Top 10 Maternity Gowns for Photoshoot that Won’t Break the Bank

Update as of 2020:

OUR CLIENT CLOSET & WARDROBE FOR YOUR USE

Ethereal, light, flowy, airy, and timeless pieces accent your session beautifully. Expect to see various tones, textures, and fabrics, all of which are curated to photograph beautifully. We offer diverse options such as, but not limited to, neutrals, grey, ivory, creams, whites, and muted colors and nudes, although there are colorful options. Jewel tones and classic black make an appearance, too. Complimentary gown fittings are welcome. These are available in sizes small through extra-large. An ample sister wardrobe is a new addition, also! Available in sizes three months - 8-T. At this time, our closet includes over 100 dresses. We also offer complimentary gown fittings so you may visit in advance to look throughout the client wardrobe. We also have a handful of Dad tops in case of emergencies, though, upon booking, a prep guide is provided. Hence, you have a great idea of what Dad should wear for his portion of the photoshoot. See our favorite 100 gowns by clicking the slideshow.

Houston Photographer, Sarah Borchgrevink, shares the best gowns you can find on Amazon that are affordable, stylish, and will perfectly enhance your maternity session. 

Greetings, friends! If you're booking a session, this may be your first baby, and you're unsure what to wear to the session or how to style yourself. Selecting outfits for a pregnancy photoshoot can be a little daunting; you're not a professional photographer, and you're unsure what photographs well. 

Have no fear! I am an experienced Mama! I love working with you and helping you find the perfect gown in a style that flatters you, matches the type of decor you have in your home, and also showcases your radiant baby bump.

First and foremost: congratulations on your precious baby! Pregnancy is an exciting time full of joy, anticipation, and; hopefully, a stunning yet dynamic photography session preserving this incredibly special time in your life. Welcome to motherhood!

This list is curated to include various styles, fabrics, and textures. I also considered different types of fit and how some mothers may prefer more coverage. Moreover, the gowns I am previewing had many colors from which to select. This is helpful for different skin tones, too.

Fun fact: You can often use the maternity gown as an option for your baby shower or even your newborn session since the material is often flowy and stretchy. 

# 1: Off Shoulder Maternity Gown 

#2: Off Shoulder Ruffles Maternity Slim Fit Maxi Gown

#3: Cowl Neck and Over the Shoulder Maternity Dress

#4: Off Shoulder Bell Sleeves Mermaid Maxi Gown Photography Dress

#5: Elegant Fitted Maternity Gown with Slim Fit Maxi Style

#6: V-neck short sleeve lace maternity gown in maxi style

#7: Full Sleeve Ruched Maternity Gown with Cowl Neck & Off Shoulder

#8: Faux Wrap Maternity Dress with Adjustable Belt

#9: Sexy off shoulder lace gown with florals

#10: Lace Overlay Wrap Dress with Train

#11 | Molliya Maternity Long Dress Ruffles Lace Off Shoulder Stretchy Maxi Photography Dress

#12 | Dance Fairy Molliya Maternity Long Dress Women Ruffle Stretchy Sleeveless Maxi Dress

#13 | JustVH Maternity Elegant Fitted Gown Cross-Front V Neck Ruched Slim Fit Maxi Photography Dress

Stunning Mother to be in a maternity gown:

A few days ago, I had the honor of working with a very sweet couple (who will have their own dedicated blog post soon since Mom had two awesome dresses for their session, ha!). From the moment Mom e-mailed me, I knew she was a perfect client and I could not wait to work with them! They're expecting a precious baby boy soon; at 35 weeks along, her baby bump is absolutely perfect and she is full of radiance, vibrancy, and truly a beautiful spirit! 

I am hoping to talk them into bringing their fur babies to the studio for the newborn session, so cross your fingers, ha! 

The pregnancy gowns are a great option for your session because they're feminine, soft, flowy, and add a delicate aspect to your photos. They're also designed to showcase the bump, too, so you know the final outcome will feature your little one. 

As always, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog! I know you're probably a busy mama, so it means a lot you took time out of your day to stop by my creative corner of the earth. :-) If you enjoyed perusing gorgeous gowns for maternity sessions, you may like reading handy dandy information on the following topics:

Warmly,

Sarah

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Dads: Push Presents are a Real Thing | What You Need to Know for 2018

The Push Present Trend: Everything You Need to know + some sweet, fun, and memorable ideas to get you started. 

What's A Push Present? 

Around 2010 a new trend began: the push present. If you're a first time Dad, you may be wondering, "what exactly is a push present?" A push present, you see, is exactly what it sounds like: a gift your partner gives to Mom to mark the special occasion of her giving birth to your child. Of course, the push present also applies to mamas who had a c-section. While a new bundle of joy is truly the ultimate gift, the push present is a tangible way for Dad to say thank you to Mom for carrying baby and also a way to shower Mom with attention. She just rocked her labor and delivery so impress her with a thoughtful, memorable and sweet gift that is sure to make her swoon! 

