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As with any kind of portraiture, half the battle is understanding how to pose the subject. This dilemma takes on even more importance when the subject is a pregnant mom-to-be, however.

Some moms aren’t going to feel all that beautiful, so the posing needs to be done such that it accentuates mom’s natural glow and makes her feel like the gorgeous woman she is. Of course, some poses will be easier than others, too, bearing in mind that having mom constantly move from standing to seated to lying down is probably not going to work that well.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few classic maternity photography poses that will make mom look and feel great, and will get you breathtaking images as well.

Hands on Belly

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This pose is great for a number of reasons. First, it’s natural for a woman to want to feel her baby bump, so it makes for a very relaxed photograph. Second, one thing that many people struggle with in portraits is what to do with their hands. This pose resolves that as well. Instead of her arms hanging awkwardly at her side, mom can gently embrace her belly, which makes for a sweet, emotion-filled photo like the one above.

Gazing at the Baby Bump

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A nice complement to the previous pose, having mom gaze down at her baby bump is another beautiful way to show the connection she has with her coming baby. This can be especially powerful when paired with a laid back pose, such as leaning against a wall or even laying on a bed or couch. Even better, this pose can be done indoors or out, giving you more possibilities for posing mom in a way that’s comfortable and natural.

The key with this pose is not to have mom tilt her head too far forward. If that happens, her chin will be in her chest and the likelihood of a double chin is increased. So, instead of having her look directly at her belly, have her pick a point about 3-5 in front of her belly to gaze at. You can even pair the gaze with having a hand on the belly for a particularly intimate photo, like the one above.

From Above

Amanda Nicole

One of the best ways to get a flattering shot of the mom-to-be is to take a shooting position above her and compose the photo looking down at her. This is especially useful if you have a subject that has a bigger belly or if your subject is worried about the other parts of her body that have gotten bigger during pregnancy. It’s also a nice way to get mom into a very relaxed position (like in the image above) which will only make the image more impactful because she will appear more comfortable in the photo (view maternity photo examples).

Add Style to Your Poses

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The point of working so hard on posing is that your subject is as comfortable as possible, but is also looking her absolute best. You can help yourself on both fronts by having your clients wear clothing that is fashionable yet pleasant to wear. Those adjectives perfectly describe Sew Trendy Accessories.

If you’re in the maternity photography business, Sew Trendy Accessories needs to be one of your partners. They have all sorts of maternity gowns, including many that are ready to ship immediately! Sew Trendy’s gowns come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes, so your expecting clients can find the perfect gown to wear for their maternity photos. Sew Trendy can make your job so much easier by helping moms look and feel like a million bucks. Between using smart posing and having mom dressed beautifully, the images you create will have all sorts of visual impact. Read Part 2 of this How-To Maternity Photography: Posing Guide.