirt, a cropped top, a fitted dress, or a simple fabric wrap can create intimate images that celebrate your changing body.

There's no “right” amount of skin to show. Your comfort level gets to decide.

What Colors Photograph Well for Maternity Photos?

When choosing what to wear for maternity pictures, I recommend leaning toward soft, earthy, and neutral tones

* Cream

* Ivory

* Beige

* Taupe

* Warm brown

* Soft gray

* Muted blue

* Dusty rose

* Terracotta

* Sage

* Black

These colors tend to photograph beautifully in the natural environments found throughout West Michigan.

If you're planning an outdoor maternity session near Lake Michigan, for example, softer neutrals can complement the water, sand, grasses, and surrounding landscape without competing with the scenery.

That said, you don't have to wear neutrals.

If you love color, wear it.

The goal isn't to create photographs that look like everyone else's. It's to create photographs that feel like your family.

Consider the West Michigan Location

Your location can help guide your wardrobe.

West Michigan gives us so many beautiful settings for maternity photography, from Lake Michigan beaches to wooded trails, open fields, gardens, and the comfort of your own home.

For a Lake Michigan maternity session

Long, flowing dresses and skirts photograph beautifully against the water and shoreline.

Neutral colors, muted blues, warm earth tones, and soft creams can create a timeless look that complements the natural landscape.

And don't underestimate the wind. A little movement in your dress can make for some of the most beautiful images of your session.

For a nature or field session

Think textures and earthy tones.

Linen dresses, cotton, knit layers, boots, and warm neutrals can create a relaxed, organic feel.

For an in-home maternity session

This is where comfort really shines.

A simple dress, oversized button-down shirt, cozy knitwear, or even an intimate outfit that shows your belly can work beautifully.

Your home doesn't have to look like a magazine. Some of the most meaningful maternity photographs happen in the ordinary spaces where you're already living this chapter of your life.

What Should Your Partner Wear?

Your partner's outfit should complement yours without perfectly matching.

If you're wearing a long, neutral dress, your partner might wear:

* A linen or cotton button-down

* Neutral trousers

* Khakis

* Dark denim

* A simple sweater

* A classic white or cream shirt

For a more casual session, jeans and a simple neutral top can be perfect.

Try to avoid large logos, bright neon colors, or highly distracting patterns. The goal is to coordinate—not match.

What Should Your Kids Wear?

If you're including older siblings in your maternity session, their outfits can be a little more playful.

Look for pieces in complementary colors and natural fabrics.

For example, if you're wearing a cream dress, your child could wear:

* A soft beige or tan outfit

* A muted blue dress

* Brown overalls

* A simple knit sweater

* Neutral pants with a textured top

You don't need everyone's outfits to match.

In fact, coordinating colors and textures usually creates a more natural and timeless look than everyone wearing the exact same thing.

Don't Forget About Shoes

Shoes are easy to overlook when planning maternity photos, but they can make a difference.

For an outdoor session, prioritize comfort.

Depending on the location, you might choose:

* Bare feet

* Simple sandals

* Neutral boots

* Classic sneakers

* Loafers

* Simple flats

And don't be afraid to go barefoot.

Especially for a beach maternity session, bare feet can feel natural and effortless.

Avoid These Common Maternity Photo Outfit Mistakes

There's no strict list of rules when it comes to what you should wear. But there are a few things I generally recommend avoiding.

• Extremely tight or restrictive clothing

If you're uncomfortable, you're going to spend the session thinking about your clothes instead of enjoying the experience.

• Large logos and graphics

These tend to pull attention away from your face and belly.

• Very small, repetitive patterns

Tiny stripes, checks, and certain prints can create visual distractions in photographs.

• Outfits that don't feel like you

This one is the most important.

If you've never worn a floor-length gown in your life, you don't have to suddenly wear one because you saw it on Pinterest.

Your maternity photos should feel authentic to you.

Bring Two Outfits

If you're having trouble choosing between two looks, you don't necessarily have to choose. I often recommend bringing two outfits if your session allows enough time for an outfit change.

You might choose:

Look 1: Elevated

A beautiful maternity gown or fitted dress for those timeless, more editorial portraits.

Look 2: Relaxed

A simple dress, jeans and a sweater, an oversized shirt, or another outfit that feels more like everyday you.

This gives your gallery a little variety while still keeping the overall aesthetic cohesive.

What If You Don't Have Anything to Wear?

Don't stress.

You don't need to buy an entirely new wardrobe for your maternity session.

In fact, many maternity photographers—including myself—can help with wardrobe recommendations and styling resources.

There are also a number of maternity-specific rental companies and boutiques that offer beautiful dresses designed specifically for pregnancy.

If you're investing in professional maternity photography, I'd rather see you choose something you genuinely love than purchase an expensive dress you'll never wear again simply because you think you “need” it for photographs.

The Most Important Rule: Choose Something That Feels Like You

There are endless ideas online for what to wear for maternity photos.

You can find flowing gowns, bohemian dresses, minimalist outfits, dramatic fabrics, bare-belly portraits, and every aesthetic imaginable.

But your maternity photos don't have to look like anyone else's.

Maybe your dream maternity photos are barefoot on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Maybe they're cozy at home with your toddler curled up beside you.

Maybe you want something elegant and editorial.

Maybe you want nothing fancy at all.

There is no right way to document pregnancy.

The best outfit is the one that allows you to forget about the camera for a little while and simply be present with the people you love.

Planning a Maternity Photography Session in West Michigan?

If you're looking for a West Michigan maternity photographer, I'd love to help you create photographs that feel beautiful, honest, and deeply personal to this season of your life.

Whether we're photographing your growing family at home or exploring one of West Michigan's beautiful outdoor locations, my goal isn't to create a collection of perfectly posed photographs.

It's to document you—your connection, your anticipation, the tiny details, and the in-between moments you'll want to remember years from now.

And when it comes to what to wear?

I'll help you figure that part out, too.

Your pregnancy only lasts for a little while. These photographs get to remind you what it felt like.