Studio 23 Fine Art Portraits

Your maternity session

A beautiful chapter.
Thoughtfully prepared.

Your session is a chance to slow down and celebrate this moment. Here are the details to help you arrive feeling comfortable, confident, and ready to be in the photograph.

Maternity portrait in a flowing red ruffled gown

Before your visit

A little planning.
Room to enjoy it.

  1. Start with your timing.

    Many maternity sessions take place between 28 and 34 weeks. If your appointment falls outside that window, let us know how you are feeling. We plan the posing around your comfort.

  2. Reserve hair and makeup.

    Once your session is confirmed, book your beauty appointment. Aim to finish at least an hour before your portrait session, with enough time to travel to the studio.

  3. Gather your ideas.

    Save the gowns, poses, colors, and expressions you love. Bring a few references, along with photographs of any walls where you imagine displaying your portraits.

  4. Prepare the evening before.

    Steam your own clothing, set out your accessories, and pack your bag. Check the time and studio address in your appointment confirmation so the morning feels easy.

Maternity portrait in a champagne gown with a soft reflection

What to wear

A gown, a feeling,
a little of you.

Our studio has a collection of maternity gowns you are welcome to wear for your session. From flowing fabric to sculptural shapes, we can talk through the looks that feel right for your portraits.

You can also bring your own clothing. Dark, solid colors and simple shapes keep attention on you. Choose pieces that fit comfortably and feel like something you would love seeing in a finished portrait.

  • Maxi dresses
  • Fitted dresses
  • Wrap dresses
  • Tank tops
  • Leggings
  • Jeans
  • Skirts

Pack nude or matching-color undergarments, even if you plan to use the studio gowns. Some fabrics are sheer, so bring any coverage you prefer and tell us what feels comfortable.

Find your inspiration

Hair & makeup

Feel like yourself.
Beautifully finished.

We recommend professional hair and makeup if it fits the experience you have in mind. Book directly with your chosen artist and tell them your session time, the studio location, and the looks you are planning.

An expectant mother smiling in a red ruffled gown against a golden backdrop
  • Tell your artist this is for a studio portrait session, and share the looks you have chosen.
  • A little more definition than your everyday makeup can work well under studio lighting. Ask for a finish that still feels like you.
  • Soft matte makeup helps keep attention on your expression. Bring your lip color for touch-ups.
  • If you enjoy wearing lashes, a natural set can give your eyes definition in photographs.
  • Choose a manicure you will enjoy seeing in your portraits. Your hands will often rest on your bump.
  • Soft waves, your natural texture, or an updo can each work beautifully. Consider the neckline of your gown when choosing your hair.

Texas

Near McKinney

California

Near Valencia

These are independent businesses. Please confirm services, availability, location, and pricing with the artist or salon when you book.

Your session bag

Just the essentials.

Keep your preparation simple. Set out what you need the evening before and leave a little extra time to get ready.

Your undergarments

Bring nude or matching-color undergarments for your chosen gowns. If you plan to try a sheer look, pack pasties or nipple covers you feel comfortable wearing.

Clothing and personal pieces

Bring your own outfits if you would like them included, along with meaningful jewelry or accessories. Simple dresses, a fitted top, jeans, or a skirt can give the session a different feeling.

The people joining you

Your partner and children are welcome in the photographs. Let us know who is coming so we can plan the groupings. The session can also be entirely about you.

A few small comforts

Bring water, a snack, comfortable shoes, and your lip color. Wear loose clothing on the way to the studio to help avoid tight waistband or sock marks.

Think beyond the session

A place for
this chapter.

Think about where you would like these photographs to live. A favorite wall, an album you will revisit, or a smaller portrait beside your bed can each hold this moment in a different way.

Bring room photographs and approximate wall dimensions if you have a space in mind. At your in-person projected reveal, we will help you consider your favorite images and the artwork you would like to keep.

Artwork is selected and purchased separately from the session. Your booking confirmation contains the details of your appointment and any specific offer.

Explore the artwork

Before you arrive.

How long will the session last?

A typical maternity portrait session lasts about one hour. The timing can vary with the outfits and looks you have planned. Check your appointment confirmation for the time reserved for you.

Do I need to know how to pose?

No. Your photographer will guide your position, hands, and expression throughout the session. Tell us when you need a pause or if a position feels uncomfortable so we can adjust it together.

Can my partner or children be in the photographs?

Yes. Share who you would like included before your appointment. We can plan portraits of you on your own and photographs together, with clothing and colors that feel connected.

Can I request nude or implied-nude portraits?

Yes, if that is a look you would like to explore. Please discuss it with the studio before your appointment and share references. Your photographer will not introduce nude posing without your request, and you decide what feels comfortable.

What if I do not want my photographs shared?

Tell the studio before your session and discuss any image-sharing preferences with your photographer. We can record your preferences with your session details and clarify the permissions in your agreement.

What happens after my portrait session?

Your experience includes an in-person projected reveal of your portraits. We will confirm the appointment details with you. At the reveal, you choose your photographs and artwork, which is purchased separately from your session.

Your studio

We are here for
the little details.

Check your email or text confirmation for the studio and time booked for you. If you need to change your appointment, contact your studio as soon as you can with your name, email, and session date.

Your booking confirmation and agreement explain the cancellation, transfer, and rescheduling terms for your appointment.