You’re 33 weeks along. Your session is Saturday. And you’ve now tried on every dress you own (twice), while your toddler narrates the whole thing from the bathroom floor.
I get this text almost every week. Figuring out what to wear for maternity photos feels way harder than it should, mostly because you’re shopping for a body that changes shape every seven days. The good news is that the clothing part is simpler than Pinterest makes it look. You need one thing that fits your bump today and still feels like you.
The quick answer: wear a soft solid color in a fabric that moves, in a shape that skims your bump instead of squeezing it. Bring one backup. Skip logos, stiff waistbands, and anything you have to keep tugging down.
Below, I’ll walk you through colors, fabrics, family coordination, our very moody Minnesota seasons, and where to actually buy this stuff locally.
Hi, I’m Megan
I’m a newborn and family photographer based in Minnesota, and I’ve spent years photographing bumps, brand new babies, and toddlers who refuse to look at the camera. My sessions aren’t quiet or perfectly posed. They’re loud and a little chaotic and usually end with someone being tossed in the air.
I help with outfits before every single session, because I’d rather you spend Saturday morning drinking coffee than panic-ordering three dresses that won’t arrive in time.
Want to get on the calendar? Reach out here and tell me your due date.
Why Your Outfit Choice Matters More Than You Think
Clothes do one job in a photo: they tell the eye where to go. A busy shirt pulls attention to the shirt. A soft, simple one lets your face and your belly carry the image.
But the bigger reason matters more. The outfit that photographs best is almost always the one you forget you’re wearing. If you’re adjusting a strap every four minutes, that shows up in your shoulders and your jaw. I can see it through the lens before you feel it.
Kids work the same way. Put a four-year-old in a scratchy collared shirt and you’ve bought yourself about eleven minutes of cooperation. Put him in the soft green sweater he picked out himself and he’ll run laps for an hour.
A few other things your outfit quietly controls:
- How much you move. Flowy fabric photographs beautifully when you walk, twirl, or get spun around by your husband.
- Where these will hang. If your house is all warm woods and cream walls, a neon coral dress is going to fight the room.
- How long you last outside. In Minnesota, this is not a small detail.
Colors and Fabrics That Photograph Beautifully (And What to Avoid)
Here’s where most of the decision actually happens.
Colors that work
- Soft neutrals: cream, oatmeal, camel, taupe, warm white
- Muted earth tones: olive, rust, clay, sage, dusty blue
- Deep jewel tones: emerald, navy, burgundy, plum (these are lovely in winter and indoors)
- Black, if it’s your thing and the fabric has some texture or drape to it
Solid colors win over patterns most of the time. If you love a print, pick one with big, soft shapes instead of tiny busy ones (a small tight pattern can look like static, especially in prints).
Fabrics that move
Reach for jersey knit, ribbed knit, chiffon, gauze, linen blends, and sweaters with visible texture. These fall softly around your bump and they catch light in a way that reads as warm.
Stiff fabrics do the opposite. They hold their own shape instead of yours, and they wrinkle in exactly the spot you don’t want.
What to skip
- Big logos and graphic tees (they date the photos instantly)
- Neon and bright chartreuse, which bounce color onto your skin
- Heavy shine or stiff satin, which can look bumpy in outdoor light
- Elastic waistbands that dig in across the belly
- Brand new shoes, unless you enjoy blisters
Also, quick practical one: wear seamless, skin-toned undergarments. Thin knit fabric shows everything.
Solo Bump vs. Family Outfits: Coordinating Without Matching
Matching outfits make everyone look like a corporate retreat. Coordinating outfits look like a family who happens to have good taste. (I go deeper on this in my post on outfit tips for moms, which covers family sessions too.)
Here’s my method:
- Start with your dress. Yours is the anchor. Everyone else builds around it.
- Pull two or three colors from it. That’s your whole palette. Nobody needs a fourth.
- Vary the texture instead of the color. A cable knit sweater next to a smooth linen shirt next to corduroy pants. Same family, different feel.
- Give the kids a real choice. Hold up two shirts you already approve of and let them pick. A kid who chose his outfit is a kid who forgets he’s wearing it.
- Bring a backup for every child under six. Somebody is going to find mud, or a puddle, or a granola bar.
For your partner: a solid henley, a plain button-down, or a simple sweater. Dark jeans over athletic shorts. That’s it, that’s the whole assignment.
And if it’s just you and the bump, you have more freedom than you think. Solo maternity photos are the one time a long flowy dress genuinely earns its keep.
Worried your kids will be over it in four minutes? Grab my free guide to capturing real laughter. It’s the same tricks I use during sessions to get genuine giggles out of kids (no bribery, no “say cheese”).
Dressing for Minnesota Weather and Season
We do not have gentle weather here, so the season shapes what to wear for maternity photos more than any style rule. (Location matters too, and I break that down in choosing the right location for your Minneapolis photos.)
