Your maternity session is such a special way to celebrate and document your journey into motherhood. As a Naperville maternity photographer, my goal is to create timeless, elegant, and meaningful images that reflect your beauty, strength, and connection to your growing baby.

Preparing well before your session helps you feel confident, comfortable, and ready to shine in front of the camera. Here are my top tips for making the most of your experience!

1. Schedule at the Perfect Time

The ideal time for your maternity session is between 28–34 weeks of pregnancy. Around this time, your baby bump is beautifully round, and you’re still comfortable enough to pose easily and enjoy the session. If you’re expecting twins or have a high-risk pregnancy, we’ll schedule your session a bit earlier to ensure you feel your best.

2. Plan for Multiple Looks

Each maternity session includes several outfit changes to give you a beautiful variety in your final gallery.

• In-Studio Maternity Sessions: You’ll enjoy up to three different looks — typically a mix of elegant maternity gowns from my client closet and a more casual outfit, such as jeans and a white shirt, for something modern and timeless.
• Outdoor Maternity Sessions: Due to natural lighting conditions and movement between locations, we’ll plan for up to two outfit changes to keep everything smooth and stress-free.

This variety allows us to capture both classic, artistic portraits as well as relaxed, lifestyle-inspired images.

3. Arrive Hair & Makeup Ready

I don’t include professional hair and makeup services, but arriving fully hair and makeup ready is essential for achieving polished, camera-ready results.

Soft curls or waves paired with natural, glowing makeup photograph beautifully. Whether you book your favorite artist or do your own, make sure it’s done before your session begins so we can start on time and make the most of your experience.

This is your time to feel beautiful, celebrated, and radiant — you’ve earned it!

4. Take Advantage of the Client Closet

My studio offers a beautiful client closet filled with an array of maternity gowns designed to flatter every body type and photograph stunningly. Each gown is hand-selected for its color, texture, and elegance, ensuring you’ll look amazing whether your session is in the studio or outdoors.

The client closet is included with every maternity session, so you can relax knowing wardrobe selection is completely taken care of.

5. Consider Bringing a Classic Casual Look

While gowns are gorgeous, I always recommend parents add one simple, relaxed wardrobe option to their session. A timeless favorite?
A pair of classic jeans, a white or neutral bralette, and a crisp white button-down shirt slightly open to highlight your baby bump.

It’s modern, effortless, and beautifully shows off your personality and style.

Please note: This outfit is not provided but is easy to bring from home — and it photographs absolutely beautifully!

6. Wear the Right Undergarments

Proper undergarments make a huge difference in how your final images look. Be sure to bring undergarments that closely match your skin tone, including a strapless bra and seamless nude underwear.

These pieces ensure a clean, smooth look under gowns and help avoid visible lines or straps that might distract from your silhouette.

7. Bring a Few Essentials

A few small touches can make your session even smoother:

• Hairbrush or comb for quick touch-ups
• Lip gloss or lipstick for reapplication
• Water and a light snack
• Slip-on shoes for walking between setups

8. Relax and Enjoy

You’ve done all the preparation — now it’s time to relax and enjoy the experience! I’ll guide you through every pose and help you feel comfortable and confident throughout your session. The result will be a stunning collection of images that celebrate your pregnancy beautifully and authentically.

Ready to Plan Your Maternity Session?

If you’re expecting and searching for a Naperville maternity photographer, I’d love to help you create elegant, heartfelt maternity portraits that celebrate this special time in your life.

Contact us!