I loved how this session turned out and I had so much fun styling it myself! Styling your own photo session may seem daunting, but following these simple steps will help you create a gorgeous and lovely aesthetic for your maternity photos.
pick your colors: soft with a pop
If you search Pinterest for “Boho Maternity Session” you’ll find lots of flower crowns, soft colors, and dewy natural light. I love turning Pinterest dreams into a reality, so I chose this gorgeous flowy and ethereal dress from Free People (sold out, but similar styles here) and paired it with a small wedge neutral sandal for a lovely boho look I could also wear postpartum. I made my own flower crown, and since we were having a girl, I chose florals with pinks, lavendar, and added touches of yellow buds next to greenery.
pick your husband’s colors: complimentary pastel tones
I chose an outfit for my husband from things he already owns — tan pants (they’re actually the ones he wore on our wedding day!), a mint green textured button up he got from urban outfitters, and brown Sperry Top Sider shoes. When in doubt about what colors pair well together, go for pastel earth tones like the colors below.
one word: falsies
If you want your makeup to look photo-session ready, you’ll have to put on slightly more makeup than usual so your skin looks smooth and so your features are enhanced so the camera can pick up your details well. False lashes are going to be your best friend! They might look like too much in the mirror at home, but in photos they’ll make your eyes appear bigger and more defined.
I also did my own hair and makeup for our shoot! All I did was add another layer of makeup on top of how much I usually wear (2x foundation, 2x blush), put on false lashes I got from target (trimmed to fit my eye shape better), put on some black eye liner from the middle of my eye to the end, and wore a brighter color of lipstick with lip liner. This saved me a ton of money doing it myself, rather than getting it done professionally.
the magic number: 33 (as in weeks)
Your last month and a half of pregnancy is when your belly is at its fullest and roundest. This is the best time to take your photos, since your bump will be really defined and round. Wear something that hugs your bump or that you can make hug your bump (like by putting my hand under my bump while holding my dress).
diy flower crown
Another piece I really wanted for this shoot was a big, boho flower crown. The only other time I’ve worn a flower crown was on my wedding day and I wish I could wear them all the time!! Making your own flower crown is actually pretty easy, and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Grab your flowers and greenery from Trader Joe’s, materials like floral tape and wire from Michael’s, and follow this tutorial by Green Wedding Shoes on how to easily DIY your own crown!
We had our photos done by Marie Monforte Photography, in Fallbrook, CA in June. Lucky for us there were still a lot of pretty and colorful blooms out!
