Being Pregnant
Ideas for Simple DIY Maternity Pictures
With so many things to think about during your pregnancy, maternity pictures may not be at the top of your list — but they should be!
Recently, I showed you how to capture beautiful newborn photos, and taking gorgeous maternity pictures at home can be equally simple.
Hiring a professional photographer is nice, but let’s face it — having a baby is expensive. If you decide to put the crib of your dreams ahead of a pro maternity photography session, mount your camera to a tripod, and check out these simple ideas for taking lovely do-it-yourself maternity pictures!
Did you document your pregnancy with maternity pictures? Were they professional, or DIY?
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106 Comments
Nadia commented on Oct 19 11 at 11:08 amSo cute! I will have to try to get some of these done before I go into labor. My sister in law was supposed to take my photos for me (she is a professional photographer) but we never got around to it when she was in town. I definitely want some cute maternity photos!
http://www.fitandpreggers.com
Abi Huber commented on Oct 19 11 at 11:26 amThese all look so great! Too bad I don’t have a tripod to use…that would make things so much easier. :)
Kristin W commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:00 pmGreat suggestions…and I agree with you. Unfortunately, there was no one making these suggestions back when I was pregnant (we’re talking 15-20 years ago), so I missed out on this. Believe it or not, I can only think of TWO pictures in my whole collection where I can be seen pregnant, and they’re quite by accident, obviously, and my belly is not the focal point. So sad. :(
Karen commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:10 pmWhat great suggestions!! If you don’t have access to a professional photographer, these are really cute and easy poses that even your husband or a good friend can help capture.
christa commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:11 pmlove this post! going to have my husband get some ideas so he can do my maternity pics at home :) ourlittlebubble.com
Melissa commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:11 pmI like the different perspective shot! We’ll probably be doing our own maternity pictures, and definitely won’t skip on the cliché shot. :) Thanks for the tips!
Kelly commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:12 pmLove the suggestions, but I think the tripod is one of the best. Too bad I didn’t have these tips when I was pregnant. It would have been fun.
Susan Heim commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:14 pmI documented my most recent pregnancy with photos because I was pregnant with twins, and I was HUGE! (The babies were 7 lbs 13 oz and 6 lbs 9 oz when born.) I didn’t want to forget just how enormous I really was. (The doctor ran out of measuring tape.) They’re fun to look back on and show the twins.
Amber commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:14 pmBeautiful photo, and wonderful suggestions! Fills me with excitement at the thought of future pregnancy.
kathleen siegle commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:15 pmI like the suggestions. I will be sure to use them on my next maternity photos. I was so uncomfortable during my first session. I hope that changes!
Lisa commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:20 pmThose are great ideas! I did not take any pictures when I was pregnant, and now it’s kind of hard to remember what I looked like. Next time I will probably take at least a couple. If only to remind me what giant children I have.
Kellie Kluger commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:27 pmI never did this for any of my pregnancies, but is a sweet idea. I think the block idea is my favorite and could be a fun way to announce whether you are having a girl or a boy!
Schmidty commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:32 pmThe only pics I have of me pregnant are the ones where I was fully clothed — never did take any of the growing belly (the extra weight always left me so sluggish). Your tripod idea is a good one!
Danetta commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:38 pmUnfortunately, I did not capture any maternity pictures when I was pregnant with my son (9 years ago!) but I have seen some really cute ones done that were both professional and DIY. My best friend put together a pregnancy photo where she had her hands placed over her belly and fingers forming a heart, and a photo of the baby after she was born and had them put on her birth announcements. It was really sweet.
Diane commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:43 pmPregnant belly’s are so beautiful, I think every woman should have someone take some of her!
Sandra commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:46 pmi like this photo its beautiful
Elena commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:55 pmBeautiful photos!
roxy blaggo commented on Oct 19 11 at 12:58 pmomg i love the alphabet blocks! I just found out (today!) that im pregnant and i cant wait to take a photo like that! i’ve got a long way to go!!!!
