Not every mom-to-be decides to have a maternity photoshoot… but coming from your (obviously biased) photographer here, you should definitely have a maternity photoshoot. And while we’re getting fancy, you should also find yourself a baby shower dress! Don’t worry, we’ve put together a list to help you find the best maternity dress for baby shower celebrations.
Who cares if you put on more weight than you wanted during the pregnancy. It doesn’t matter if instead of having that beautiful pregnancy glow you got the breakouts and skin discoloration. Linea nigra? No problem.
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and your body is incredible because you are carrying the most precious little life inside, and you aren’t going to want to forget this special time. You deserve to dab on some makeup, do your hair, and put on something that makes you feel as beautiful as you are.
[Related Post: The Pregnancy Glow Guide – Skin Care Tips for Expecting Mothers]
Just a heads up, this page may contain Amazon, Etsy, and other affiliate links. We may make a small commission from any clicks at no expense to you. Head over to our disclosure policy for more information.
When is the best time to do maternity photos?
Maternity photos are typically scheduled around the 32-35 week mark. This should be well before you go into labor, even if you happen to go into labor earlier than expected. It is also late enough into your pregnancy that your belly is nice and full and you can show off that bump. Of course, you are welcome to take maternity photos at any point during your pregnancy and can even ask your photographer of choice what their recommendation is!
If there is a specific photographer you want to use, be sure to reach out to them well in advance because some of the great maternity photographers book up quickly – especially if you are planning to shoot in the studio! Some diverse photographers will also offer a package deal if you decide to do maternity and newborn photos with them… something to consider when choosing your photographer.
I would also recommend doing some research before choosing a photographer to find your style. If you don’t know what your style is, Pinterest is a great place to start! Create a new album called “Maternity Photoshoot Ideas” and start pinning any maternity photos that stand out to you as you research.
You’ll start to notice a trend in the lighting style, color scheme, wardrobe, location (outdoors vs studio) energy (are most of the poses and faces sexy, laughing, carefree, classic, professional, photojournalistic, serious, etc.) and photo composition (do most photos focus on just your bump, are they full-body, is there scenery in the background, is the dad in any photos, are other siblings included, etc.).
Now that you know the style you are looking for, find a photographer whose current portfolio matches this style – this will help guarantee you are happy with your maternity photoshoot results! Now we get to the fun part – deciding on a maternity gown!
[Related post: Labor Induction Methods and Natural Alternatives]
PSSSST…. If you have time to wait on shipping, you can also download the Temu app and find some of these and/or similar dresses at a fraction of the price!
What should I wear to a maternity photoshoot?
This is the fun part! There are typically 2 main styles of pregnancy dresses women go for when deciding on what to wear for maternity photos. We’ll break down each one and include our favorite buys on Amazon! (As an added bonus, a ton of these dresses are part of Amazon Fashion, meaning you can order and try them on free of charge… you only pay for what you don’t return in the 7-day window!)
1. Sexy maternity dresses
Think lacy maternity dress, fitted maternity dress, off the shoulder maternity dress, formal maternity dress, maternity gowns, tulle maternity dress, elegant maternity dress, etc.
2. Simple and flowy maternity dresses
Think summer maternity dress, basic maternity dress, boho maternity dress, etc.
[*Hey, mama… Have you downloaded our free guide yet? “The Ultimate Guide to Natural Pregnancy Remedies” It’s jam-packed with awesome tips and advice to help you tackle those pesky pregnancy discomforts using natural remedies.*]
Our top 10 Sexy Maternity Dresses
1. Puffy Ruffles Tulle Maternity Dress
2. Off the Shoulder Maternity Dress
3. Off the Shoulder Tulle Maternity Gown
4. Fitted Maternity Dress
5. Split Leg Sexy Maternity Dress
6. Long Sleeve Maternity Dress
7. Mermaid Maternity Dress
8. Off the Shoulder Tulle Maternity Gown
9. Lace Maternity Dress
10. Tall Slit Maternity Dress
Our Top 10 Simple and Flowy Maternity Dresses
These are our favorite simple maternity dresses if you are aiming for more of a basic or traditional pregnancy photoshoot. Remember how we are using Pinterest to find our maternity photo style preference? Take a look at what those women are wearing in most of their photos to help you determine the style maternity dress to choose!
1. V Neck Maternity Dress
2. Casual Maternity Dress
3. Form Fitting Maternity Dress
4. Lace Sleeves Maternity Dress
5. Flowy Sleeves Maternity Dress
6. Off the Shoulder Maternity Dress
7. Pink Lacey Maternity Dress
8. Ribbed Velvet Maternity Dress
9. Goddess Maternity Dress
10. Chiffon Maternity Dress
What should I wear to my baby shower?
This is a tough one to answer because there are SO many different baby shower themes and overall atmospheres that you may be dressing for. Take into consideration the color scheme you have chosen for your baby shower as well as the activities!
Are you going to be spending most of your time inside, outside, walking, sitting… choose a dress that you will be comfortable in for the duration of the shower and that you will also enjoy seeing in all of your pictures! You can also consider choosing a color to match your baby’s gender (if you already know what you are having!).
Generally speaking, here are our favorite maternity dresses for baby shower celebrations.
10 Best Maternity Dresses for Baby Shower
1. Floral Sleeve Maternity Dress
2. Rib Knit Maternity Dress
3. Puff Sleeve Maternity Dress
4. Floral Summer Maternity Dress
5. Boho Maternity Dress
6. Halter Top Maternity Dress
7. V-Neck Lace Sleeves Maternity Dress
8. Floral Maternity Dress with Bow
9. Flowy Casual Maternity Dress
10. Twist Front Maternity Dress
Choose a dress that makes you feel the most beautiful and enjoy this time! You deserve to dress up and feel special for photos, for your baby shower, or both!
Happy shopping, mama.
Jess
