^{Photo by Rachael Hammer Photography}

When it comes to taking a great photo of someone, there's a lot of factors at stake.

Lighting, of course, is a primary concern. So too is how you frame the shot.

Posing is also critically important, as it can make or break the look and feel of the image.

This is especially true when you're working with an expecting mother.

By the time a maternity photography shoot rolls around, moms-to-be have had eight months or so of discomfort, lack of sleep, and pain.

That means you need to work a little harder to help mom feel good and look good too.

Here's five gorgeous maternity photography poses that will help you do just that.

The "Night Out"

^{Photo by Vic and Marie Photography}

Ask any expecting mom, and I doubt she'll describe her experience in pregnancy as glamorous or elegant.

That's why the "Night Out" pose can be so impactful.

By putting mom in a gorgeous gown and photographing her in a city environment, the shot becomes something fit for a lady heading to a Broadway play.

In this instance, the deep color of the gown gives the photo tons of visual pop while also immediately drawing our eye to the mom-to-be.

It's form fitting, so we get a view of her baby bump, but the off-the-shoulder fit with the train gives mom that glamorous look and feel she's seldom had for the last few months.

The "Wind Swept"

^{Photo by Fab Photography}

In another example of elegant maternity photography, the Wind Swept pose is evocative of the classic storm grate photo of Marilyn Monroe.

The movement indicated by the sweeping gown gives this image a feeling of being much more dynamic than the typical maternity shot.

However, because the front of the gown is open, we get a full view of mom's belly to draw our attention.

That creates an interesting juxtaposition - the seriousness and permanence of parenthood on the one hand and the fun and whimsy of the gown catching a breeze on the other.

By adding in a tasteful floral crown as an accessory, you have the makings of another glamorous (and fun!) pose that will make mom feel beautiful.

The "Natural"

^{Photo by Heidi Grace Photography}

Not all maternity photos have to be over-the-top to have a ton of visual impact.

The Natural pose focuses instead on making a subtle statement, with a simple standing pose, a non-descript background, and wardrobe choices that aren't in your face, but still have an elegance about them.

In this instance, the simple off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved gown draws attention to the model with its bright (but not too bright) golden color.

The floral belt just above the belly helps define the baby bump, as does the placement of mom's hands above and below her baby.

Note how there's just enough detail in the background to add texture and depth, but without competing for our attention.

The soft lighting at mom's feet filtering through the foliage is a nice touch that grounds the image and helps warm it up a bit too.

The "Fairy Tale"

^{Photo by Blessed Reflections Photography}

The Fairy Tale pose involves a variety of elements to give the image a feeling of enchantment.

To begin, a flowing, lace gown like the one seen above is reminiscent of a gown a princess might wear to a ball.

The deep, saturated color only enhances the elegance of the wardrobe.

The setting of the shot also helps create a fairy tale vibe, as though the model is waiting for her prince in an enchanted garden.

Also notice the soft vignetting that helps direct the eye towards the model.

Again, this helps add some whimsy to the photo that goes along with the fairy tale theme.

The "Hard and Soft"

^{Photo by Gemini Visuals}

In the Hard and Soft pose, the trick is to find ways to combine hard elements - like the boulders in the image above - with soft elements - like the flowing lace gown seen above.

This creates an interesting contrast as the basis of the shot.

You can build on that contrast in other ways, too.

The image above has areas of dark and light. There's also color contrast between the gown and the foreground surroundings.

The soft focus of the background contrasts well with the sharp focus of the model as well.

The point is that you don't have to overwhelm the shot with contrasting elements, but having a few subtle differences will make your images more compelling to view.

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This is a company that photographers absolutely need to be in touch with. Their gowns, crowns, and other high-quality accessories are just what you need for maternity photos, photos of newborns, and mommy and me sessions. These accessories not only make your clients look and feel great, but they also add a depth of detail and interest to your photos that elevate the images to an entirely other level. What started out with just a few people manufacturing these eye-catching items is a growing business that provides accessories to photographers worldwide. Help your clients look and feel their best by partnering with Sew Trendy Accessories.