10 Non-Cheesy Maternity Poses For Couples (Printable Posing Guide)
Your pregnancy is a fleeting, transformative journey—a unique story of love, anticipation, and connection. When it comes to capturing this time, many couples feel a disconnect between the deeply personal experience they’re living and the often cliché, posed photos they see online. The endless stream of hands perfectly forming a heart on the belly can feel impersonal and, let’s be honest, a little cheesy.
You deserve photos that reflect your story. Photos that are as authentic, intimate, and beautiful as the bond you share. This guide is designed for couples who want to move beyond the expected. As a maternal health educator and doula, I’ve seen how powerful it is to document this chapter with honesty and emotion. We’ll explore 10 heartfelt, non-cheesy poses that focus on your relationship, your joy, and the incredible family you are becoming. This is about capturing the quiet moments, the shared laughter, and the profound connection that defines your path to parenthood.
Before You Pose: Setting the Scene for Authenticity
Choose a Meaningful Location
The backdrop of your photos sets the tone. Instead of a sterile studio, consider a place that holds meaning for you as a couple. Was your first date at a specific park? Do you love hiking a particular trail? Do you feel most at home cuddled up on your own sofa? Choosing a personal location instantly makes the photos more about your story and less about a generic ‘maternity shoot’.
Coordinate, Don’t Match
When selecting outfits, think in terms of a complementary color palette rather than identical clothes. Soft, neutral tones like cream, oatmeal, olive green, and dusty blue photograph beautifully and keep the focus on you. For the birthing parent, a flowing dress that drapes over the bump can be both comfortable and elegant, allowing for beautiful movement in photos. For the partner, comfortable, well-fitting basics like chinos and a simple linen shirt or a soft sweater work wonders. The goal is to look like the best versions of yourselves, comfortable and connected.
Connect with Your Photographer
Your relationship with your photographer is key. Find someone whose portfolio resonates with your vision—look for candid, emotional, and story-driven images. Before the shoot, have a conversation with them about your desires. Tell them you want to focus on your connection and avoid cliché poses. A good photographer will be thrilled to collaborate on creating something unique and authentic for you.
Remember, the goal isn’t to look perfect. It’s to feel connected. Let that connection be your guide, and the beautiful photos will follow.
Pose 1: The Subtle Embrace
How to achieve the look:
Instead of both partners focusing on the belly, this pose brings the focus back to the couple’s embrace. The pregnant partner stands slightly in front, looking either at their partner or off into the distance. The other partner stands behind, wrapping their arms around their partner’s waist or shoulders, resting their chin gently on their shoulder or head. Their hands can be clasped together near the collarbone or rest gently on the arms.
Why it works:
This pose creates a sense of safety, protection, and intimacy. It’s a natural way for a couple to stand together, making it feel authentic and unforced. The physical closeness translates beautifully on camera, highlighting the supportive nature of your partnership without making the bump the only focal point.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Use this moment to actually connect. Whisper something that will make your partner genuinely smile or laugh. This will create a real, unscripted emotional reaction that the camera can capture.
Pose 2: Walking & Talking
How to achieve the look:
This is more of an action than a pose. Simply hold hands and walk slowly together through your chosen location. Look at each other, talk, laugh, and ignore the camera as much as possible. The photographer can capture this from various angles—from the front, the back, and the side. You can walk with hands linked, or with an arm around each other’s waist.
Why it works:
Movement dispels nervous energy and prevents stiff, awkward posing. This ‘un-pose’ results in dynamic, candid shots that feel like a snapshot of your real life. It symbolizes your journey together—walking into this new chapter of parenthood side-by-side. The natural smiles and interactions are far more powerful than a forced ‘cheese’ for the camera.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Lead the conversation. Ask your partner what they’re most excited about, or share a funny memory. The goal is to create a genuine moment of interaction, forgetting you’re being photographed.
Pose 3: The Forehead Kiss
How to achieve the look:
This is a classic for a reason, but with a modern twist. The pregnant partner can gently cup their partner’s face, or they can stand in a simple embrace. The partner then leans in and places a gentle, lingering kiss on their forehead. The key is for the pregnant partner’s eyes to be closed, savoring the moment. This creates a feeling of peace and tenderness.
Why it works:
A forehead kiss is an act of reverence, care, and deep affection. It’s a silent way of saying, ‘I cherish you.’ Photographically, it creates beautiful, soft lines and focuses on emotion rather than a direct-to-camera smile. It’s intimate without being overly sentimental.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Let the moment breathe. Don’t just peck and pull away. Hold the kiss for a few seconds and gently caress your partner’s arm or back with your other hand. This sustained tenderness will give the photographer time to capture the perfect shot.
Pose 4: Sitting Side-by-Side
How to achieve the look:
Find a comfortable place to sit together—a blanket on the grass, a park bench, the steps of your home. Sit close, letting your shoulders and legs touch. You can hold hands, or one partner can drape an arm around the other. Look out at the same view, or turn towards each other. The pregnant partner can lean their head on the other’s shoulder.
Why it works:
This pose is relaxed and grounded. It feels like a quiet moment of reflection, a pause in the busy journey of preparing for a baby. It showcases your companionship and the simple comfort you find in each other’s presence. It’s a beautiful, understated way to show your unity.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Engage in the moment. Point something out in the distance, squeeze your partner’s hand, or just close your eyes and take a deep breath together. Small, authentic actions will make the pose feel real.
