How To Pull Off An Amazing Milk Bath Maternity Photoshoot

Are you struggling with the type of photos you’d like to document your pregnancy? Consider doing a milk bath maternity photoshoot. Here are a few tips that helped me pull off a great session.

It’s hard to believe that this phase of my life is coming to an end. Pregnancy is hard, but such a beautiful experience. Each one of my pregnancies has stretched me in so many ways and I’m so thankful for this journey. While I’m so grateful for this season of my life, I celebrate and welcome the new chapters ahead.

I fell in love with milk bath photography during my pregnancy with Jaxon, but due to the pandemic and quarantine, I didn’t prioritize having maternity photos taken. Since this is my last pregnancy, I knew I wanted to create as many memories as possible, and doing a milk bath maternity photoshoot was high on my list.

How did my Milk Bath Photos Turn Out

I love a good DIY project and I thought about DIYing milk bath photos, but I wanted them to be perfect, so I sought out a local photographer that specializes in milk bath sessions to achieve gorgeous portraits, and she did not disappoint. I used Carolennys Studios, and if you’re in the Jacksonville, FL area, I highly recommend her. As you will see below, she captured my pregnancy beautifully.

As an introvert, I’m typically a little shy when it comes to showing off a little skin, and I was afraid that the photos would end up looking like boudoir photos, but I decided to go for it anyway. And I’m happy I did because this portion of my maternity session brought out inner confidence I didn’t know I had.

The only regret I have is not purchasing any additional photos. These came out absolutely beautiful, and I know for a fact I could not have created these at home.

Here are a few favorites from my milk bath maternity session that I’ll cherish forever

What Should You Wear For a Milk Bath Maternity Photoshoot

I’d recommend choosing a lace gown or robe for your milk bath maternity photoshoot. I’m a neutral girlie, so I chose a nude lace gown, but they come in a wide variety of colors. If you want a custom color and you’re unable to find it, lace is so easy to dye. Just grab a bottle of RIT dye and let it work its magic. If you chose the latter, I suggest doing a patch test first because I’d hate for you to mess up your gown and then spend extra money ordering a new one.

For undergarments, I went with this nude bra, which is similar to the shade of my dress, and nude SKIMS underwear that matched my skin tone so that they wouldn’t be seen. Nursing bras work great for milk bath shoots as well because of the coverage and you won’t have to worry about too much cleavage.

6 Tips For A Successful Milk Bath Maternity Photoshoot

Hire a photographer

You could totally DIY a milk bath photoshoot at home, but for optimum results, I’d suggest hiring a professional especially if you’re shooting near the end of your pregnancy. The benefits of using a professional photographer over going the DIY route is that they’ll be able to:

help perfect the setup for you
help you master angles and poses
provide the perfect lighting

I recommend being selective of who you chose though. Make sure you go with someone who’s knowledgeable on milk bath shoots and whose portfolio includes previous milk bath sessions so that way you know you’ll love your photos. Professional photos aren’t cheap and the last thing you want is to have to redo them with someone else.

Trust your photographer

You’ve hired a professional to document this beautiful moment for you, so trust their expertise. The poses and angles needed to capture those beautiful shots for a timeless look are a lot different than taking everyday photos. Respect their artistic vision and let them create something special for you. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Find a great location

Whether you choose to shoot at home, at a photographer’s studio, or outside, choosing a great location is important. You want to shoot somewhere with great lighting and a tub large enough that you can submerge comfortably. I was lucky that my photographer has a beautiful setup right in her studio, but if that’s not the case for you, get creative. Browse AIRBNB and rent out a home for the day and after the photo shoot, you can enjoy a little staycation alone or with your spouse. You may even be surprised to learn that a friend or family member has a great space you can use. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Add the right props

Fresh flowers are a key element to any milk bath maternity photoshoot. Not only do they add beauty to the images, but the aroma from the flowers helps to set the mood for the shoot. You can incorporate any type of flower to pop against the white background. Since I’m team green, I let the photographer take the lead and we ended up using red and yellow roses to add pops of color as well as yellow and white daisies with remnants of greenery for visual interest. Lilies and hydrangeas would have worked perfectly also.

Schedule at the right time in pregnancy

I’m sure the last thing you want to do as your belly continues to grow is a photo shoot, but your belly photographs the best as you’re entering your third trimester and later. Of course, don’t wait too late because you don’t want to go into labor during your photo shoot or worst case miss having photos done altogether because you went into labor a bit earlier than expected.

Don’t be afraid to get wet

You have spent hours, and money, getting your hair and makeup done so that you can look your best in your photos, but don’t be afraid to get wet. Try to relax as much as possible and enjoy the moment and the memories that you’re creating. You can hop in the shower as soon as your session is complete. A milk bath session will be the perfect way to remember the last moments of your pregnancy.

As you can see, milk bath photography is timeless, effortless if you hire a professional, and something you’ll love and treasure forever.

Would you consider doing a milk bath maternity photoshoot?