Ali commented on Oct 19 11 at 1:15 pmGreat pics… this has given me some ideas. My sister-in-law is pregnant and I’d love to try taking some pics like these :)
Jessica commented on Oct 19 11 at 1:18 pmThese pictures are amazing! Thank you for sharing such great ideas…especially for those of us on budgets. My absolute favorite is the Spell It Out photo!
april ort commented on Oct 19 11 at 1:29 pmI especially like the idea of having Daddy pose with Mama’s belly. There’s just something so striking about it. With different flash and filter settings you can come up with some great results. Also, there are some very cool iPhone applications, such as Hipstamatic, which put a really funky vintage twist to digital photography.
Tara @ Skippin' Rope commented on Oct 19 11 at 1:50 pmInnever had the chance to do maternity shoots. Honestly, it never crossed my mind! I wish I had thought of it.
I think q cute idea is to do something related to your cravings! If I had dine it with my son I would have out a BIG glass of chocolate milk with a straw next to my belly cause I drank a glass, sometimes 2, a night almost my entire pregnancy.
With my daughter it would have been In-N-Out!!!
Chelsea commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:11 pmMy favorite suggestion is the Flip Your Perspective. What a great photo idea!
I didn’t get any professional photos taken of my recent pregnancy, but I took some belly photos myself (mostly with my phone…) monthly! The good thing is I have lots of preggo photos, the bad thing is they are poor quality and about 2% have my face in them! I’ll keep these ideas in mind for my next pregnancy! ;)
Cori Westphal commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:13 pmThese days its all about saving a few bucks. And this is a great way! Even if you don’t own a fancy camera, with the correct lighting, you can still get a great, unique pic! And I bet if you check around, you can find someone with an SLR camera ready and willing to help you out!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Alicia Thurston commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:14 pmGreat tips, the baby booties is my favourite! Wish I had done this when I was pregnant, it is so important to remember that time in your life.
Barbie Spruill commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:18 pmWhat a great idea!!! My husband took some good belly shots last time, though we did have a maternity shoot as well. I love that we’re on the same page of KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid! (No offense of course!)
Kari Howell commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:20 pmI have seen so many maternity pictures. Unfortunately, I didn’t even think about having my picture taken when I was pregnant. I regret it now though.
Alice commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:32 pmI need to invest in a tripod! Wait, I should find my camera charger first… My girlfriend said she wants to take maternity pics for me but I’m a bit shy (uhh hairy belly AND belly button popping out!!), plus I don’t know what to wear!
Sunday commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:37 pmThe photo with the tiny shoes is so cute. It’s a nice reminder that pregnancy, while beautiful, thankfully doesn’t last forever. ;)
Bridget Williams commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:44 pmI have 3 children of my own and i have maternity pics with al of them, the memories are priceless, i wish we had something like this for my step children ( 4 step children, for a total of 7 kiddos lol) I think it is awesome:)
kim c commented on Oct 19 11 at 2:53 pmGorgeous to see the bare belly photos and the best way to feature them in photos. I have alot of great ideas and can’t wait to try them!
Jamie LeBLanc commented on Oct 19 11 at 3:01 pmLove the baby shoes by the belly pic it’s sp cute!
Erin Gilmer commented on Oct 19 11 at 3:03 pmLoved the spell it out tip and the baby shoes tip!!
Lyn H commented on Oct 19 11 at 3:10 pmI love the picture with Dad’s hands in there too! I remember my husband lying his head on my belly and talking to our child. Oh that was so long ago and the memories are just like yesterday!
Cori Westphal commented on Oct 19 11 at 3:11 pmI love the pic with the blocks spelling out ‘love’. You could easily spell out a baby name too!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
April Ockerman commented on Oct 19 11 at 4:25 pmI wish I had done belly pics when I was preggo with my kids. I kind of regret not doing now since I won’t be having any more kids. These are great photos and I love the different perspectives and coloring. Just beautiful!! :)
JoeyfromSC commented on Oct 19 11 at 4:26 pmI have a great friend who is about to have her baby soon..I’ll link her to this post!
