When it comes to pregnancy portraits, every woman has a different comfort level.
Your photographer should always consider and respect how much skin or belly you want to reveal. Some women know from the moment they find out they are pregnant that they would like sexy, nude maternity portraits, also known as boudoir maternity photos. Others are a little more conservative and prefer to keep their belly fully or partially covered. While there is no right or wrong way to proceed, the most important factors to consider are knowing your style, knowing your comfort level, and trusting your photographer.
Below you will find a simple spectrum of pregnancy portrait styles to help you identify your comfort level and communicate with your maternity photographer. Although you may think you fit perfectly into one category or style, you may find you are actually more or less comfortable at your own photoshoot. Preparing and trusting your photographer will always be key to loving your experience and resulting portraits!
Traditional Maternity Portraits
While this style is the least revealing, it can absolutely still be beautiful. The shape of the pregnant body is gorgeous, so choosing the right clothing to accentuate your belly is important! Fitted dresses or shirts are best, and posing is key! Many women start off their maternity shoot with this more traditional portrait style, often including older children or partners. They quickly learn the session is more fun and comfortable than they thought, and it becomes a natural transition into a more revealing portrait style. These portraits are often framed and placed on display for all to see.
Classic Maternity Portraits
This classic maternity style shows a little more belly, but not necessarily body. Women who like to document and remember how their bellies looked but aren’t quite comfortable with the more intimate portraits often find themselves loving these classic portraits. It’s a great combination of soft and beautiful, yet a little more revealing.
Intimate Maternity Portraits
Women looking for a little more artistic and dramatic portraits are often drawn to this style of maternity photography. Intimate portraits become much more revealing and personal. Lighting and posing are even more important, and expression becomes key! A woman who becomes surprisingly comfortable during her maternity photo shoot may decide to move to this next level of portraits! Lacy bras and panties, robes, lingerie, or just a fabric wrap all work well for these intimate portraits. With the right clothing or lack of, you can be quite revealing without being nude! Many clients who prefer this style often purchase an elegant, handcrafted album to keep their images private but beautifully archived. With an album, they can share a wonderful variety of images with whomever they choose.
Nude Maternity Photography
Sexy. Artistic. Dramatic. Elegant. Choosing to do nude maternity portraits is a very personal decision. While not everyone experiences this bold comfort level, nude portraits of your growing, changing body is an incredible way to artistically document this experience. Silhouette lighting, dramatic black & whites, and selective shadowing are all looks to create stunning nude pregnancy portraits. Clients who choose nude maternity photography are often looking for large, framed, artistic works to display in their homes.
Maryland maternity photographer, Robyn Osten, offers dramatic, artistic, intimate maternity photography. Sessions take place in either a private Baltimore photography studio or your home. Because of her unique, artistic portrait style, clients often travel from Washington DC, Virginia, and beyond. A selection of beautiful fabrics and wraps are available for client use during most sessions. Professional hair and make-up artist is also available upon request. After booking, clients are sent detailed information about preparing for their session. All ordering appointments take place in person approximately two weeks after the portrait session. Fine art prints, albums, canvases, and other products are available.
To see more artistic maternity photography by Robyn Osten, click here.
For more information or to book your own pregnancy portraits in Baltimore or DC, click here.
