How to Include Your Partner in Maternity Photos Without Awkward Posing
You want your partner in your maternity photos, but you also don’t want it to feel weird.
You don’t want stiff hand placements or forced smiles. You don’t want them to feel uncomfortable, and you definitely don’t want to spend your session directing them the whole time.
You just want something that feels like you two.
Natural. Easy. Connected.
That’s not only possible, it’s exactly what I aim for during my Seattle couples maternity photos.
As a film photographer, I guide couples into moments that feel real and connected, not staged or stiff. Here’s how we make that happen, without awkward posing or pressure.
1. Start with connection, not posing
Instead of trying to recreate a Pinterest-perfect image, we focus on getting you two into a moment that’s already there: a quiet touch, a laugh, a look that says “we’re doing this.”
Whether we’re in your home or outdoors, the goal is to capture the feeling of this season. The love. The anticipation. The shift happening beneath the surface.
This is the heart of every relaxed couples maternity session I offer, less about choreography, more about presence.
2. Give your partner something simple (and meaningful) to do
A lot of partners, especially if they’re camera shy, just need something to do. That might mean:
Resting a hand on your belly
Wrapping you in a hug
Pressing a kiss to your temple
Tucking your hair behind your ear
Sitting beside you and holding your hand while you both breathe
When the movement has meaning, it doesn’t feel awkward. It feels personal. These are the types of gestures I gently guide throughout the session, quiet and intentional.
3. You don’t have to lead the session, I’ve got you
One of the best things about a maternity session with me? You don’t have to manage it. You don’t have to tell your partner what to do or smile on cue. You just get to be together.
As a film maternity photographer in Seattle, I offer light direction when needed, but I leave plenty of space for in between moments to take place. The ones where your connection shows up all on its own.
4. These photos are part of your story, too
Maternity photos aren’t just about the belly, they’re about the transition you’re both walking through together. Becoming parents. Recalibrating your relationship. Making room (emotionally and physically) for something new.
Including your partner makes these images more layered, more meaningful, and more honest. It tells the full story, not just of pregnancy, but of your partnership.
Final Thought:
You don’t need to choreograph anything.
You don’t need your partner to be a model.
You just need an invitation to connect, and someone behind the camera who sees the beauty in that.
Looking for Seattle couples maternity photos that feel real, relaxed, and meaningful?
I offer film-based sessions for couples who want connection over perfection and a gentle experience from start to finish.