Fitted maternity gown photoshoot: the black dress and more

What fitted means here. A fitted gown follows the body from the bust to the knee or the floor, in a stretch fabric that sits close without pulling. There is no train to throw and no drape to arrange, so the photograph depends on three things: the line of the gown, the light, and where your hands go. About half the frames on this page have a partner in them, and nearly a third are in black and white.

It is not only black. Black is the easiest place to start and it is here, but among the colour frames red and maroon are as common as black, and there is white, ivory, blush, powder blue and royal blue besides. A fitted gown in a strong colour is a different photograph from the same gown in black: the colour does the work that drapery would do elsewhere.

Backdrops that stay out of the way. Almost every frame here was made against white, a light grey, a darker grey, or the sheer curtains, all plain. A plain backdrop is a decision. It leaves the gown as the only colour in the picture, which is exactly what a minimal look needs.

Three poses from one gown. The same dress gives you very different photographs depending on the angle. Side-on shows the curve. Facing the camera with both hands under the bump is the quiet, classic one. Turned over the shoulder with a hand on the hip is the confident one. Seated on a stool or a white block, the gown gathers and the line changes again. You do not need to know any of this beforehand; Anega leads every pose, from where to put your hands to how to stand.

Choosing the gown. You can bring your own, or hire from the studio wardrobe at Rs 1,995 per dress and try gowns on at the consultation. They are chosen to fit comfortably at 32 to 35 weeks and to photograph well. If you bring your own, solid colours photograph better than prints, and anything with tight elastic at the waist leaves marks, so avoid it.

One dress or two. A single fitted dress takes about 35 to 45 minutes, which is why it suits a late session; if you are past 36 weeks, one dress is often the right choice. Two dresses take about two hours, and a fitted gown pairs well with something flowing, so the session has a still half and a moving half.

With your partner, and with a child. Your partner is part of every package. Children, parents and dogs can join any dress, with a small additional charge per person, and the frames with children have their own page.

Small things from home. A scan, a pair of baby shoes or a bouquet of white roses appear in a handful of these frames. A fitted gown leaves room for them, because there is no fabric to manage. Bring one or two and we use them if they suit the setup.

A child at your side. Nearly twenty of the frames here have a child in them, standing beside you or on a white block for a kiss at bump height. The fitted line keeps the gown out of the way, which is why it suits a session with a toddler.

Colour or black and white. Many frames here exist in both, and you see both in your selection gallery. A red gown in black and white becomes a dark, glossy shape; a white gown loses nothing. You decide frame by frame, after the session.