Pose 5: The Partner’s Perspective
How to achieve the look:
This pose shifts the focus. The pregnant partner stands, perhaps cradling her belly, looking down with a gentle smile. The partner kneels or sits beside her, looking up at her with admiration and love. The partner can place a hand on her leg or simply gaze up, connecting with her and the baby. The photo is often taken from a lower angle to emphasize this perspective.
Why it works:
It beautifully captures the partner’s awe and support. It tells a story of a shared journey, highlighting the role of the supportive partner in a way that is both powerful and tender. It’s a tribute to the birthing parent and the incredible transformation they are experiencing, as seen through the eyes of the one who loves them most.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
This is your moment to shine. Don’t worry about the camera. Just look at your partner. Think about the first time you found out you were expecting, think about the future you’re building. Let your genuine feelings of love and admiration show on your face.
Pose 6: Whispering Secrets
How to achieve the look:
Stand close together, face to face. One partner leans in and whispers into the other’s ear. The person listening should react naturally—with a laugh, a wide smile, or a knowing, intimate glance. This works both ways, with either partner doing the whispering.
Why it works:
This pose is guaranteed to create genuine, unforced emotion. It’s playful, intimate, and full of life. It captures the private jokes and shared secrets that form the foundation of your relationship. The resulting photos are always dynamic and filled with personality, a perfect antidote to static, formal poses.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Actually whisper something! It can be an inside joke, a compliment, or something completely silly like, ‘I think I left the oven on.’ The goal is to elicit a real reaction, so have fun with it!
Pose 7: Focusing on the Details
How to achieve the look:
This isn’t one single pose, but a series of detail shots. The photographer can focus on your intertwined hands (not on the belly, but resting on a leg or held between you). They can capture a shot of your feet walking together. If you have a special piece of jewelry, like an engagement ring, a close-up of your hands can be beautiful. Or perhaps a shot of the partner’s hand resting protectively on the small of their partner’s back.
Why it works:
These shots add texture and depth to your photo gallery. They tell a story without showing your faces, focusing on the small, tangible symbols of your connection and journey. They break up a series of portraits and add an artistic, editorial feel to your collection.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Relax your hands. Instead of stiffly placing them, let them rest naturally. Gently trace a pattern on your partner’s arm or softly squeeze their hand. Natural gestures are always more photogenic.
Pose 8: The Joyful Dip or Swirl
How to achieve the look:
For the more adventurous couple, introduce some dance-like movement. The partner can securely hold the pregnant partner and gently dip her back, supporting her completely. Or, they can hold hands and she can spin or swirl outwards. This should be done carefully and only if the pregnant partner feels stable and comfortable.
Why it works:
It’s pure, unadulterated joy. This pose is all about movement, laughter, and trust. It creates photos that are full of energy and romance. A flowing dress works particularly well here, as it adds to the sense of beautiful, sweeping motion.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Communication and safety are paramount. Make sure you have a firm grip and solid footing. The dip should be gentle and supportive, not dramatic. The goal is a moment of carefree fun, so keep it light and check in with your partner to ensure she feels secure.
Pose 9: The Quiet Moment from Behind
How to achieve the look:
Both partners stand next to each other, with their backs to the camera, looking out at a beautiful view—a sunset, a mountain range, a cityscape. They can be holding hands, or have their arms around each other’s waists. The focus is on them as a unit, facing their future together.
Why it works:
This is a highly symbolic and evocative pose. It’s about looking forward, together, to all that is to come. By not showing your faces, the image becomes more universal and allows the viewer (and yourselves, years from now) to project their own feelings of hope and anticipation onto it. It’s quiet, powerful, and deeply meaningful.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
Stand close enough that you are physically connected. Let your shoulders touch. This subtle physical link is what shows your emotional unity, even from behind.
Pose 10: Just Be
How to achieve the look:
Find a comfortable spot and just be together. Cuddle up on a couch, lie in the grass, or lean against a tree. Forget the camera is there and just talk, hold each other, and exist in the moment. Let the photographer move around you, capturing the real, in-between moments.
Why it works:
This is the ultimate ‘non-pose.’ It gives you permission to be yourselves. The most cherished photos are often the ones you didn’t even know were being taken—the quiet smile, the gentle touch, the way you look at each other when you think no one is watching. These are the images that will truly encapsulate this time in your lives.
Pro-Tip for Dads/Partners:
This is a great time to bring a prop that is meaningful to you—not a baby prop, but something from your life together. A book you both love, a guitar, or even just a cup of tea. Interacting with something familiar will help you relax and be yourselves.
Your love story is unique. Your maternity photos should be, too. Embrace the imperfect, the candid, and the beautifully real.
Conclusion
Your maternity photoshoot is more than just an item to check off your pre-baby to-do list. It’s an opportunity to pause and honor the incredible journey you’re on together. It’s a celebration of your partnership, your strength, and the family you are building. By moving away from forced smiles and cliché poses, you create space to capture the authentic, messy, beautiful love that is uniquely yours.
We hope this guide has inspired you to approach your photoshoot with confidence and excitement. Choose the poses that resonate with you, communicate openly with your photographer, and most importantly, focus on each other. Years from now, when you look back at these images, you won’t just see a baby bump. You will see the laughter, the quiet strength, the shared dreams, and the unwavering partnership that started it all.
To take these ideas with you, be sure to download or print our complete Posing Guide. It’s a simple, easy-to-reference checklist you can share with your photographer to ensure you capture the moments that matter most.
