Pregnancy is such an exciting season of life, filled with anticipation, happiness and love! Maternity photos while pregnant is a lovely way to remember not just how your body looked, but how this season in your life felt.

If you’re searching “lesbian maternity photos” I am sure you have already found that much of maternity photography use traditional, repetitive, cookie cutter imagery and posing. I have the privilege of documenting love in many forms, but queer love in particular, and I there is nothing quite like queer love. It is raw, honest, and authentic.

So how do you plan a maternity session that represents you? Here is the ultimate guide to all the parts you will want to think through as you prepare for your photo session: vision, backdrop, timing, and comfort.

Step 1: Envision Your Photos

Prior to even considering location with your partner, consider the feeling your want your photos to bring forward.

• Do you want soft, intimate images at home?
• Are planning to go on location where you have heavy scenery such as ocean cliffs with wind in your hair?
• Do you envision yourselves laughing, being active, playful, or cozied up quietly expressing your love for each other?

At this step, you give yourself permission to wander away from “what maternity photos are supposed to look like.” You’re creating your own story!

Step 2: Think About Your Backdrop or Location

Your backdrop is going to be one of the biggest storytellers of your maternity portraits. As a couple, ask yourself:

Indoors vs. Outdoors

• Indoor sessions: Intimate, cozy, and personal. Picturesque slow-moving mornings, sun streaming through your living room, or documenting the beautiful nursery you’ve been creating.

• Outdoor sessions: Open, grounding, and adventurous. To the beach, mountains, cliffs, or woods each provide timeless spaces and a sense of freedom.

Location Inspirations

Local to Fresno/ Clovis:

• Millerton Lake – Sparkling water and rolling golden hills make this spot perfect for relaxed, sun-soaked maternity photos with wide open views.
• Winton Park – A sweet and simple outdoor space with greenery, paths, and shade trees—ideal for an easy, accessible session close to home.
• Three Rivers – Nestled at the gateway to Sequoia National Park, this area offers flowing rivers, mountain backdrops, and a rustic, adventurous feel.
• Sunflower Farm – Rows of bright blooms create a joyful, colorful setting that feels both playful and vibrant.
• Local Park – Sometimes the most meaningful backdrop is the one you visit often—neighborhood parks bring a sense of everyday connection and familiarity.
• Shaver Lake – Surrounded by tall pines and sparkling alpine water, Shaver Lake offers a peaceful mountain backdrop that feels both adventurous and serene.

Adventure Locations:

• Big Sur – Towering redwoods meet dramatic ocean cliffs, creating a breathtaking mix of wild forest and crashing waves for adventurous, cinematic maternity photos.
• Capitola – With colorful beach cottages and a laid-back surf town vibe, Capitola brings a playful, coastal energy to your session.
• Santa Barbara – From the elegant Spanish-style architecture of the courthouse to the soft golden light on the beach, Santa Barbara blends timeless romance with coastal beauty.

(I will go more in depth on each of these locations in the location blogs linked below!)

Step Three: Choose your attire

Attire is one of the most common questions my clients ask about and for good reason, what you wear changes the feeling of your photographs.

For the Birthing Parent

Show off the bump. Flowy dresses, fitted tops or layered fabrics or baring your bump all great options for showing off your belly.

Pick colors that fit in with your surrounding space. Neutral colors, earth tones, or soft pastels typically photograph the best outside.

Comfortability always comes first. If we are hiking or moving around, shoes that you know will be good to depend on is essential. Being barefoot on the beach always looks amazing but if we have to walk down, you may want sandals or sneakers.

For your partner

Compliment, don’t compete. Your partners outfit should coordinate with yours without taking away from your outfit. Think tones and textures that will compliment yours. Not matching sets.

Timeless outfits. Avoid logos, bold graphics or distracting brand names. They will date your photos and take the attention away from your connection and your photographs.

Classic layers. A fitted shirt, cozy sweater, or simple jacket photograph beautifully. If your partner picks something flowy, they can also pick something a little more structured. The same goes for if you are dressed up, your partner can elevate their style as well.

Pro tip

Bring two outfits- one casual and one elevated. That way you have options and don’t have to rush the choices. Plus you’ll have one set that represents your everyday selves, and one that is a step elevated from you everyday selves.

Maternity Session Outfit Checklist

Step 4: Think About Comfort and Accessibility

Pregnancy changes how you carry yourself and how your body feels from day to day. It is so important to respect that while we plan your session.

Terrain: Want to photograph on cliffs? Let’s assess the suitability and safety of the trail. Want to photograph in a forest? I will take you to a decent flat surface and skip the steep climb.

Weather: Too hot or too windy or too cold can make the session unpleasant. We will plan based on the best light, and your comfort level.

Energy: If you are feeling tired, we will take our time. This is all about your comfort.

Keep in mind: these photos are not just about looking fabulous, but feeling loved and cared for while having them taken.

Step 5: Choose the right timing

Most couples book maternity photos around 28–34 weeks for a few reasons. Your bump is visible, you’re able to move comfortably, and you likely still have some energy left. That said, every pregnancy is unique. We will work around the rhythms of your body.

Step 6: Trust the Storytelling

Many times, traditional maternity photography completely ignores the rest of the body and only focuses on the belly. Don’t get me wrong, we will celebrate that part of your body, but maternity photography is so many other things than that.

It’s the way your partner looks at you.

It’s the anticipation you both feel for the life you are bringing into this world.

It’s the love that already exists between you.

I will give you gentle guidance, but the goal of the session is not to “pose”, it is to be. Whether you’re laughing uncontrollably or enjoying a quiet moment, your photos will tell the truth of your story.

When you see yourself reflected in photos that feel authentic to you, you are telling your story as you define it. And for your future child, one day these photos will show not only where they came from but the depth of love already waiting for them.

Ready for Inspiration?

If you have specific places in California you are dreaming about, I created location-based guides, showing what maternity sessions can look like in each space:

Final Thoughts

Your maternity photos are about more than looking beautiful (although you will). They are about pausing this fleeting moment in time, honoring the love that brought you here, and celebrating the family you’re creating.

As a non-traditional photographer, my objective is to always create space for couples to show up as they are, without expectations, without scripts—just real love. Your maternity session does not have to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to look like you.