Creating an Artistic Maternity Photoshoot in New York City

One of my favorite things about photography is creating photoshoots that truly reflect the person standing in front of my camera.

Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph my friend Jules, who is expecting a beautiful baby girl. Since Jules is a creative person who loves art as much as I do, I knew from the very beginning that I wanted this maternity session to be more than just traditional portraits.

Of course, we created timeless maternity photographs, but I also wanted to incorporate artistic, editorial, and creative elements that would reflect Jules' personality and create something truly unique.

Planning the Photoshoot

Every photoshoot starts long before the camera comes out.

For this session, I created multiple mood boards to help organize the creative direction and ensure that every setup had its own visual identity. Since Jules currently has beautiful pastel pink hair, I wanted every color, outfit, and backdrop to complement her look naturally rather than compete with it.

While planning the session, I spent quite a bit of time working with the color wheel and experimenting with different color combinations. Some ideas worked immediately, while others required adjustments, but that creative process is one of my favorite parts of preparing a photoshoot.

Each setup was built piece by piece—from selecting fabrics and props to choosing outfits and lighting techniques. Every detail had a purpose and contributed to the overall vision.

Look One: The Crumpled Pink Paper Backdrop

The first setup was one of the most creative and sustainable ones.

Instead of purchasing a brand-new backdrop, I reused leftover pieces of pink seamless paper that were no longer suitable for traditional studio use. Rather than throwing them away, I transformed them into a textured backdrop by carefully crumpling and arranging the paper to create depth and dimension.

The result was a backdrop that resembled oversized flower petals and added beautiful texture to the photographs.

For this look, I used hard flash lighting to create strong shadows and a more fashion-inspired feel. I also experimented with creative filters, including a ghost filter by Prism Lens FX, which added an interesting artistic effect to some of the images.

Most of the photographs from this setup focused on portraits and upper-body compositions, allowing the texture of the backdrop and Jules' features to become the main focus.

Look Two: Sage Green Drapes and Wisteria Flowers

The second setup brought a completely different mood.

I installed sage green drapes and decorated them with cascading wisteria flowers arranged across the top of the set, creating a soft arch-like effect. To complete the look, I covered part of the floor with matching fabric, creating a cohesive environment that felt elegant and romantic.

Jules wore a beautiful pastel pink dress accented with pearls, and the color combination worked perfectly with her pink hair. The sage green, pastel pink, and white flowers created a soft, dreamy palette that felt feminine and timeless.

This setup became the foundation for a variety of images, including full-body maternity portraits, seated portraits, and photographs with her husband, Gad.

Look Three: Flowing Sage and Ivory Drapes

One of my favorite looks from the entire session wasn't even part of the original plan.

While working with the sage green backdrop, I decided to experiment by introducing ivory drapes and layering them together. Then I placed a fan behind the fabrics to create movement.

The result was absolutely magical.

The flowing fabrics added motion, depth, and a cinematic quality to the images that instantly elevated the look. Instead of creating a highly styled fashion setup, we paired this backdrop with casual clothing, allowing the movement of the fabric to become the star of the photographs.

This setup quickly became one of my personal favorites from the day.

Look Four: Painting with Light

One of the artistic concepts I was most excited about involved using light itself as a creative element.

Using my Nanlite constant light and a projection attachment, I projected patterns of light across Jules' body. Rather than revealing everything, the light selectively highlighted certain shapes and curves, creating photographs that felt artistic, elegant, and intimate.

I loved how this approach celebrated pregnancy while maintaining a sense of mystery and artistry.

It became one of those setups that reminded me why I enjoy creative portrait photography so much.

The Unexpected Couple Portraits

Sometimes the best photographs happen when you least expect them.

I had prepared inspiration boards and ideas for photographing Jules and Gad together, but one of my favorite moments happened completely naturally.

While I was adjusting lights and preparing for the next setup, I glanced over and saw them sitting together exactly as they were—comfortable, relaxed, and simply enjoying the moment.

I immediately told them not to move.

Without posing them or directing them heavily, I captured a series of images that felt authentic and genuine. Those spontaneous moments often become the photographs people treasure most.

Look Five: Silhouettes and Smoke

The final setup of the day was the one I had been looking forward to the most.

Using a strong light source positioned behind Jules, I created dramatic silhouette portraits that emphasized shape, movement, and emotion. The studio lights were turned off, allowing the backlight to define her outline against the darkness.

For this look, Jules wore a flowing dress that added beautiful movement to the images.

To add another layer of atmosphere, I introduced a smoke machine, creating depth and texture within the frame. The combination of silhouette, movement, and smoke produced images that felt cinematic, emotional, and timeless.

More Than Beautiful Pictures

One thing that was especially important during this session was making sure Jules felt comfortable.

Maternity sessions require a different pace than many other photoshoots. Between looks, we took breaks, allowed time to rest, hydrate, and change outfits, and adjusted the flow of the session accordingly.

While Jules was resting, I often used that time to rebuild sets, adjust lighting, and prepare the next setup.

Creating beautiful photographs is important, but creating a comfortable experience for the person in front of the camera is just as important.

Final Thoughts

In total, we spent about four and a half hours creating a collection of images that ranged from classic maternity portraits to artistic editorial concepts.

This session reminded me how versatile maternity photography can be. It doesn't have to follow a single formula. It can be romantic, artistic, dramatic, emotional, editorial, or all of those things at once.

Most importantly, it can reflect the personality of the person being photographed.

I absolutely loved bringing this project to life and cannot wait to share the final images.

If you're looking for a maternity photographer in New York City—or if you have a creative concept you'd love to bring to life—I'd love to hear from you.

I photograph maternity sessions throughout New York City, at my Times Square studio, and am also available for travel photography projects. Please complete your inquiry form to discuss your photoshoot needs