Should your Partner and Children Be in your Maternity Photos?

When people hear “maternity photography,” they often picture one thing:

Mom.

Beautiful dress.

Beautiful belly.

Beautiful light.

And yes, we absolutely want those photographs.

But your pregnancy may also be part of a much bigger family story.

There's a partner waiting to meet this baby.

There may be a little boy who's about to become a big brother.

Or a little girl who already kisses Mom's belly every night and tells everyone who will listen that her baby is coming.

Those relationships are worth remembering too.

Should Your Partner Be in Your Maternity Photos?

Absolutely—if you want them included.

Your partner doesn't need to be in every photograph.

We'll still make sure we create beautiful images of you alone.

But including your partner gives us an entirely different kind of photograph.

Instead of simply documenting your pregnancy, we're also documenting the two of you waiting together.

A hand resting on your belly.

The two of you laughing.

A quiet moment together.

The way they look at you during this season.

Those photographs can become incredibly meaningful later.

“My Partner Hates Pictures.”

Welcome to approximately half of the partners who arrive at photography sessions.

They do not need modeling experience.

They don't need to know where to put their hands.

And they definitely don't have to spend the entire session staring directly into my camera with a giant smile.

I'll guide both of you.

A lot of the time, I'll simply give you something to do—look at each other, walk together, put a hand on the baby or interact naturally.

That usually feels much less awkward than trying to “pose.”

What About Older Children?

I LOVE including older siblings in maternity sessions.

Their world is about to change too.

Right now they're waiting.

Soon they're going to meet this little person they've been hearing about for months.

Photographing that anticipation creates something really special.

We can capture them hugging your belly, talking to the baby, cuddling with you or simply being themselves with your family.

And then, after baby arrives, we get to photograph the other side of that story:

them actually holding their new brother or sister.

What If My Toddler Doesn't Cooperate?

Then your toddler is officially behaving like a toddler.

No emergency. 😂

I don't expect little kids to suddenly become professional models because we're taking maternity pictures.

We'll work around them.

We'll play.

We'll take breaks.

We'll photograph the moments they're willing to give us.

And sometimes we'll let them wander away for a few minutes while we photograph Mom and Dad.

Your entire session does not depend on your toddler following instructions perfectly.

You Still Need Photographs of Just You

Even when the entire family comes, I always want Mom to have her own maternity portraits.

Because this is happening to your body.

You're the one carrying this baby.

Years from now, your child deserves to see what you looked like while they were still safely tucked inside you.

And you deserve to have photographs that remind you too.

These Photographs Become More Important With Time

Right now you may look at your maternity pictures and see your belly.

Your hair.

Your dress.

Your family.

Years from now, you'll see something completely different.

You'll see how little your oldest child was.

You'll notice the way your partner looked at you.

You'll remember where your family was in life before this baby arrived.

And the baby you're carrying?

Someday they'll get to see what their family looked like while everyone was waiting for them.

That's why I don't think maternity photography has to be either a portrait of Mom or a family session.

It can be both.

We can celebrate the woman carrying this baby and the family waiting to welcome them.

Next: “But What If I Feel Awkward?”

This is probably one of the biggest concerns I hear from moms.

Pregnancy changes your body.

Sometimes dramatically.

And even moms who desperately want maternity photographs can feel nervous about being in front of the camera.

That's exactly what we're talking about next.

Next: How to Feel Comfortable and Confident During Maternity Photos

TAQ Photography offers maternity, newborn and family photography for families in Buckeye, Verrado, Goodyear and throughout Arizona's West Valley.