Fun Ways to Tie Your Maternity Photos Into Your Newborn Photos: Creating Beautiful, Coordinated Memories
By Elizabeth Lang Photography, Surrey, BC
Maternity and newborn photography are both incredible ways to capture the precious journey of bringing new life into the world. At Elizabeth Lang Photography, I love helping families preserve these moments, and one of the most special things we can do is to tie your maternity photos into your newborn session. These coordinated images not only look stunning but also create a beautiful narrative that tells the story of your growing family.
In this post, I’ll share a few creative ways to bring your maternity and newborn photos together, allowing you to showcase your pregnancy journey and your newborn’s arrival in a cohesive, meaningful way. Let’s make your photos truly unforgettable!
1. Mirror Image: From Belly to Baby
One of my favorite ways to tie maternity and newborn photos together is by creating a "mirror image" effect. Here’s how it works: for your maternity shoot, we capture a beautiful shot of you with your pregnant belly, perhaps with your hands lovingly cradling the bump or showcasing your glowing silhouette.
Then, for your newborn session, we recreate the same pose, but this time with your newborn in your arms, adding a subtle yet striking contrast. If you cradled your belly in one pose, you can hold your baby in a similar way. The idea is to symbolize the continuation of the journey—from carrying your baby in your belly to holding them in your arms. These "mirror image" photos side by side will truly highlight how much has changed, all while evoking deep emotion.
2. The Bow: A Special Item from Your Maternity Session
Another sweet way to connect your maternity and newborn photos is by bringing a special item to your maternity session that can also be used during your newborn session. For example, let’s say you bring a bow or a cute little accessory, and we place it on your baby bump for the maternity shots.
When your newborn session comes around, we can incorporate the same bow or item on your newborn. For example, it could be placed on their swaddle, in their hair, or beside them in the newborn photos. This subtle but beautiful detail creates a touching link between your maternity and newborn portraits, symbolizing the connection between the two stages of pregnancy and infancy.
3. Fabric Ties: Maternity Fabric & Baby Swaddle
Fabric is such a versatile and soft prop for both maternity and newborn sessions, and it can be used in beautiful ways to connect the two photoshoots. Here’s an idea: use a piece of fabric during your maternity photos to create a flowing, elegant look. This could be a soft, silky fabric draped over your belly or wrapped gently around you, adding a sense of grace and fluidity to your maternity images.
Then, during the newborn session, we can take the same piece of fabric and use it to wrap around your baby, creating a seamless transition between your two sessions. This way, the same fabric that adorned your belly now swaddles your little one, creating a visually stunning and emotionally significant connection between the two stages.
4. Matching Outfits or Colors
Coordinating your outfits for both maternity and newborn sessions is another great way to tie the two sessions together. You can choose matching colors or complementary outfits that will seamlessly connect the images. For instance, a neutral or soft pastel color palette for your maternity session could be echoed in your newborn photos, whether it’s in the background, props, or the baby’s swaddle or outfit.
If you wear a beautiful, flowy dress in your maternity session, we could incorporate a similar vibe for the newborn photos, such as draping a soft fabric or blanket in the same style around your baby. This approach creates a subtle yet elegant cohesion between your two photoshoots and ensures your images look harmonized and thoughtfully planned.
5. Ultrasound Picture: A Meaningful Link
For an even more personal connection between your maternity and newborn photos, consider incorporating your ultrasound picture into both sessions. For your maternity shoot, we can photograph your ultrasound photo beside your baby bump, symbolizing the beginning of the journey and the excitement of anticipating your baby’s arrival.
During your newborn session, we can place the ultrasound picture in the same shot, this time with your newborn in your arms. The images will beautifully juxtapose the dream of your child with the reality of holding them in your arms—an emotional and meaningful way to tie together the beginning and the end of the pregnancy journey.
6. Tiny Baby Shoes, Booties, or Headbands
A sweet way to tie your maternity photos to your newborn images is by having mom hold tiny baby shoes, booties, or a headband during her maternity session. Whether it’s a pair of adorable baby shoes or a delicate headband, holding these items while showing off your beautiful baby bump is a touching way to symbolize the journey ahead.
Then, when we capture your newborn photos, we can have your baby wear the same shoes or headband, creating a full-circle moment. The baby shoes held during maternity photos now appear on your baby’s tiny feet, symbolizing the excitement and anticipation of what’s to come, now brought to life with your newborn.
In Conclusion: Telling a Beautiful Story
Maternity and newborn photography are both precious chapters in the story of your growing family, and tying the two together can create an even more meaningful narrative. Whether it’s through mirrored poses, matching items, or meaningful keepsakes, these subtle connections help tell the story of the love, anticipation, and joy leading up to the birth of your little one.
If you're planning your maternity and newborn photography sessions, I’d love to work with you to create timeless, coordinated images that reflect your unique journey. Contact me today at Elizabeth Lang Photography in Surrey, near Vancouver, and let’s make beautiful memories that you and your family will cherish for a lifetime.
YOUR MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION WITH ELIZABETH LANG PHOTOGRAPHY