A maternity photoshoot at home can be such a sweet way to remember what life looked like right before your baby was here. The half-finished nursery, the couch you’ve been living on lately, the baby things slowly finding their way into every room. I LOVE that home already has all of that history built into it.
I got to photograph Stef and Jon at home before they welcomed their daughter, a few years after photographing their wedding in 2023. I’ve known Stef for more than ten years, so getting to come back and document this completely different season of their lives made my sentimental Pisces heart very happy.
If you’re already looking around your house wondering whether it’s “photoworthy,” please don’t stress about that. Your home gets to look like people live there. That’s part of why a maternity photoshoot at home can feel so personal in the first place.
Why Have a Maternity Photoshoot at Home?
One reason I love a maternity photoshoot at home is how easy it can feel once we get started. You’re already somewhere you know, you don’t have to figure out where to go, and there’s no pressure to make yourself comfortable in a completely new space. You can sit on your own bed, take your shoes off, change outfits without making it a whole production, or take a minute if you need one. Especially toward the end of pregnancy, that kind of ease matters!
It also gives us plenty to work with without needing to turn your session into a big outing. I’ll look around when I arrive, see where the light is best, and help us figure out where to start.
You get to stay home. I’ll take care of the photo part. If you’re new here and want to know who would be showing up at your door with a camera, you can get to know me a little better here, or come hang out with me on Instagram!
Photographing Stef & Jon Three Years Later for Their Maternity Photoshoot at Home
I’ve known Stef for more than ten years, and I photographed her and Jon’s wedding back in 2023, so getting to come into their home a few years later and photograph them waiting for their daughter was SO special to me.
Stef has put so much love into their house over the years. She has such a good eye for styling, and you can tell how much thought she’s put into making it feel like them. Getting to photograph this season of their lives there just made sense.
There’s one photo from this maternity photoshoot at home that completely got me. Jon came down close to Stef’s belly, and the smile on his face while he was next to his soon-to-be daughter was just so sweet. You could feel how excited he was to meet her. It made my heart flutter!
Now that their daughter is here, I love that photo even more. She gets to grow up with a photograph of herself and her dad from before they had technically even met yet, which I just can’t handle thinking about.
This is why I love getting to photograph people again after their wedding. I already knew Stef and Jon as a couple, and now I get to watch their family grow too. That means so much to me.
What Planning a Maternity Photoshoot at Home With Me Looks Like
Once Stef booked her maternity photoshoot at home, we talked through the date and time, what she was thinking about wearing, the overall vision, and what felt especially important to her about these photos. I take a LOT of notes during those conversations. I want to remember the little things you tell me so I can walk into your session already knowing what you care about instead of making you explain everything again while there’s a camera in your face.
I’ll come in with ideas and a plan, then pay attention to what your home is giving us that day. Maybe the light is beautiful somewhere we didn’t expect. Maybe you two fall into a sweet little moment that I want to give more time to. I love leaving room for those things. You also don’t have to know what to do once I get there. I’ll help you find good light, give you direction when you need it, and let you settle into each other once you start feeling comfortable.
I want you to feel taken care of enough that you can just be there together.
Your House Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect for a Maternity Photoshoot
If the idea of having a maternity photoshoot at home immediately makes you start looking around at everything you need to clean, please don’t put that pressure on yourself. This is home, not a studio. I expect there to be blankets on the couch, things on the nightstand, baby stuff slowly taking over, and all the other little signs that you two are living here.
You also don’t need to decide ahead of time exactly where we’ll take every photo. Once I’m there, I’ll look at what the light is doing and see where it takes us. Sometimes the spot I get really excited about is a room or tiny corner you never would’ve chosen yourself.
Of course, tidy up a little in the rooms you want to use and move anything that’s going to distract you or make you feel uncomfortable. Then let the rest be. I’m too busy worrying about the light and gushing over you to notice that one mug left in the sink, I promise!
What to Wear for a Maternity Photoshoot at Home
When you’re figuring out what to wear for a maternity photoshoot at home, start with something that already feels like you. I want you to feel comfortable enough to sit down, curl up together, move around the house, and forget about your outfit once we get going.
