It's happening. You booked your maternity session, you've been on Pinterest looking for the perfect outfit to showcase your bump and make you feel like a goddess, but you have no idea where to shop! Flowy, ethereal dresses are so flattering on expecting mamas. Not only do they showcase your bump and give you plenty of room, they create so much movement and result in dynamic images that you'll love looking back on!
As with any photo session, I recommend that you avoid any bright colors as well as overwhelming prints. Look for dresses made of flowy, drapey material in light or neutral colors (jewel tones are great for Fall, too). A little floral or paisley print can work. You'll want a dress that has a waistline (preferably elastic or adjustable with a drawstring so you're comfortable). Loose dresses are all the rage right now, but will hang off of your bump and make your dress look like a tent! As far as sleeves and neckline, go with whatever flatters your figure! Length-wise, stick to maxi or midi dresses, as shorter dresses may appear too short once you get your bump up underneath them. There are TONS of websites where you can shop for dresses online, but I thought I'd showcase a few of my favorites to help you get started!
Baltic Born
I literally want EVERY dress from Baltic Born. They're the beautiful, ethereal, boho dresses that dreams are made of. They've even got a section of their website with dresses that are specifically "bump friendly." Here you'll find a range of beautiful colors, sleeve lengths, and styles to choose from! Or better yet, buy them all ( or let me pick!).
Pink Blush Maternity
My cousin introduced me to Pink Blush. They have tons of great dress options in multiple colors, and the quality is great. Bonus: they also have non-maternity versions of a lot of their clothes, and I've ordered quite a few pieces from them for my own closet. Their prices are reasonable as well!
Morning Lavender
I came across Morning Lavender during a Google search, and they've got a lot of cute options! I'm eyeing a couple for myself, and I'm not even pregnant!
Amazon
If all else fails, you'll find tons of options on Amazon. My biggest tip if you're going to shop Amazon? Read reviews, and check out any pictures accompanying the reviews. This helps me narrow down items that are a definite no versus a maybe. I also scrutinize the size chart for each item, as they vary so much, and order multiple sizes of things so that I can compare them in person when trying them on.
A few other places I've seen beautiful dresses are Free People, Anthropologie, and Vici. Someday, I hope to offer all my clients styling assistance with a client closet full of options for their session as part of my services. For now, clients receive a style guide and are welcome to text me options they are thinking about for their session, so that I can help guide them to the best options that will flatter them on camera.
