When it comes to styling an in studio maternity portrait session, I often get asked if it’s possible to have multiple looks. The answer is: absolutely. An in studio maternity session can include several completely different looks while still feeling cohesive and polished. This Charlestown, MA mom’s maternity session is a beautiful example of how changing your wardrobe, backdrop and lighting can create a gallery with a surprising amount of variety.
For her in studio maternity session, we incorporated everything from a classic jeans and white shirt look to a fitted black dress, a sheer draped robe and artistic images created with long pieces of nude fabric. Her husband also joined her for several romantic portraits, giving the session a mix of editorial maternity portraits and meaningful images of the two of them together.
How can you create variety during a studio maternity session?
The easiest way to create variety in a maternity session is to change more than just your outfit. Each look can have its own mood while keeping the overall aesthetic simple.
For one portion of the session, she wore jeans with an unbuttoned white shirt and white sports bra for a chic, relaxed look. We also photographed this outfit with her husband for classic couple portraits. A fitted black dress created a more dramatic, sophisticated look, while a sheer white and nude draped robe brought in something softer and more ethereal.
The studio’s simple seamless backdrops in white, gray and black kept everything cohesive while allowing the lighting to completely change the feel of the portraits. Dramatic silhouettes, bright backlighting and a halo of light created some of the more artistic images in the gallery, including portraits with long pieces of draped fabric.
This approach is one of the reasons studio maternity photography can be so versatile. You do not need a complicated set or elaborate location to create a gallery with several distinct looks. With thoughtful styling, simple backdrops and intentional lighting, the same studio can produce images that feel casual, classic, romantic and editorial.
What should you wear for an in studio maternity session?
There is no reason to choose only one style. If you love both classic portraits and something more dramatic, your maternity session can include both.
A few different wardrobe options can create very different results:
- Jeans and a white shirt: relaxed, classic and effortlessly chic
- A fitted black dress: elegant and dramatic
- A sheer robe: soft and feminine
- Draped fabric: artistic and more editorial
- A simple nude look: timeless and focused on the shape of your pregnancy
The goal is not to bring as many outfits as possible. It is to choose a few looks that feel different enough from one another to give your final gallery variety. If you’re struggling to decide on a look, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I have a whole collection of maternity gowns, fabric for draping, and more. You can check out my Maternity Gowns Collection blog post or my Maternity Pinterest board for more ideas and inspiration.
A maternity session that feels completely like you
Your maternity portraits do not have to fit into one particular style. They can be polished and classic in one image, dramatic and artistic in the next, and relaxed and intimate when your partner joins you.
This Charlestown maternity session shows just how much variety can be created within the studio while keeping the final gallery timeless and cohesive. If you are looking for maternity photography in Boston or the North Shore, an in-studio session is a beautiful way to create portraits that feel both personal and editorial.
Ready to plan your maternity session? Contact Kate at Crabapple Photography via email or by texting (617) 918-7149 to talk about your vision, wardrobe ideas and the different looks we can create during your session.