Spring and fall
The sweet spot. Layer a cardigan or long open coat over a knit dress. Bring a wrap you can shed. If we’re near a lake, expect wind, so pick a dress with some weight to the hem (a very light chiffon skirt will spend the whole session over your head).
Summer
Light fabrics, short sleeves or sleeveless, breathable everything. We usually shoot near sunset for the softer light, which is also when the mosquitoes clock in. Bring bug spray and put it on before we start (not on your dress).
Winter
Cold weather sessions are some of my favorites, and the coat is part of the outfit. A long wool coat left open over a fitted dress looks incredible. So does a chunky cream sweater with the bump showing underneath.
For winter, plan around short bursts:
- Wear or bring real boots for the walk in
- Keep a warm car nearby to duck into
- Hats and mittens for the kids between frames
- Ten to fifteen focused minutes outside gets you plenty
Indoor and in-home sessions
No coats, no wind, no bugs. In your own home, bare feet or soft socks are perfect, and you can wear something you’d never survive outside in November. If you’re leaning toward an in-home session, here’s how to prepare your house (spoiler: it’s less work than you think).
Where to Shop for Maternity Photo Outfits in the Twin Cities
You do not need to spend a fortune on a dress you’ll wear once.
Secondhand and local:
- Bellies to Babies in Osseo carries previously loved maternity clothing and buys pieces back after you’re done. They sell online too. (Their Richfield store has closed, so head to Osseo.)
- Clothes Mentor locations around the metro carry resale women’s clothing, and maternity stock varies by store. Call ahead before you drive.
- Target has a maternity section and it’s genuinely solid for basics like knit dresses and bodysuits.
Rentals, if you want something dramatic:
- Nuuly offers a monthly maternity rental plan
- Rent the Runway rents maternity dresses and gowns
- Mama Bump Rentals specializes in maternity photoshoot gowns
Free options that work more often than you’d expect: a stretchy dress you already own, a friend’s closet, or your partner’s white button-down over a fitted tank.
My Go-To Outfit Formula for Effortless, Timeless Photos
When someone’s stuck, I give them this. It works for every season and every body.
- One fitted layer that follows the bump instead of hiding it
- One flowy layer that moves when you do (dress, skirt, open cardigan, long coat)
- One quiet color story of two or three tones, max
- One comfort test: put it on, then sit, bend over, and walk up stairs. If anything slides or digs, it’s out.
- One backup outfit in the car, because you’re going to change your mind
That’s the whole thing. Five steps, and you’re done deciding what to wear for maternity photos.
Read more about Fresh 48 sessions in Minneapolis and book yours while you’re still doing the fun stuff, like picking a dress.
FAQ
How far along should I be for maternity photos?
Most families book somewhere in the third trimester, when the bump is clearly there but you’re not exhausted yet. Reach out early and we’ll pick a date that fits your pregnancy and my calendar.
Should I bring more than one outfit?
One or two is plenty. More than that eats the session in changing time, and toddlers do not wait politely.
Do I need a professional maternity gown?
Nope. Some of my favorite maternity photos are a plain knit dress or a soft sweater with jeans. Rent a gown if it makes you feel amazing, but it’s not required.
Should my bump be bare?
Only if you want it to be. Some moms love it, some would rather be fully covered, and both look beautiful. Tell me what you’re comfortable with and I’ll shoot to it.
What about hair, makeup, and nails?
Do whatever makes you feel like yourself. Hands show up a lot in maternity photos (yours on the bump, your partner’s over yours), so clean, simple nails are a nice touch.
Can my older kids be in the maternity photos?
Absolutely, and they should be. This is the last chapter of your family at its current size, which is worth having on the wall. If they need convincing, my 10 tips to make family photos fun post has helped a lot of parents.
What if the weather is awful that day?
We talk, and we reschedule or move indoors. Nobody’s standing in sleet for a photo. More answers live on my FAQ page.
Should I book a newborn session at the same time?
A lot of families do, and the two sets look really good together. I wrote about pairing them in Documenting Your Journey to Parenthood: From Bump to Baby, and you can see how in-home newborn sessions work here.
One Last Thing
Your bump is temporary. So is this exact version of your family. Ten years from now, you won’t remember which dress you almost ordered. You’ll remember that you were huge and tired and completely in love, and that somebody took a picture of it.
Pick the comfortable thing. Show up. I’ll handle the rest.
Let’s get your session booked. Reach out here and tell me your due date. I answer within 48 hours.
And if you’re not quite ready to book, that’s fine too. Join my email list and I’ll send you the stuff I’d tell a friend: session prep, Twin Cities recommendations, and honest notes on raising kids here. (No daily emails. I have three kids and a camera, I don’t have that kind of time.)
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