Maternity Photos; Ideas for Hair and Makeup + What to Wear

Beach maternity photos in Carlsbad

A Few Easy Tips for Looking Your Best in Your Maternity Photos

Pregnancy is a special time of your life, and for many women, it’s when they feel their most natural, feminine, and beautiful selves. Your hair is richer and thicker, your skin is glowing, and your body has more curves. For many expecting mothers, there’s no better way to remember their pregnancy and chronicle their journey to motherhood than with a professional maternity photo shoot.

Here are a few tips to help you look and feel your best in your maternity photos. Be sure to take a look at my maternity portfolio to see if we might be a good fit!

1. Choose the Right Photographer, a good style and personality fit is key.

The most important element of looking beautiful in your photos is the photographer. Find a professional photographer with strong technical skills and experience in pregnancy photography. A professional maternity photographer will know how to light, pose, and photograph you in angles that flatter your face and body.

2. What to Wear

The purpose of a maternity shoot is to show off your baby bump. It wouldn’t make sense to wear clothes that are going to mask it and make it difficult to see. Here are some outfit suggestions:

  • Choose an outfit that will accentuate your baby bump and reflect your personality.
  • Simple, solid colors or stripes with a body-hugging fit will look wonderful.
  • A bare baby bump also looks stunning.
  • You can also wear a front-opening shirt and unbutton the shirt around your baby bump.
  • Alternatively, a stole or a big drape revealing your baby bump also looks elegant.
  • Wear comfortable footwear, as doing a photo shoot can get tiring.

I always suggest a flowing maxi dress as a starting point because they are almost universally flattering. With my sessions, I send out a full styling magazine to help you prepare for our session. Some photographers offer this, and others leave it totally up to you, so be sure to ask.

3. Hair and Make-Up

Professional hair and makeup can be nice, but it’s not completely necessary. If you’re going to do your own hair and makeup, I would suggest doing it like a date night. Maybe about 10 to 15% more than your normal look. Makeup can accentuate your features but we still want it to look like you.

Here are some tips for hair and makeup:

  • Keep it natural, with minimalistic makeup, a light foundation, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, and a natural tone lipstick.
  • Having professional hair and makeup done is fun but not necessary! It’s a great way to pamper yourself, and you can turn the evening into a date night after your session!
  • Style your hair as naturally as possible. Also, be sure to bring a clip or hair tie if you’re at an outdoor location because there’s always the chance of wind, and that can be extremely difficult if it’s blowing in the wrong direction.

By following these tips, you’ll be sure to look and feel your best during your maternity photo shoot, and you’ll have beautiful photos to cherish for a lifetime. I hope this has helped you and for just a little bit extra, here are a few articles I came across that I think you will enjoy checking out!

The Bump

Pregnant Chicken –why do they call it this? I have no idea but it’s cute!

Mama Style

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and I would love to help you further!

If you are planning your own maternity or newborn session, please reach out. I would love to guide you through the planning and work with you at this amazingly special time of life.

Planning your own photos? Lets chat!

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Out of Office + Off the Grid🌞🙌🏼🥰

This week I’m unplugging—no emails, no scrolling, no service. Just nature, friendship, and a long-awaited bucket list hike to Havasupai Falls. We’re talking real offline: sleeping under the stars, doing hard things, pushing limits, and soaking in the kind of beauty that resets your soul.

I believe in the power of stepping away, getting muddy, doing something challenging—and coming back better for it. This is how I reboot my creativity, refill the well, and return inspired to keep creating meaningful, beautiful photos for the people I’m honored to call clients.

See you next week—refreshed, recharged, and probably with sore legs and a very full heart.

#outofoffice #havasupaifalls #offthegrid #bucketlisthike #creativityreboot #getoutside #photographerlife #rechargeyourself #doinghardthings #naturetherapy #northcountysandiegophotographer
Your future self will thank you.⁣
⁣
You’re busy. ⁣
I know adding “family photos” to your plate might feel like one more thing. But trust me—you won’t regret having these. You’ll only regret not doing it sooner.
There’s nothing quite like the way a newborn fits perfectly in their mama’s arms. 💕⁣
⁣
These first few weeks are a blur love so big it almost doesn’t seem real. But it is. And it deserves to be remembered.⁣
⁣
Let’s capture these tender, fleeting moments—because they’re only this tiny once. ✨⁣
⁣
Ready to book your newborn session? Link in bio!
Senior year is a whirlwind—big dreams, bold moves, and the start of something new. Let’s capture who they are in this moment before they take on the world. 🎓✨ #SeniorPortraits #ClassOf2025 #nextchapter
Your baby, just as they are. Every stretch, every tiny fist, every peaceful sigh—captured in a way that feels as natural and beautiful as this fleeting season of life. ✨
Senior portraits are about so much more than a cap and gown—they’re about celebrating who you are right now, in this moment. Your personality, your dreams, your confidence.⁣
⁣
Let’s create images that feel natural, timeless, and so you. 💙⁣
⁣
Ready to book your senior session? Click the link in my bio!

 

Vallentyne Photography is a portrait studio in Oceanside, CA, serving North County and San Diego. With 20 years of experience, we specialize in natural, timeless portraits for families, maternity, newborns, and seniors—capturing genuine moments on location or in our historic, ocean-view studio.

We’re here to make the process easy and enjoyable. Let’s start with a quick chat about what matters most to you. If we’re a good fit, we’d be honored to create portraits you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Out of Office + Off the Grid🌞🙌🏼🥰

This week I’m unplugging—no emails, no scrolling, no service. Just nature, friendship, and a long-awaited bucket list hike to Havasupai Falls. We’re talking real offline: sleeping under the stars, doing hard things, pushing limits, and soaking in the kind of beauty that resets your soul.

I believe in the power of stepping away, getting muddy, doing something challenging—and coming back better for it. This is how I reboot my creativity, refill the well, and return inspired to keep creating meaningful, beautiful photos for the people I’m honored to call clients.

See you next week—refreshed, recharged, and probably with sore legs and a very full heart.

#outofoffice #havasupaifalls #offthegrid #bucketlisthike #creativityreboot #getoutside #photographerlife #rechargeyourself #doinghardthings #naturetherapy #northcountysandiegophotographer
Your future self will thank you.⁣
⁣
You’re busy. ⁣
I know adding “family photos” to your plate might feel like one more thing. But trust me—you won’t regret having these. You’ll only regret not doing it sooner.
There’s nothing quite like the way a newborn fits perfectly in their mama’s arms. 💕⁣
⁣
These first few weeks are a blur love so big it almost doesn’t seem real. But it is. And it deserves to be remembered.⁣
⁣
Let’s capture these tender, fleeting moments—because they’re only this tiny once. ✨⁣
⁣
Ready to book your newborn session? Link in bio!
Senior year is a whirlwind—big dreams, bold moves, and the start of something new. Let’s capture who they are in this moment before they take on the world. 🎓✨ #SeniorPortraits #ClassOf2025 #nextchapter
Your baby, just as they are. Every stretch, every tiny fist, every peaceful sigh—captured in a way that feels as natural and beautiful as this fleeting season of life. ✨
Senior portraits are about so much more than a cap and gown—they’re about celebrating who you are right now, in this moment. Your personality, your dreams, your confidence.⁣
⁣
Let’s create images that feel natural, timeless, and so you. 💙⁣
⁣
Ready to book your senior session? Click the link in my bio!

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

located in oceanside, california