Announcing your pregnancy is a very big milestone — a baby is about to join your family and you’re welcoming your friends and family to share the joy with you. Lots of soon-to-be parents choose to commemorate this special milestone with a lovely photoshoot. It's a beautiful way to capture the glow of your growing bump and create a cherished keepsake for your scrapbook. Plus, having a professional photo to accompany the news adds an extra touch of magic to the moment!
When I was looking for a photographer to capture my own pregnancy, I scoured Instagram to find someone who could translate all of the love and excitement I was feeling into the most sentimental, gorgeous photos. I also wanted the ultimate hype people who could suggest poses and encourage me and my husband along the way (a must for camera-shy people like us).
For all of the behind-the-scenes information on these sweet sessions, I spoke with Michelle DeLaCastro of the wedding photography duo The DeLaCastros about photoshoot logistics, picking the best poses and much more. There’s a lot to consider when mapping out the most special and authentic pregnancy announcement photo session for you and your growing family.
Should you plan a pregnancy announcement photo shoot?
While you definitely don’t need a professional photo in order to share your baby news, some moms-to-be love the idea of capturing their growing bellies and changing bodies. The picture can also be a keepsake for your family to frame and look back on with your little bundle in your arms.
“Being able to grow another human inside of your belly is a miracle, I can't think of anything worth celebrating more,” DeLaCastro says. “A maternity session is one way to do that. It celebrates and immortalizes this time of your life in a way that will only get more precious with time."
When you’re weighing your options, consider the following:
Are you inspired by something you’ve already seen online? Instagram and Pinterest are treasure troves for pregnancy announcement ideas, so you may want to do a shoot because you’d love to recreate a pose that inspired you.
Is there a certain type of feel or “story” you want to create? Think about the style you’re interested in for your session and go from there. “There is so much beauty in everyday things, and we want our photos to not only show that, but transport you back to this precious time in life when you look at them,” DeLaCastro says. “Let’s tell your story, because it’s beautiful.”
Are you camera-shy? There are plenty of reasons why you might be unsure of memorializing this moment in time. Your body may feel unrecognizable or you or you simply don’t like getting photographed. Keep in mind: a photographer can help you cozy up to the camera.
How to choose a pregnancy announcement photographer
Before you book your photographer, do your research and take the time to get to know them and their work. That way, you'll feel comfortable about the entire process. Here’s what you should do first:
Take a look at their work. You will most likely want to hire a photographer who has extensive experience taking photos of families, and more specifically, parents-to-be. Whether it’s on their website or social media accounts, you can get an idea of what you can expect from photographers by reviewing past pregnancy announcement photos.
Ask about pricing. You’ll want to learn about photographers’ pricing and see if your budget can accommodate their rates. Some photographers will also offer special bundles, too, like a pregnancy and newborn photoshoot at a discounted rate.
Hop on a phone call. Communicating with potential photographers can help you better understand if they’re a good fit for you, your partner and your vision. During this call, you can talk about pricing, potential shooting locations and more.
With all of this said, it’s understandable that people might want to take photos on their own — for financial and personal reasons. If you want to have pregnancy announcement photos but can’t swing a professional, ask a friend or relative to help out. Or, you can’t go wrong with a selfie.
Things to consider when planning your pregnancy announcement photo shoot
A lot goes into pregnancy announcement photos, and you and your photographer can plan it all out beforehand. Here are a few of the factors you’ll want to consider and prepare for:
Time of day: For an outdoor session, the lighting is typically best just before sunrise or sunset. If you are taking photos in a studio, this will be less of a concern.
Weather: The last thing you want is to experience any weather-related complications on the day of your pregnancy announcement photoshoot — but it happens. “If the weather turns, your photographer can cozy up in a coffee shop or pivot to an in-home session,” DeLaCastro says. “Something about a pregnancy announcement in your cozy clothes, with rain on the window just hits me in my feels.”
Location: If you are looking into certain private or public spaces, you may need special permission.
Theme: The time of year and your personality can inform a theme, if you want one. Couples have gotten creative with different props and settings that can reflect anything from the season to their favorite TV show to announce the big news.
Outfits: It's a good idea to bring two changes of clothes for your shoot, suggests DeLaCastro. That way, you have a selection of styles to choose from depending on how you feel, the weather or just so you have options.
Props: Bringing along a few things to help tell your story can make a big impact. “Sonograms are pretty universal,” says DeLaCastro. “Besides the kicks in your belly, they can feel like the only tangible thing you have of them so far, and including them can be so precious.” You could also bring along baby clothing, shoes, blankets and other sentimental items that you're excited about.
5 inspiring pregnancy announcement photos
To help you get started with your shoot planning, here are a few adorable announcement photos that came straight from a photo session.
In-studio production
Artistic and sentimental, taking portraits in a studio brings all of the focus to you and your growing bump. The black and white and blurring effect on this photo also adds movement and directs attention to the mom-to-be.
Extra, extra, read all about it
Engagement and pregnancy announcement photo shoots alike are showing major headlines — literally. This family of three got creative by holding up copies of “The Newborn Times” to announce the upcoming arrival of bebe number two.
Beachfront bliss
If you live in proximity to the beach (or any other natural spot, like a park or lake), go there for your pregnancy announcement photos. I met my photographers at a local beach for a toes-in-the-sand sessions.
Sibling spotlight
Your baby is coming soon, which means someone is about to become a big sis or bro. Pregnancy announcement photos that prominently feature your first baby are extra-special.
Turn your announcement into a gender reveal, too
When you share your happy news, you can double down with details on your baby’s sex. A vintage cake like the one shown here is one of the most popular pregnancy announcement trends right now.
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