December is already here — can you believe it?
For many of you mamas out there, that means you are one month closer to meeting your babies. December is the official start of the winter holiday season. Even though it might be cold outside, it’s the perfect time of year to take advantage of cute winter maternity shoot opportunities.
If you’re too busy preparing for your winter festivities to get creative and plan your maternity portraits, hopefully these ideas can inspire you.
1) Winter Woodland
The woods never fail to make pictures look enchanting, and when you’re looking for a cute, rustic spot to take maternity portraits, any tree can make a difference.
McKinney Falls State Park or any of the city parks are go-to spots for Austin photographers looking to bring out the magic in a moment. However, with the right photographer and a little help from Jack Frost, even a city treescape can look like a winter wonderland. 
2) Stockings Hung By The Chimney
Who doesn’t love a good fire picture? The fireplace creates a diverse setting for portraiture. Whether you opt for a silhouette in front of crackling flames or just opt for a cute family portrait in front of the mantel, a fireplace is one of those settings that reminds you of the season.
For those of you mamas-to-be who celebrate Christmas, hanging up a little stocking over the fireplace in your shoot is another adorable, easy way to remember the last Christmas before your baby comes.
3) Break Out The Sweaters
Not everyone looking for a maternity portrait wants something super glamorous or over-staged. For those people, I recommend donning your winter sweaters!
To all the doubters, I say, trust me! Having a nice, Scandinavian-style sweater on in your winter maternity shoot will help you feel comfortable and bring out the holiday theme effortlessly.
4) Stunning Holiday Reds & Greens
If you google “Christmas-themed maternity shoot,” you’ll likely pull up pictures of expectant mothers in elegant green and red gowns. Dig deeper into the search, and you might even see some Mrs. Claus-es and Santa’s elves in there.
If that’s your style, I get it! But cutesy Christmas themes aren’t for everyone.
Green and red-themed Christmas maternity sessions can be whatever you want them to be: over the top or simple and elegant. When done right, a color scheme — like red or green — highlights the subject of a portrait.
And as you can see, a simple color sometimes creates absolutely stunning portrait results.
5) Holiday Lights
Holiday lights are a classic maternity portraiture theme, and there are some ways to make yours cute and unique.
If you want to go big, you might opt to capture yourself among the holiday lights in Downtown Austin. Or, if you’re looking for something more delicate, your maternity photographer can suggest ways to incorporate personal tree lights into your session for a festive feel.
6) Winter Greens
Still need to get a Christmas tree? Don’t worry. You’re not alone.
Better yet? Use this opportunity to schedule a maternity shoot.
Photographers can utilize Christmas tree stands to your advantage, creating the feel of Christmas without having to venture out into the woods. Wearing a lighter color — like white — in among the rows of dark green trees makes you stand out like the gorgeous human you are.
If you’re less keen on the idea of a Christmas tree but still want to capture the crispness of a winter green in your maternity session, any leaf, vine, or tree can do the trick just as well.
7) Mittens On Your Belly
Often, maternity portraiture pays close attention to the mother’s belly. After all, that’s where the precious cargo is!
In the winter, an excellent way to make your belly shot stand out is to wear mittens in close-up shots. Not only does this keep your hands warm, but it reminds you of the season for years to come.
8) Silhouette in a Winter Sunset
Silhouette portraiture is another signature of maternity shoots because it highlights the changes a mother goes through during pregnancy. Sunrise and sunset shots are a great, natural way to get a silhouette shot (but, let’s be honest — who wants to wake up early and take pictures in the cold?)
Winter sunsets have distinct colors because of the temperature change, so taking advantage of the colors at the end of the day is one natural and distinctive way to let your December maternity shots stand out.
9) Holiday Pajama Session
If you want a way to look cute and stay comfy during your maternity session, consider maternity sessions in your pajamas!
Flannel, fleece, reds, whites, and blankets are all seasonal colors — and all available on a cute pair of winter pajamas. Highlight your easy-going nature and bring a bit of personality to your maternity session with a holiday pajama theme.
10) Winter Royalty
The winter season can take a lot out of a person — especially if you’re trying to keep up with the holiday merriment while carrying your baby-to-be!
In moments where the stress of the holiday season seems too much, remember to treat yourself like royalty. There are no rules saying you can’t merge your Christmas-themed maternity shoot with a session that truly makes you feel like the queen you are.
Wearing a velvet gown and adding in a little glam to your maternity portrait are little things that make a big impact in the outcome of your photos — and can take the pressure off the season by pampering you!
Whether you’re going for full-glam or ridiculously cute, there are several ways to make your December maternity session stand out.
Feeling inspired? Let’s chat about your December photo ideas.
