Maternity photo ideas

Simple maternity photos work best: soft light, a bump you can see, and the people who are waiting with you. Here are 20 poses and props you can take with an iPhone at home or outside, all ones you can do sitting down or with a break whenever you want.

Comfort first

Sit or lean whenever you need to, bring water and a snack, and stop when you’ve had enough. Skip slippery rocks, cliff edges and standing in the surf, and drop any pose that doesn’t feel good. A short session you enjoy gives better photos than a long one you don’t.

Poses

1. Side profile at the window Stand side-on to a big window with the overhead lights off. One hand under the bump, one at your side, chin up a little.
2. Hands in a loose heart Make a relaxed heart with your thumbs and fingers on the bump. Shoot close, from bump height.
3. Partner behind you Your partner stands behind, chin near your shoulder, hands over yours on the bump. Both looking down, then both looking at each other.
4. The kiss on the bump Your partner kneels and kisses or rests an ear on the bump. Shoot from the side so both faces show.
5. The big sibling Let the older child hug the bump, listen to it or whisper to it. Their real reaction is the photo, so don’t over-direct.
6. Eyes closed, looking down Tip your head toward the bump and close your eyes. Quiet, and easy to hold while seated.
7. Sitting on the bed in the morning An oversized shirt or a robe, white sheets, morning light from the side. Shoot from the foot of the bed.
8. Dress in the breeze Hold the hem of a long dress out to one side on a windy day. Shoot in burst and keep the frame where the fabric flies.
9. Walking away hand in hand Walk slowly away with your partner and glance back. The bump shows in profile and nobody has to pose.
10. Your dog in your lap Sit on the floor or the couch and let the dog rest its head on your knee, next to the bump.

Props and places

1. The ultrasound print Hold it in front of the bump, or let your partner hold it while looking at you.
2. Tiny shoes Balance a pair of baby shoes on the bump, or in your partner’s open palm next to it.
3. The first onesie Hold up the outfit the baby will come home in against the bump.
4. A letter board with the due month Prop it at your feet or on the bump. Keep the words short so they stay readable.
5. Rings on the bump Both your hands on the bump, rings showing, shot close in Portrait mode.
6. The nursery in progress Sit in the rocking chair, or stand beside the crib half put together. It records the waiting, not just the bump.
7. Flowers in season A loose bouquet held low under the bump, or a flower crown. Pick flowers that will remind you of the month.
8. The same spot every month Same doorway, same shirt, same angle, once a month. Side by side they show the whole pregnancy.
9. A field at golden hour Tall grass or wheat in the last hour of light, with the sun behind you. Bring a blanket so you can sit between shots.
10. The beach at sunset Stand on firm sand, out of the waves, and let the wind move your dress and hair.

Make your maternity photos move

Breathe, free in Make it Live, makes people breathe softly in a seamless loop and is made on your phone in about a second. It suits the quiet window and bed shots. For the field and the beach, Natural adds candid motion: a blink, a small smile, hair and dress moving a little.

For an announcement, the Bunny Buddy look in Add effects adds a big, soft, sleepy bunny peeking from behind your shoulder, with flowers, in picture-book gouache. Natural and Bunny Buddy use AI: the photo is sent to Tada’s servers and AI partners (OpenAI and xAI), and Tada asks first. See privacy, and our pregnancy announcement ideas for the reveal itself.

iPhone tips for maternity photos

• Use Portrait mode and drag the lighting control to Contour Light for the window profile, or Stage Light for a dark, dramatic background.
• For shots of the two of you, set the Timer to 10 seconds from the Camera Controls button and stand the phone on a shelf at bump height.
• Keep Live Photo on for the dress in the breeze; you can choose a different key photo later in Photos.
• Turn off overhead lights indoors. One window gives softer light on skin than three ceiling bulbs.

Questions

Sources: Apple Support: Take and edit Live Photos · Apple Support: Use iPhone camera tools · Apple Support: Take portraits with your iPhone camera

More you can do

• Family photo ideas
• Engagement photo ideas
• Animate a photo
• Add stickers that move
• All guides