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What To Wear For A Maternity Photo Shoot

Pregnancy brain is real!

If you are reading this, it’s likely that you are neck deep in planning for your sweet baby to arrive on the outside. Among the 1,345,567 things you have to think about when expecting a baby, planning a maternity photo shoot is one more thing to add to the list. And let’s be real, pregnancy brain is a total booger. I get it and I’m here to help. I’ve put together some ideas to help you decide what to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR.

what to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is an image of a pregnant woman wearing white lingerie while sitting on a couch.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR

In my studio, we usually have time for 4-5 outfits. So I recommend bringing several items, in varying styles, and I can help you decide which pieces would photograph best. Below, I’ll list out some different options to consider.

A formal dress

I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t get very many chances in life to dress up in a formal dress. A baby on the way is certainly a reason to celebrate and a great reason to get fancy. My hair and makeup artist will have your hair and makeup looking amazing, so a formal dress will fit right in with your look.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is an image of a pregnant woman standing in front of a hotel room window with backlighting. She is dressed in a formal gown.

Intimate attire

On the other side of the spectrum, I also really love maternity photos that look quiet and intimate. Pregnancy is such a personal and vulnerable experience. This look captures that side of motherhood. Wardrobe can include, pajamas, nightgowns, robes, and lingerie.

A loose flowy dress

Light flowing fabric is so feminine, which is obviously a good trait to have for maternity photos. The minor downside is that you have to always have a hand under your baby bump to bring the fabric in. Doing this reveals the cute shape of your bump, while fabric just loosely hanging down would make a woman look larger but not necessarily pregnant. This “downside” isn’t that much of a set back, though, because having a hand or two on your belly is great for showing connection to the sweet life you are carrying.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is an image of a pregnant woman posing with a flowy gown in a studio with a white wall.

Dresses that are specifically designed for maternity photo shoots often have a slit in the front so that you can reveal your bare tummy. That’s another great way to get variety in your portraits. These types of dresses aren’t something you can find just anywhere. But you can find them easily on Etsy or Amazon.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is an image of a pregnant woman posing with a flowy gown in a studio with a white wall.

A form fitted dress

A dress that fits snugly around your belly is great for revealing the size and shape of your beautiful baby bump. While we are at it, we can celebrate your other feminine curves, as well. One benefit to a snug dress is that we can have more variety in hand placement as your hands aren’t having to tuck the dress in under your bump.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is a black and white maternity boudoir image of a pregnant woman, in a floor pose, lying on her back on a fur rug in a black form fitted dress.

Soft and sheer textures

I love fabrics with textures, such as lace, for all my shoots because they provide visual interest without being overwhelming to the photo in the way that bright colors or bold patterns can be. For maternity portraits, sheer fabrics, such as lace or chiffon are especially great if you want to be able to see through to your baby bump.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is a maternity boudoir image of a pregnant woman standing in front of a window in a sheer lace form fitted dress.
What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is a couples maternity photo. The woman is dressed in a form fitted lace formal dress. They are laying on a chase.

Another texture I love for maternity photos is softness. To me, a soft texture speaks of nurturing, gentleness, femininity, and comfort. All good things for a portrait of a mother. Oh, I know, there is nothing comfortable about the third trimester of pregnancy. But we can try! Soft cardigan sweaters and robes are a go-to in my studio.

Let’s talk about colors

I’ve already mentioned that bright colors and bold patterns aren’t my jam. They don’t tend to photograph well or fit with my portrait style. So I usually recommend solid colors and I prefer neutrals or pastels.

Pastels are particularly good for maternity portraits because babies also look so sweet in pastels. I do make exceptions occasionally for a pretty floral print and that can look beautiful in a portrait. But I do try to stay away from stripes, polka dots, or any other bold pattern, if possible (unless we are talking about pin-up photos).

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is a close up belly photo of a pregnant woman wearing a flowy pink dress with a flower belt.

I think it’s kind of sweet to have a pink outfit if you are having a girl and to have a light blue outfit if you are having a boy, if you want to pay tribute to the baby’s gender (if you know what it is). But really any pastel color look gorgeous. And it’s more than fine to wear pink, even if you are going to have a boy.

In addition to pastels and lighter neutrals, the color black works, as well. It doesn’t give the same feeling of brightness or softness. But in black, your curves really stand out against a light background, which is pretty cool.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is an image of a pregnant woman posing against a white wall in a studio.

For a totally different look

The tips above apply to a regular maternity session in my studio. However, I’d also like to share with you a totally different look that I also love. 50’s pin-up inspired maternity photo shoots. They aren’t for everyone. But if you want something a little different, you may be interested. You can read more about those here.

What to wear for a maternity photo shoot in Portland, OR. This is a maternity pin up studio image.

Let’s chat about what to wear for your shoot!

