This studio maternity shoot was such a joy. Jenia came to me for maternity photos when she was 30 weeks pregnant with her baby girl.

As you may know, I believe the best time for maternity photos is when you 28 – 35 weeks pregnant, so she was right in the strike zone.

I love maternity photo shoots with dresses or a milk bath or a fabulous sunsets, but here we proved that with a little creativity, a little goes a long way.

I chose two pieces of fabric, three backdrops, a lace robe, and got to work.

Maternity Photos NYC

First we started with a gray backdrop and pale pink fabric I bought awhile ago at Mood. (Does Mood Fabrics make anyone else think of Tim Gun and Project Runway?)

I just loved working with Jenia, she is such a doll. This is her first baby, and she was so excited to become a mother. I was so happy to document this magical time in her life.

We were screaming with laughter throughout the shoot. One of my favorite things about pregnancy photoshoots is it’s an excuse to be pampered, play dress up, cut loose, and celebrate this particular stage in your life.

I know pregnancy is a busy time, with a flurry of change on the horizon, and scheduling a shoot can be difficult. But I firmly believe no one regrets making the effort. Your pregnancy portraits become more valuable over time: they are images you can treasure forever.

Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, as we all know, but you only look very pregnant for a few months in your life. Why not make the most of it?

Next we switched to this green backdrop, for a slight change of pace.

When I bought these backdrops I thought they’d be radically different from one another. I imagined I’d be able to use them to create wildly different maternity portraits.

When I opened the box, I could barely tell them apart. Oops.

Caveat emptor, eh?

I love this robe. I have had it for awhile and use it pretty regularly.

It’s a great option for people who want to show a little skin, but don’t want completely nude pregnancy photos.

Then my trusty gray fabric made its debut.

I like the shadowy lighting on the white backdrop below. These almost-silhouettes are so flattering, and a bit mysterious.

I’ve been prattling on about backdrops and wardrobe, but lighting is just as important: it creates different moods and, when used correctly, flatters and accentuates in all the right ways.

Some free (and hopefully unnecessary) advice: make sure your photographer understands lighting and retouching.

Of course, you don’t have to wear anything at all. It’s up to you!

Finally we did some darker, moodier images. This is the same white backdrop, but (obviously) very different lighting.

A quick lighting change means we can get very different images in an efficient manner. It’s a great way to get the most out of your maternity photo shoot.

Thanks for a great shoot, Jenia! I loved working with you.

Book Your NYC Pregnancy Photo Shoot

Want maternity photos of your own?

Contact Daisy Beatty Photography here for more information.

I can’t wait to work with you!

For tips on how to prepare for your maternity session, please click here.

About Daisy Beatty

Daisy Beatty is a portrait photographer based in Greenwich Village Manhattan NYC, and East Hampton NY.

She specializes in vibrant, elegant portraits of pregnancy, newborns, and family, as well as winning headshots for actors, models, executives, and online dating.

Her award-winning work has been featured extensively in both online and print publications.

For more information, please read her bio, visit her website, or contact her studio.