My husband gave me a push present

My favorite part of receiving a push present from my dear hubby was not the actual gift itself, though it was a lovely locket of three hearts intertwined as one, but it was knowing he planned something special that truly made me happy. For instance, upon returning home from the hospital with our first baby named Emma, he helped me get settled into my favorite comfy chair and get our daughter to sleep. I was totally surprised when he pulled a small box from his pocket and told me he had a special surprise for me. 8 years later, I still completely treasure that locket because I know how much time he had to put into selecting it. It was a simple gift with a huge meaning.

We had our first baby at 20 years old and when I look back at where we were in life it was just us, being married, bringing this tiny little baby home to our first apartment as college students. It was a little scary because we were so young but looking back I remember thinking how special the locket was because when you're working full time, going to college full time and a newly wed it does take some major work to find the time to shop for a pretty locket for your new wife. 

While the baby is the ultimate present and as parents, we cannot wait to meet our little bundle of joy, I equate push presents to be similar to days like Christmas or Valentines Day. It's a tangible way to show our partners we planned something special for them. It feels nice to be thought of - to know someone took the time to plan something special for you, to think of how much you would enjoy being surprised. It's not the budget that counts but the thought so below you'll find my favorite gifts, things that new Moms are sure to love.

Sarah's Top Recommendations for Dad's 

Jewelry is the most popular gift choice, however, there are some truly unique and awesome ideas to set yourself apart. Don't get me wrong: a few jewelry pieces did make the list of top push present recommendations for Dads, but I did keep sentimental value in mind.

I also chose to not include vacations on this list because the baby moon is typically done while you're pregnant. Vacations are a wonderful way to begin traditions and solidify family memories, however, as someone with several kiddos, I can attest that traveling when you've just had a baby is really daunting. The airport, car rental, lugging around tons of baby supplies and trying to breast feed can be stressful. This in mind, there are many wonderful vacation ideas out there, but they're better for when little one is no longer a newborn and perhaps more of a toddler. :-) However, I'm sure I'll eventually write a blog post on the best vacation spots for young children, ha! There's always next week, right? :-) 

I have four little ones myself so my list is curated and highly influenced by what truly matters: the thought and action behind your husband, partner or significant other doing something special for you.

Sarah's Favorite Pick: The Mombie Box

The Mombie Box is the top recommendation because it encompasses many essential gift traits: not only is it filled with gorgeous, feminine items, but it also is modern, fresh, useful and even  makes postpartum recovery a little less difficult. It has health, mind, and body all in mind with several curated options for new moms. This item is also a super awesome baby shower gift for your best gal pal, so keep that in mind, too, if you're a Mama reading this. 

What makes the Mombie Box the ultimate push present gift is it was designed by experienced mothers and medical professionals to make the first few months a little easier as they recover from labor and delivery. When having a new baby, Moms sometimes worry about things like making enough breast milk, nutrition, recovering, comfort and even healing. 

When purchasing a Mombie Box as your standout push present, there are three custom collections you may select from, all of which are themed:

• Nutrition

• Comfort & healing

• Spa

Inside the Mombie Box you'll find items such as:

• Bath Bomb

• Facial Mask

• Gel Packs

• Lactation Bar

• Lactation Tea

• Lanolin Cream

• Multi-Use Cover

• Protein Shake

• Stretch Mark Oil

• Water Bottle

This luxury push present does retail for $129, though has free shipping and a money back guarantee. 

 Favorite Sentimental Gifts: Photo Ideas

• Idea number one: creating photo album for your wife or partner

This is a sentimental gift that is something Mom is sure to adore! A friend of mine had something similar made for me during my baby shower with baby number 1, and even years later, I still enjoy looking at the photo album and reading all the sweet messages! The premise is very simple: select a photo album from any big box store such as Target, Hobby Lobby, etc. Ask her closest friends, family or loved ones to write messages and notes to Mom; if they have a favorite photo have them submit this as well. This is great way for them to share helpful advice, goodwill and kind messages as Mom enters motherhood! It's also a way for her to see all the support and love she has surrounding her. It does take a village and it will make Mom feel amazing to know she has so many loved ones who are excited for her!

• Idea number two: Invest in a consumer grade DSLR Camera

While we do live in a digital age and many of use our smart phones as our main camera, purchasing an entry level DSLR such as a Nikon or Canon is a wonderful option so you may have higher quality images for those everyday moments in your life! This is great for baby milestones such as baby having their first food, perhaps taking their first steps, and also when you start to go on fun family adventures. 