I hope this articles gives you some great ideas for what to wear for a maternity photo shoot. I have an awesome studio wardrobe closet with a number of maternity pieces that are available for you to use and to supplement what you bring in. Send me an email and we can start planning your maternity photo shoot near Portland, OR!

My studio is in Tualatin, OR, however, I have clients who come to me from Portland, Beaverton, Vancouver, Salem, and Lake Oswego.


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What to wear for your 50’s retro shoot – Portland Pin Up Photographer

You’ve finally made the jump and scheduled a 50’s inspired photo shoot. I can’t begin to tell you how much fun we are going to have! Now you’re probably wondering what to wear for your 50’s retro shoot (Portland Pin Up Photographer). It’s not like we all have 50’s style wardrobe hanging in our closets (but if you do, you are super awesome).

What to wear for your 50's retro shoot - Portland Pin Up Photographer. This woman is wearing a button up blouse with a cherry print and red nail polish.

What to wear for your 50’s retro shoot – Portland Pin Up photographer

I’ve pulled together some images from a few of my past 50’s inspired shoots to give you a little inspiration for your own retro pin up photoshoot. It’s pretty easy to find some simple things online. You might actually find that you have a piece or two from your own wardrobe that will work. Once you have your hair and makeup styled in a fabulous 50’s look (thanks to my amazing hair and makeup artist) and we add in some vintage props (which I have a bunch of), you can make almost any outfit look 50’s inspired.

Swing Dresses

50’s style swing dresses can be dressy or more casual. A dressier version would considered a cocktail dress. A more casual swing dress is more reminiscent of a homemaker’s entertaining dress – complete your outfit with some cookies, fresh out of the oven for your guests. If you search Amazon for 50’s swing dress, you’ll find a ton of great options.

Bathing Suits

Halter top or high wasted bikini bathing suits are very 50’s pin up like. They certainly give a more fun summer vibe to your images, if that’s a look you’d like to go for. Check out these 50’s bathing suits on Amazon.

Jeans and Casual Tops

For a fun casual look, try high wasted capris (you might even have some in your closet) with a retro button up blouse, crop top, or halter top. You can find a few tops like this by searching Amazon for “women’s 50’s style tops.” I like this top that comes in a bunch of different colors and patterns.

Pencil Dresses

50’s pencil dresses are also known as wiggle dresses. Don’t you just love that name? They are sexy, curve hugging dresses that give a more dramatic and serious look. I love these 50’s pencil dresses.

What to wear for your 50's retro shoot. Portland Pin Up Photographer. This is an 50's inspired image of a woman wearing a black pencil wiggle dress, vintage bird cage hat, and long black gloves. Pin Up photography by Rayleigh. See more at byrayleigh.com

Glam Dresses

I love an elegant 50’s evening gown for something totally different than the more casual looks. This dress, below, can be found on Amazon. These black gloves and hat are something I keep in my studio and are available for my clients to use.

Lingerie

The nice thing about a lingerie look for your pin up photos photography session is that you can just choose some simple black pieces and they will work fine. High wasted bottoms are very 50’s looking and as a bonus, they usually flatter the tummy. Win-win! I like these ones.

What to wear for your 50's retro pin shoot. Portland Pin Up Photographer. This image is of a woman standing against a white wall, wearing black lingerie. she is applying lipstick. Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com

Accessories and other details

Here are some accessories to consider for your retro pin up photography session in Portland. Red heels, a pearl necklace and bracelet, cat eye glasses, vintage hats, or a thin scarf around the neck or in your hair.

No matter what kind of outfit you choose, some common colors are patterns I see a lot of in 50’s inspired outfits are the color red, polka dots, gingham, and cherries.

You are on your way toward an amazing shoot

I hope these images and ideas give you a good head start toward figuring out what to wear for your own retro pin up photography session. I do have a handful of pieces in my studio wardrobe that you are more than welcome to use. If you’d like to see what I have, just let me know. Also, feel free to ask me about my vintage props that are available for your photo shoot.

Let’s chat!

If you haven’t, yet, scheduled your session, please send me an email and we can plan your amazing retro 50’s pin up photoshoot! My studio is in Tualatin, OR, and I serve clients from Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Salem, and Vancouver, WA.


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What to wear for your 50's retro shoot. Portland pin up photographer. This image is of a woman lying on her tummy on the bed, wearing a vintage birdcage hat and 50's inspired dress. She's holding a blue vintage fan for her prop. Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com
What to wear for your 50's retro shoot. Portland Pin up photographer. This image is of a woman lying on her back on the bed, wearing a 50's inspired cherry button up shirt. She's holding a black rotary telephone for her prop. Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com

Session Tips

What to wear for your 50's retro pin up or beauty photography session. Portland Photographer - Photography by Rayleigh. For more info, please visit byrayleigh.com

Free Guide to Preparing For Your Shoot

Some of the beautiful hair and makeup styles in these featured photos were done by Kerrin Burchenough. Others were done by Tracy Schulz.