What to Wear for a Maternity Photoshoot: Two Looks, One Session

This is the question I get more than any other, and most answers to it are useless because they're written without pictures.

So here's the useful version. One real session at Little Bay Beach in Sydney, two outfit changes, and the actual reasoning behind why each one worked.

The short answer

Soft fabric, light colours, nothing with a pattern, and one thing that moves in the wind.

If you do only that, you'll be fine. The rest of this post is why — and what changes when you add a second outfit.

Look one: the flowing cream set

The first half of the session — the sunrise beach and the rocks — was shot in a ribbed cream knit set. Off-the-shoulder top, long skirt to the ankle, bump exposed.

Three things made it work:

It matched the background instead of fighting it. Little Bay at sunrise is pale sand, pale water, hazy sky. Cream sits inside that palette. A navy dress would have punched a hole in the middle of every frame.

It moved. There's always breeze off the water at the point, and a long skirt turns a standing pose into something alive. Stiff fabric just hangs there.

The bump was actually visible. A two-piece with the bump exposed reads instantly. A loose flowing dress over the top often hides the very thing you booked the session for — this is the single most common mistake I see.

Look two: jeans and a white top

Then they changed, and the second half of the shoot became a completely different set of photos.

Light-wash jeans, plain white tee for him, cream knit for her, bump still out. We moved from the sand up to the sandstone cliffs and the rock pools.

Why this is worth doing:

It buys you a second album. The cream set is the timeless, framed-on-the-wall look. The jeans are the ones that look like your actual life. Most couples end up wanting both, and they're twenty minutes apart in the same booking.

Denim handles rough locations better. Climbing around rock pools in a floor-length skirt is a genuinely bad time. The wardrobe change is what unlocked the second half of the location.

White on top keeps it cohesive. Same light palette up top, so the two sets still look like one session rather than two unrelated shoots.

The rules that actually matter

Skip patterns entirely. Stripes, florals, logos — they date the photo instantly and pull the eye off your face. Solid colours only.

Stay in one family of tones. Cream, white, oatmeal, soft grey, pale blue denim. It doesn't need to be matching, it needs to not clash. Two people in unrelated strong colours looks like you got dressed in different houses.

Avoid pure black on a bright beach. The camera has to choose between your face and your clothes. Black in bright sunrise light usually costs you the face.

Bring something that moves. A long skirt, a loose sleeve, unbound hair. Wind is free and it makes photos look expensive.

Fitted over the bump, loose everywhere else. Or bump exposed. Tent dresses erase the shape you're photographing.

Test it before the day. Sit down in it. Walk in it. If you're pulling at it in the mirror, you'll be pulling at it in every frame.

For him: match her formality. If she's in a long dress, he's not in a hoodie. Plain tee, linen shirt or a light knit, no graphics.

What to actually pack

Both outfits, on hangers, not folded. Shoes you can walk on sand and rock in — you'll shoot barefoot but you need to get there. A hair tie and the willingness to take it out. Water, especially for a sunrise start. A jumper for before and after; Sydney coastal mornings are colder than the forecast suggests. And anything sentimental — a scan photo, tiny shoes, a ring — if you want those frames.

Timing and trimester

Around 30–34 weeks is the sweet spot. The bump is unmistakable and you're usually still comfortable enough to walk sand, rocks and a staircase.

Book earlier than you think. If you're aiming for 32 weeks, talk to a photographer at around 24 — good sunrise dates go quickly, and you want room to move if the weather turns.

Two outfits or one?

One outfit is completely fine and keeps the session simple. Two gives you meaningfully more variety for maybe fifteen minutes of the booking — and as this session shows, the second look can open up parts of the location the first one can't handle.

Three is usually too many. You spend the best light changing.

FAQ

What colours are best for a maternity photoshoot?

Cream, white, oatmeal, soft neutrals and pale denim. They sit inside a beach or bushland palette instead of fighting it, and they age well.

Should I show my bump in maternity photos?

It's entirely your call, but exposed or fitted reads far more clearly than loose fabric draped over the top. If you're unsure, bring both options and we'll shoot a few of each.

What should my partner wear for maternity photos?

Plain, no logos, in the same tonal family as you. A white or cream tee, a linen shirt, or a light knit. Match her level of formality.

Can I change outfits during the session?

Yes. There are change rooms partway down the staircase at Little Bay. Budget about fifteen minutes for it.

What should I wear if I'm having a winter maternity shoot?

A long knit dress, or a cream jumper with the bump exposed. Layers you can take off for a few frames. Winter light in Sydney is lovely and the beaches are empty.

How many weeks pregnant should I be for photos?

30–34 weeks for most people. Earlier if you're expecting twins or want to be certain you're comfortable.

Book your maternity session

If you're still deciding what to wear, bring both options — that's the honest answer, and it's what I tell everyone.

See session pricing, browse babies & family work, or message me on WhatsApp — +61 401 579 956.

The rest of this session: Part 1 — The Sunrise Beach · Part 2 — On the Rocks