Thanks!
Gina @ The Crave to Save commented on Oct 19 11 at 5:35 pmGreat tips! Thanks for sharing!
Chelsea Saulpaugh commented on Oct 19 11 at 7:07 pmI have yet to be pregnant, but from what I hear from friends, its not really a time when you would feel like going to get professional photos done. At least not me. I would have a face full of food just trying to get comfortable.
That being said, I completely agree that it is a time to remember and have photographs to cherish. Taking photos yourself or with your partner is a great idea! It can be a bonding time with your partner and give you the chance to let your creative side go wild. Anything goes when you are the one taking the photos and you can document those memories however you like.
These are wonderful tips to capture the beautiful memories of pregnancy. Thank you!
Jennifer Hall commented on Oct 19 11 at 7:07 pmThank you for the great suggestions, with three babies due in our extended family over the next four months, these will definitely come in handy!
Christy Peffly commented on Oct 19 11 at 7:09 pmI really love the idea of using blocks to spell things out! I once saw someone use Scrabble letters. Anything like that is really cute to me.
Shawna Elkins commented on Oct 19 11 at 8:23 pmI Love the Bare Your Belly tip! It’s so simple yet so BEAUTIFUL! Love it! Keep those photography tips coming!
Lauren Little commented on Oct 19 11 at 8:50 pmThose are beautiful pictures. I loved having belly shots done and now that I am not pregnant I enjoy looking at them even more.
Nicole commented on Oct 19 11 at 8:52 pmGreat tips. I am starting my monthly belly shot on Sunday when I am 20 weeks!
Nicole commented on Oct 19 11 at 8:54 pmLove the shot with the booties/shoes and the blocks. You could even spell out your baby’s name if you know the gender and have picked a name!
becca p. commented on Oct 19 11 at 9:19 pmthis is a good way to save money, but i’d prefer to have a professional document this important time.
Amanda Alvarado commented on Oct 19 11 at 9:42 pmWow! The pictures are awesome! I really love the Spell it out tip! I never would have thought of that. I wish now that I had pregnancy photos but I only have a few of each of my pregnancies and none like these actually showing my belly. :-(
Mercedes commented on Oct 19 11 at 9:53 pmI didn’t take pregnancy pictures because I was embarrassed of my ginormous size (triplets, Hel-LO!) but I wish that I had! We lost two of the little ones, and suddenly even the sluggishness and the unwieldiness seems very special.
Erica G commented on Oct 19 11 at 10:14 pmI love them all! The one with the ribbon and tag is adorable!
Amie Reinholz commented on Oct 19 11 at 11:28 pmI love the proud parents picture. It’s one that I take of my pregnant ladies. If there is a sibling I also include them in that shot.
Tamra commented on Oct 19 11 at 11:42 pmI LOVE the spell it out photo!
Kayla commented on Oct 20 11 at 12:59 amThese are great!
Kelli Stanfield commented on Oct 20 11 at 1:56 amblocks & bows!! I’ve done blue bows for boys even!
Barbie Spruill commented on Oct 20 11 at 2:16 amDefinitely true…be yourself. Similar to the newborn photos, I don’t want to look back and see myself and think, “who is THAT?!”
Helen Spencer commented on Oct 20 11 at 5:37 amI thought you ladies might like to know about a wonderful new way in which you can store your pregnancy and baby pics, forever, on a chronological timeline, then carry on saving the events, memories and milestones of your family’s lives as they grow over the years.
http://www.SaveEveryStep.com is free to use and very addictive and currently has a Facebook competition to win a lifetime’s membership! http://www.facebook.com/saveeverystep.
