Over the summer, I found myself on the beach with my sister, asking my spouse to photograph us as I entered my third trimester. But since looking good in any pic is hard—let alone a maternity one—I instantly felt the awkwardness. “Just put your hands by your side!” my husband yelled. “Why are you cupping your belly?” he teased. The photos turned out OK-ish…but a few weeks later, I dialed my New York-based photographer friend, Ana Gambuto, to ask: How do you take cute maternity pics? Not only did she have tips, she also offered to do a mini-family shoot to show me the ropes. Here, her top 3 suggestions for how to look (and, more importantly, feel!) like yourself when snapping pregnancy pics.
3 Photogenic Poses to Try If You’re Pregnant (Plus 1 Pose I Definitely Don’t Recommend)
The hardest part is what to do with your hands
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Published Sep 25, 2024
Ana Gambuto
About the Expert
Ana Gambuto is a New York-based family and lifestyle photographer. She works with families as well as brands like Skip Hop, Ergo Baby and Shutterfly.
1. Do: Call Attention to Your Belly
Despite my husband’s line of questioning, Gambuto says it is fine to cradle your belly—but you want to do it naturally. For example, a hand on top and a hand on bottom might lead you to feel awkward. But if gently resting a single hand on top of your bump feels natural, go for it. (It also can help accentuate the rule of thirds when wearing what might otherwise feel like a billowy maternity style.) She says it’s also OK to stand exaggeratedly to the side (“you can even lean on your spouse”) to make it very obvious that you’re expecting without requiring the use of your hands.
2. Do: Keep Moving, Walking and Twisting
Per Gambuto, the maternity pics that tend to be the most flattering are the ones where, while the photographer shoots, you don’t stand still. For example, back up to place distance between you and the photog, then take a few slow steps toward their lens while holding your partner’s hand. You can also fake it by standing with your weight on one foot and extending the other leg out in front of you to elongate your frame, which can help counter any feelings of frumpiness. (Ana adds that movement in images—maternity or not—gives off added energy that helps you appear casual and relaxed.)
3. Do: Use Your Spouse/Kid/Dog as a Prop
Again, it’s about finding what makes you feel the most at ease. If having your partner nearby or your kid at your side gets you out of your head, lean into it. A successful maternity shoot, according to Ana, is the one that feels like a documentary effort instead of being super structured and posed. In other words, if you’re with your dog and he suddenly takes off and barks, that look of surprise on your face will generate authenticity and a genuine reaction that captures life in real time.
4. Don’t: Stay Out of the Frame Just Because You’re Feeling Awkward
Gambuto knows maternity shoots can come with an ick factor. Maybe it feels a bit cheesy; maybe you don’t feel like yourself in your rapidly changing body. But her big advice is to always take the pics even if you’re afraid of how you look. If you hate how they turn out, fine. You can delete them or never let them see the light of day. But she finds that most women like having the evidence of who they were and how they looked down the road. After all, this time in your life never comes back.
