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!

Welcome

Take a look around, and click here to get in touch with me about your own photos!

Instagram

Six months. That in-between place.

Still tiny, but suddenly sitting up.
Still baby, but full of personality.
These sessions are quiet little time capsules—
before the crawling, before the running,
before they’re off to chase the world.

#TheArtOfEveryday #SixMonthSession #BabyMilestones #EmotivePhotography #DocumentYourDays #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ ⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Two girls, two seasons—
and a dad who shows up for both.

#TheEverydayPortrait #FathersAndDaughters #RealLifeCaptured #FamilyMatters #EmotivePhotography  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Big smile. Little boots.
The kind of joy you don’t have to pose.

She wasn’t trying to be anything but herself—
and that’s exactly what makes this magic.

#LetThemBeLittle #AuthenticChildhood #TheEverydayPortrait #JoyInTheOrdinary #ChildhoodUnplugged  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer
These are the moments that stay with us forever.
Because sometimes the smallest things really do take up the most room in your heart.💛 

#carlsbadphotographer #familytime #oceansidephotographer #love
Because “sit still and smile” is not in their vocabulary⁠
⁠
And honestly? I wouldn’t want it to be.⁠
⁠
The laughter mid-air, the tiny toes kicking, the wild beach breeze—that’s the magic.⁠
⁠
These aren’t just photos of your kids behaving… they’re memories of them being.⁠
⁠
Because years from now, you won’t miss the perfectly posed moments—you’ll miss this. The sound of their giggle. The weight of them in your arms. The way they lit up when you played airplane.⁠
⁠
Let’s capture that.⁠
*
*
*
*
*
#carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #familybeachphotos #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣

 

Vallentyne Photography is a portrait studio in Oceanside, CA, with a newborn studio in Carlsbad, 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 beautiful portrait studio.

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

Six months. That in-between place.

Still tiny, but suddenly sitting up.
Still baby, but full of personality.
These sessions are quiet little time capsules—
before the crawling, before the running,
before they’re off to chase the world.

#TheArtOfEveryday #SixMonthSession #BabyMilestones #EmotivePhotography #DocumentYourDays #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ ⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Two girls, two seasons—
and a dad who shows up for both.

#TheEverydayPortrait #FathersAndDaughters #RealLifeCaptured #FamilyMatters #EmotivePhotography  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣
Big smile. Little boots.
The kind of joy you don’t have to pose.

She wasn’t trying to be anything but herself—
and that’s exactly what makes this magic.

#LetThemBeLittle #AuthenticChildhood #TheEverydayPortrait #JoyInTheOrdinary #ChildhoodUnplugged  #carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer  #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer
These are the moments that stay with us forever.
Because sometimes the smallest things really do take up the most room in your heart.💛 

#carlsbadphotographer #familytime #oceansidephotographer #love
Because “sit still and smile” is not in their vocabulary⁠
⁠
And honestly? I wouldn’t want it to be.⁠
⁠
The laughter mid-air, the tiny toes kicking, the wild beach breeze—that’s the magic.⁠
⁠
These aren’t just photos of your kids behaving… they’re memories of them being.⁠
⁠
Because years from now, you won’t miss the perfectly posed moments—you’ll miss this. The sound of their giggle. The weight of them in your arms. The way they lit up when you played airplane.⁠
⁠
Let’s capture that.⁠
*
*
*
*
*
#carlsbadfamilyphotographer #carlsbadphotographer #encinitasfamilyphotographer #encinitasphotographer #lacostaphotographer #oceansidephotographer #sandiegofamilyphotographer #sandiego #carlsbadbeach #carlsbadbeachphotographer #sandiegophotographer #lifestylefamilyphotography #carlsbad #lajolla #encinitas #sandiegolifestylephotographer #encinitaslife #lajollaphotographer #lajollafamilyphotographer #familybeachphotos #familyphotography #familyphotographer #carlsbadfamily #vallentynephotography #carlsbadcalifornia⁣
⁣ #carlsbadphotographer⁣ #oceansideca⁣lifornia⁣ #oceansidepier⁣⁣ #oceansidephotograpapher⁣⁣

email directly:

heather@vallentynephotography.com

760-672-2416

located in oceanside, california