Lifelines for ALL the family. Precious memories become even more so with time, so this is a great way to create a legacy for your children….I hope it helps. BEST wishes with your pregnancies. Motherhood is the greatest journey of them all! HELEN, FOUNDER
jeannine m commented on Oct 20 11 at 9:22 amI didnt document any of mine. I wish I did. I like the stickers you can put on your shirt showing what month you are. I think those are cute and a great way to remember
Nicole Ogden | {baby boom} photography commented on Oct 20 11 at 1:34 pmI *love* all of these. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t do a maternity session while pregnant with my son and I regret that now. I look forward to including him in a session whenever we have a second though!
Amy Smith commented on Oct 20 11 at 2:37 pmI like the baby booties and spell it out! So cute! This is a great idea…I need to buy a tripod so I can start getting in the pictures!
Rachel Wingert commented on Oct 20 11 at 4:10 pmI never did use pictures to document my kids this way. I really am not sure why people want to do this. I mean it is nice to see this but I felt it an expense we couldn’t afford and we did not have a camera.
Cheryl Verver commented on Oct 20 11 at 4:37 pmI love the photos – so many great ideas!
Krista commented on Oct 20 11 at 5:26 pmI wish I had thought to take some pregnancy pictures. I have almost none! These are great ideas.
Samantha commented on Oct 20 11 at 5:51 pmCute ideas! I like the picture with the blocks or the booties!
Karen Propes commented on Oct 20 11 at 8:09 pmThank you so much, we are going to take some belly pics this weekend. I’m so glad you offer all these tips. It really helps and creates a sense of calming knowing I’m not the only one dealing with these types of issues.
katie commented on Oct 20 11 at 8:36 pmmy sister-in-law is pregnant with her first child. Pictures like this would be a great keepsake
Yvonne Solis commented on Oct 20 11 at 8:49 pmI love so many the pics are really good. I took some pics of my sis when she was pregnant…
Tina Konegan commented on Oct 20 11 at 9:03 pmSuch nice pictures, I cannot find one single picture of me while I was pregnant with my children.. I know they exisit but they were taken by others and never shared with me :(
Chelsey commented on Oct 20 11 at 9:04 pmI have very few photos of me while pregnant. None of them are from my first pregnancy, and none of them are professional I really wish I had done a maternity shoot, just once. These pictures are great.
Mariah Giles commented on Oct 20 11 at 11:20 pmI do love the thought about baring Your belly in the self-maternity shots! I always took mine with a close fitting shirt!
Heather Monk commented on Oct 21 11 at 12:09 amI love the photo tip with the baby shoes. I’ll have to try that one day!
Tamra commented on Oct 21 11 at 12:11 amSpell it out is definitely my favorite. My best friend is 7 1/2 months pregnant so I’m going to take some shots of her using this idea! Thanks!
Terri Fairbanks commented on Oct 21 11 at 1:20 amLove the article…I’m so happy to have found your blog! But I think that I enjoyed the last picture the most. Being yourself is so important in pictures. You have to be able to look back and remember the moment and know it’s you.
ellen commented on Oct 21 11 at 2:53 amI like the heart on the belly pic… I think because it is simply, and it shows the Moms hands!
Tracy P commented on Oct 21 11 at 8:29 amI love the Baby Booties picture! If I was pregnant I would defiantly use that idea.
Todd commented on Oct 21 11 at 8:46 amlove the baby shoes :)
Bree commented on Oct 21 11 at 9:51 amI think using the children’s blocks as a photo prop is an adorable idea!
Liz Robinson commented on Oct 21 11 at 10:34 amI love when women do these pregnancy photos. They are so beautiful.
Liz Robinson commented on Oct 21 11 at 10:35 amI like the one with the blocks that spell out LOVE.
Melissa commented on Oct 21 11 at 11:10 amI also love the wooden block idea!
Paula Brown commented on Oct 21 11 at 12:31 pmSo cute! I took so many pictures while I was pregnant.
