When planning what to wear for your maternity portrait session, there are a few things to keep in mind: Show off your bump: Maternity portrait sessions are all about celebrating your pregnancy and the new addition to your family. So, choose clothing that will show off your baby bump. A fitted dress or a top that accentuates your bump can be a great option. Comfort: Comfort is key during pregnancy, so make sure to choose clothing that you feel comfortable and confident wearing. Avoid anything too tight or restrictive. *Quick tip!* Wear a maternity body suit under your clothing to help shape your body and look more flattering. Colors: Choose colors that complement your skin tone and hair color. Neutral and soft colors such as white, cream, or pastels can be a great choice, but you can also play with different shades of your favorite color. Textures: Textures can add depth and interest to the photos. Consider incorporating different textures in your clothing, such as a lace dress or a flowy fabric. Accessories: Accessories such as jewelry, scarves, or hats can add a personal touch to the photos and help complete your look. Layers: Layers can add dimension and interest to the photos. Consider incorporating layers in your clothing, such as a cardigan or a scarf Here's a sample of the clothing I have in my client closet for you to choose from when you book a maternity session with me. I do maternity sessions at outdoor locations around Utah County or in my home studio in Springville, Utah. If you'd like a more in depth guide on choosing what to wear for your maternity session check out my blog series: "Maternity Style Guide: What to Wear for Your Maternity Photos". For some quick tips on what to wear, keep reading!
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This is the introduction to a six part series on Maternity Portrait Fashion 101.
A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to create a comprehensive guide for choosing what to wear at a maternity portrait session. I wanted to put in all of the basics of fashion and design into the guide. I had originally planned on this guide existing as one blog post with helpful tips and outlined simply but in the time I have been creating the guide it has exploded with all types of information that is all so helpful. So to make everything as clear and concise as possible I'm going to break it up into more manageable sections (and post in reverse order just so it's easy to read as you scroll). This guide will mainly cover more elegant or semi-formal wear. I have tried to make sure to stick to explaining the basic concepts as simply as I was able in a blog series. Enjoy! Here's the rundown of what to expect. Click the link to access the post: Part 1: Body Type - the basics on how to determine your body type. Part 2: Dress Line - different styles of dress lines and which ones are best for each body type. Bonus gown style examples. Part 3: Neck Line - different styles of neck lines and which ones are best for each body type. Bonus gown style examples. Part 4: Sleeve Type - different styles of sleeve types and which ones are best for each body type. Bonus gown style examples. Part 5: Color - the basics of color mixing and which colors to wear based on the seasons. Part 6: Accessories - extras to wear with your outfit or have in your maternity portrait. For examples of my favorite maternity dresses be sure to check out this "Maternity Dress" board on Pinterest. For more examples of maternity styling check out my "What to Wear" board on Pinterest @jesplinphoto This is part ONE in a six part series. Check out the series introduction here for links to each post. Body Type These are the basic body shapes that the fashion industry often uses to categorize different body shapes. Using these categories we can more easily find clothing that will flatter your body the most. We will go more into how these shapes can help you find what to wear in later posts. This post will focus on the basics of each shape and how to determine which shape you most resemble. These shapes consider the area between your shoulders and your hips (not head, not legs). Here are the basic five shapes:
Hourglass: This is typically considered the "ideal" body type according to Western standards. This is an interesting observation as most women do not exhibit this shape. These are the basic criteria:
Triangle or Pear: This body shape is more narrow at the top and wider at the bottom. This shape has also been called "spoon" or "bell". These are the typical characteristics:
Round or Oval: This body type is a bit more round in the middle waist area and more narrow in the shoulders and hips. This shape and the Inverted Triangle shape are very similar in the waist. These elements are typical:
Inverted Triangle or Apple: This shape is larger on the top part of the body and more narrow on the lower part of the body. This shape and the Round shape are very similar in the waist. This shape consists of these details:
Rectangle or Athletic: The rectangle body shape tends to be more athletic and is considered the opposite of curvy. This shape has also been called the "ruler" or the "banana" shape; there is not a lot of fat on this body type. This is surprisingly one of the most common body shapes for women. These elements are prominent:
During pregnancy your body type tends to be more round in the middle with your expanding baby bump which typically makes your body type either a triangle or a round shape. However, different body types will all carry their babies in different positions in their body (high or low, wide or narrow, closer to the body or not) and that may affect your overall body shape. Using the above criteria as a guideline look in a mirror with tight clothing to determine which shape you exhibit. Ask your close friends for their opinion if you have trouble knowing which shape best describes your body. This is part TWO in a six part series. Check out the series introduction here for links to each post. Dress Line Like a wedding gown, prom dress or other formal wear, a maternity gown can have one of five basic different dress lines. Refer back to the post on Body Shape for help on choosing sleeves that will most flatter your body. A Line: Fitted bodice, draped fabric flares out to form a capital "A" shape from the hips to the floor. Similar to the ball gown but not as full in the skirt.
Empire: Tightly fitted bodice ending just under the bust line, the skirt drapes out gently from the bodice, makes the waist appear higher. Similar to sheath but has a higher waistline.
Ball Gown: Fitted bodice, cinched waist, full/poofy skirt. Similar to the A-line dress line but fuller in the skirt. More dramatic.
Mermaid:
Tight fitting through the bodice and hips, then flares out dramatically at the bottom half of the skirt, usually starting around the knees.
Sheath: Not tight fitting, but gently follows the natural shape of the body. Much more straight than most dress lines. Similar to empire dress line but the bodice extends lower than the bust line.
Since your expanding belly tends to alter your normal body type to be a more round or triangle body shape you should choose styles to reflect that. These are typically (but not always) the best dress lines for a maternity figure:
For more examples of maternity styling check out my "What to Wear" board on Pinterest @jesplinphoto This is part THREE in a six part series. Check out the series introduction here for links to each post. Neck Line: One of the next steps in choosing the perfect gown is deciding what type of neck line you will have. These are the five basic necklines; you can have variations on these styles but these are the fundamentals. Refer back to the post on Body Shape for help on choosing sleeves that will most flatter your body. Sweetheart:
Halter:
V-Neck:
High Neck:
Scoop or Round:
Growing baby bellies typically change the normal body type to more of a round or triangle shape. You may still maintain part of your original body shape depending on how you carry your baby but in general the baby bump will draw the eye to the center of your body. These styles are typically more popular with maternity gown's:
For more examples of maternity styling check out my "What to Wear" board on Pinterest @jesplinphoto |
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September 2023
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