Maternity photoshoots have been a rage in foreign countries for a long time now. However, taking photographs of a mother when she is pregnant has traditionally been frowned upon in India. There were a number of causes for this, but the most prevalent was that moms chose to cover up the fact that they were pregnant because either they didn’t like the way they looked or thought that they should keep out of the limelight to avoid the evil eye. Baby bumps were always supposed to be hidden under baggy clothes. Flaunting your bare baby bump was a big taboo! 

But a lot of the fashion, trends, and styles in India are heavily influenced by Bollywood. And as a result of the amazing pregnancy photos our Bollywood superstar mothers took, flaunting their gorgeous baby bumps and portraying themselves as real, vulnerable, yet bold and beautiful women embracing motherhood, people started to ponder. 

Expectant mothers began to wonder more about what it would be like to really ‘show up’ while pregnant, with the extra weight gain, weariness, anxiety, and a kangaroo pouch that they were always carrying. They began to understand that perhaps they might enjoy their bodies while they were pregnant, bask in the wonderfulness of maternity, and share this joy with the world without fear of judgment.

In an interaction with ABP Live, Jiyaa Arora, Baby and Maternity Photographer said, “I’ve been working for over 12 years in this business and I have seen how pregnant women were hesitant and shy to even get a simple portrait clicked earlier and how the times have changed now. Today, they have so many ideas and they are ready to experiment!”

A breathtaking underwater photo session was done by actress Sameera Reddy a few years back while she was heavily pregnant. She received a lot of praise for her fearlessness, her confidence, and the fact that she was genuinely proud of her motherhood. 

It is amazing to see an expecting mother, happily flaunting her baby bump, owning her pregnancy in a gorgeous maternity shoot.

“So I would say bare your baby bump. Take soon-to-be-mom Bipasha Basu’s latest photoshoot where she keeps it simple yet so stunning with a white shirt and flaunting her beautiful baby bump,” Jiyaa added. 

Bringing in your partner for a quirky pose together is another great idea. These make for super fun pictures and create a memory that can be treasured for a lifetime. 

“Choose striking colors. Don’t be afraid to be in the limelight. Don’t try to blend in. Stand out. You’re going to be a mom! It’s time to celebrate with every pop of color possible! And as much as we love our pastels, retro 70’s colors, striking neon shades, and bold and bright colors are very much back in trend,” she remarked. 

The monotony of posed frames and expressions is also now a thing of the past. “We now prefer something way more candid. We want the mom to be in her own element. To bring out all the emotions flowing inside of her at the moment. Personally, I love more raw and candid photo shoots that really tell your story,” she added further. 

Social media has also been of great help. It has allowed the normalization of sharing personal, intimate moments. Social media paves way for trends and inspires communities to try something they never have before, according to Jiyaa. 

“What I love about Maternity photography in today’s time and age is that it can be everything a mommy wants! It can be all-natural and candid but it can also be like the cover of a high fashion magazine! A great maternity photoshoot can literally be the statement piece on the walls of your home.”

She said, “when an expecting mother comes to us, no matter what the photo shoot concept would be, we ensure to keep her safety and comfort as our priority. We want her to feel at ease. So many moms who have come to us for maternity sessions have been nervous, as for a lot of them it may have been a novel experience, being in front of the camera. But, believe me, a maternity photo session is amazingly empowering and in fact, helps you connect with your own emotions! Most of those clients have come back in, after delivering their baby, for a newborn or a family photo session. Photography is known to allow you to express yourself but that’s not all. It helps bring focus to the positives in life, enhances your self-worth, and even reduces the stress hormone cortisol”.

Being pregnant is one of the most amazing experiences to have in life. “I’m so overjoyed that I get to be a part of this incredible experience and celebrate it with mothers! Every woman has a story and I believe that my job, as a photographer, is to capture that story in a way that she can look back at the photographs and remember how wonderful those moments were. I believe photography is not just about documenting memories, it is also about creating experiences and that’s what I love about it,” she concluded.