Hilda W commented on Oct 21 11 at 1:03 pmLove the “flip your perspective”
Diana commented on Oct 21 11 at 2:11 pmI loved the “spell it out” photo. I just wished I had a cute baby bump and could have take photos like that.. lol
Nicole commented on Oct 21 11 at 2:45 pmI am taking my first belly shot on Sunday, I will be 5 months! I am looking forward to using these photo’s as inspiration for my belly shoot!
Beth Martinez commented on Oct 21 11 at 4:46 pmLove this article!
Tamra commented on Oct 21 11 at 5:01 pmThank you for all of the great tips. Spell it out is a adorable and I WILL be using that one!
bill elliott commented on Oct 21 11 at 5:44 pmgreat site, my daughter is expecting any day now, i also enter the contest
Lauren Jolly commented on Oct 21 11 at 5:53 pmI agree with the “be yourself” tip. This is most important whenever taking photos/having photos taken of you. If you aren’t yourself, then when you look back at the photos, they will not mean as much to you. Great tips!!
Christina Eldredge commented on Oct 21 11 at 8:59 pmI LOVE the tie a ribbon tip & picture! I wish I would’ve done this during my pregnancies! I was always too scared to do my own session. Just too some pics with my iPhone in the bathroom mirror.
joan commented on Oct 21 11 at 10:01 pmlove the “baby booties”!
Erica Best commented on Oct 21 11 at 11:38 pmI have not had a baby yet but i would love to take pictures like this
Melissa commented on Oct 22 11 at 1:56 pm“Be Yourself” is a good tip too!
Shawna Elkins commented on Oct 22 11 at 9:28 pmLove all the tips actually and I missed out on doing a maternity shoot while I was pregnant and I REALLY REGRET IT! I do have photo’s of myself with the belly and baring my belly but not professional! :(
Kayla commented on Oct 23 11 at 1:55 amI love the “handle with care” photo!
Nicole commented on Oct 23 11 at 9:59 amJust took my first belly pic today! Great tips!
Mariah Giles commented on Oct 23 11 at 4:31 pmI love your keep it simple tip. sometimes the least says the most
kristin neagle commented on Oct 23 11 at 7:06 pmI love the Tie a Ribbon and Baby Booties photos! Wonderful ideas for maternity shots!
Katrina commented on Oct 23 11 at 7:18 pmI love the proud parents tip. I don’t have a single picture of me pregnant with both my husband and I! I really wish I did.
Sarah Cass commented on Oct 23 11 at 7:29 pmI think the Keeping it simple photo is the best and most beautiful photo.
Alicia E. commented on Oct 23 11 at 7:54 pmI think the picture and tip about “Flip Your Perspective” was the best, because I feel too many pregnancy pictures don’t focus enough on the mother. They’re what’s making the whole thing possible, for crying out loud!
Chrissy commented on Oct 23 11 at 7:55 pmI love the alphabet blocks picture!
Ashly T commented on Oct 23 11 at 8:13 pmThese are really great tips! I especially like the ribbon idea :)
Shawna S commented on Oct 23 11 at 8:33 pmI like these tips, I have several friends who are twitchy about getting maternity photos done and I’ll recommend this
Mandi commented on Oct 23 11 at 10:13 pmMy photographer didn’t ask me to bare my belly, but I imagine I would have been a little uncomfy. But all the pictures of pregnant mommas baring the bellies are too cute! I also like your “flip your perspective” tip. :)
Kimberly commented on Oct 23 11 at 11:36 pmLove the cute ABC blocks! Great ideas!
Amy Smith commented on Oct 24 11 at 10:46 amI need to do this next time. I took some but definitely didn’t get this creative. I’m buying a tripod this week! :)
Kim commented on Feb 01 12 at 1:34 pmI took my own photos aswell with a tripod, full length mirror, white wall and tape for focus. I thought they turned out cute!!
Kim commented on Feb 01 12 at 1:37 pmI took my own photos aswell with a tripod, full length mirror, white wall and tape for focus. I thought they turned out cute!! You can see them here http://zaniboniphotography.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-own-maternity-shoot.html
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