Here is a great Nikon DSLR option to get you started. If you're team Canon, here's a super great selection, too! These are easy to use and are not too complicated. :-) 

• Idea number three: professional newborn photography session

A professional newborn baby portrait session is a beautiful push present idea because many times, parents are not aware of how fleeting the newborn time is. Newborn sessions do take place in the first 14 days of life, if not sooner, and this is a way to gift mom with an heirloom she'll treasure forever! Moreover, many mothers may not think about being camera ready the first few days after having a baby, and may not want to have photos taken, however, if you chat with your newborn photographer, you will find someone who has a hair and make up recommendation, which is another way to make Mom feel very glamorous! Taking photos with your newborn baby is extremely special and there's nothing like those first few weeks; baby is fresh, sweet and new - and it goes by very fast! Booking the session in advance will ensure you have a wonderful experience in a professional atmosphere while preserving this incredibly special milestone in your life.

Meal or House Cleaning Services:

For Christmas this year, my in law's gifted my husband, Kevin, and I meal and house cleaning services since we had a new baby on 12/23. I have to be completely honest and say it ROCKS! I love how the house cleaner visits and helps keep things tidy; it's also amazing to have a meal service because now that we have four kids, our house is very spirited. The house cleaning and meal service is wonderful because it's two things I don't have to worry about. It's more time with my new baby and family. It takes some stress away from our day. 

• Hello Fresh

• Blue Apron

• Meal Train (great for friends to sign up, too – bring meals to you/arrange it all)

Jewelry: A Little Sparkle for Your Main Squeeze

• "Mama Bear Necklace" at $32

• "One in a million" Initial Pendant Necklace at $58 - perfect gift for your one in a million girl.

• Infinity Necklace for Mom and Baby - $37

Now that you've read some fun ideas to get you started, I hope these spark your own creativity and inspire you to select a gift that is both meaningful and unique for your better half! If you liked reading about push presents, these topics may be a fun read for you, too!

• Perfect Custom Photo Gifts to Display Baby's First Session

• 9 Questions you Don't want to forget when hiring a newborn photographer

• Three Free Cloud Storage Systems to keep your photos safely archived

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Harris County. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Richmond, West University and Rice Village.

 

Baby Bump of the Month: On Location, Natural Light Pregnancy Photos

Each month, Sarah previews the cutest baby bump and more information about natural light, on location pregnancy portraiture for expecting mothers to be and couples. Check out the top December session featuring spectacular evening light.

 Dynamic Maternity Images in Houston by Sarah Borchgrevink

Good morning, friends! Today's blog post is all about gorgeous maternity photography and the sweet mama who rocked her on location pregnancy session featuring golden light, a stunning atmosphere and who truly was a joy to document!

If this is your first time here, welcome! I'm Sarah! I specialize in newborn photography, however, each month I take a handful of maternity sessions. These are available to both new and returning clients, however, clients who have also booked a custom newborn baby session have priority on the calendar.

My on location, natural light maternity sessions take place at golden hour, meaning right as the sun is rising or just as the sun is setting. This creates the best Houston maternity portraits that are timeless, stunning, ethereal, and will forever preserve this incredibly special time in your life. Awaiting the arrival of your little one is absolutely a joy - I know you can't wait to meet him or her! 

For this session, we chose a location in Houston, which is where my studio is based, so I typically work in areas that are close to my workplace. This location is a favorite among clients and has the best light of all the options. It is available M-F for sunset only, since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. 

This sweet mommy to be booked both a maternity session and in studio newborn session. Her newborn session is truly fantastic, so I'm looking forward to previewing some of those images, too! :-) Typically, maternity sessions take place when your baby bump is around 34-36 weeks along. Most mothers book 6 weeks in advance. The calendar does fill in advance so if you're interested in a maternity session, I recommend contacting me sooner rather than later. 

Here are some of my favorite images from our time together! Enjoy!

As always, thanks for visiting to see one of the latest projects I'm working on. :-) I always appreciate you taking the time to stop by! If you are perhaps expecting your own little bundle of joy, I would love if you could consider me for your own pregnancy portraits or newborn photos. Wishing you a wonderful week, friends!

If you enjoyed this post about natural light, dynamic pregnancy portraits you may also like reading about:

• Top 9 questions to ask when hiring a newborn photographer
• Where to find the perfect dress for winter photos
• Favorite ways to pose Mom and Newborn Baby

Sarah Borchgrevink Photography is a Houston Newborn Photographer specializing in gorgeous posed newborn sessions. Her studio is located in Northwest Harris County. In addition to breathtaking baby portraiture, Sarah also offers stylish natural light family photography as well as dynamic outdoor maternity sessions for expecting mothers and couples. Sarah joyfully serves the entire Harris and Montgomery county areas including Houston, Cypress, Tomball, Spring, The Woodlands, Kingwood, Memorial & West Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Richmond, West University and Rice Village.