If you love showing off your belly, choose something that lets you do that! You might feel more like yourself in something loose and soft. Both can photograph SO beautifully. There really isn’t one maternity-photo look you need to follow.
I’d also think about the colors and textures you already love wearing. Stef has such a strong sense of personal style, so what she chose felt completely natural for her and looked right at home in the spaces she had created.
If your partner is joining us, you definitely don’t need to match. I’m always happy to help you choose outfits that look good together and still feel like the two of you.
Most importantly, I want you to feel confident when you put everything on. If you look in the mirror and still feel like yourself, we’re heading in the right direction.
How to Choose a New Hampshire Family Photographer for Your Maternity Session
Choosing a New Hampshire family photographer is such a personal decision, especially when you’re inviting someone into your home during a season that already feels pretty tender. Of course, you want to love their photographs. But you also want to feel really comfortable with the person behind the camera and understand what being photographed by them will feel like.
A few things I’d ask before booking:
- Can I see a full maternity or family gallery?
- How much direction will you give us?
- How do you prepare for a maternity photoshoot at home?
- What happens if our house doesn’t have much natural light?
- What should we do before you arrive?
- Can my partner or other children be part of the session?
- How do you help people who feel awkward in photos?
- How would you describe the way your photographs feel?
That last one matters a lot to me.
I want you to choose someone whose work already makes you feel something and whose presence lets you relax once they walk through your door. You should be able to trust that they’re paying attention so you can just be together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a Maternity Photoshoot at Home
When should I schedule my maternity photoshoot?
I usually recommend planning your maternity photoshoot for around 32–36 weeks. By then, your belly is really showing, but hopefully you’re not yet at the point where you’re wishing baby would make their entrance ASAP.
I’d reach out before that window so we have plenty of time to plan everything together and choose a date that feels good for you. Pregnancy can be unpredictable, so I always want a little breathing room rather than trying to squeeze your session in at the very end.
Does my house need a lot of natural light for an at-home maternity session?
Nope! You definitely don’t need every room in your house flooded with light. Once I get there, I’ll take a look around and see where the light is best. Sometimes it’ll be exactly where you expected, and sometimes I’ll get really excited about a random little corner of your house you’ve never thought twice about. We’ll work with your home exactly as it is and find the spaces that feel good for you.
Do I need to clean my entire house before maternity photos?
Nope! A quick tidy in the areas you use most is plenty. If there’s anything you know you don’t want in the background of your photos, tuck it away before I arrive, and please do not spend the day deep-cleaning your house for me.
Can my partner be included in my maternity photos?
Absolutely! I love when your partner is part of the session too. Some of my favorite photos from Stef and Jon’s maternity photoshoot at home are the two of them together. We can photograph you both throughout the session and make time for a few photos of you on your own too. We’ll figure out what feels right for the two of you as we go.
How long does an at-home maternity photoshoot take?
My maternity sessions are usually around 60–90 minutes. That gives us plenty of time to ease into things without feeling like we have to rush through your house trying to get every photo possible. The first few minutes are usually just about getting comfortable, especially if you’re someone who feels a little awkward in front of the camera. I’ll give you direction, we’ll move around as the session goes, and if we find a spot or a moment that’s really working, we can stay there for a while.
Documenting What Happens After Your Wedding with a Maine Family Photographer
One of the sweetest parts of this job is hearing from a past wedding couple a few years later and finding out their family is growing. I love getting those messages!
There’s something really special about already knowing you, knowing how you are together, and getting to show up again for a completely different season of your life. Photographing Stef and Jon’s wedding in 2023 and then getting to photograph them waiting for their daughter is exactly why I hope my relationships with my couples don’t end after the wedding. So if I photographed your wedding and you have news to share someday, please email me! I’m so excited for you!
If we haven’t met yet, you’re welcome here too. If you’re looking for a Maine family photographer for your maternity photos, tell me a little about you two, your home, and the baby you’re waiting to meet. I’d love to hear all about it.
