Best Maternity Photographer Toronto: What to Look For, How to Prepare & What to Expect
When you search 'best maternity photographer,' you're probably looking for a few specific things. You’re hoping to be seen the way you want to be seen. You want to be reassured that your photographer will capture you at your best angle and make you comfortable. You want to feel like you can trust them with your body, your styling, your hair, your mood…your everything. And of course, there’s a LOT to be said about the imagery itself. You want to be captured as beautifully as the women you see in their work.
Here's what I've learned shooting hundreds of maternity sessions across Toronto and Montreal—and what you should expect from any photographer you book.
Discover the Best Maternity Photographer in Toronto for you.
1. WHAT MATTERS
How TO EVALUATE IF A PHOTOGRAPHER IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Editing Style & Consistency
A photographers editing is their signature. It’s the difference between a nice photo, and a polished art piece. Look through their gallery. Do the images feel cohesive? Can you identify their color palette, their approach to skin tone, their overall vibe? If their gallery looks disjointed, you won't know what you're actually getting on shoot day.
How They Direct Subjects
Here’s how to tell: If all their subjects looks amazing, it’s less likely that the subjects know what they’re doing and more likely that the photographer knows how to direct them. Look at hands, feet, angles…The best photographers make direction look invisible. You should see variety in posing, where people are looking, how they stand. Real direction should look effortless and varied.
Their Approach to Styling vs. Your Comfort
Do you see yourself in what their clients are wearing? Does their aesthetic match yours? There's a reason we say "girls that get it, get it"—when a photographer's styling vision aligns with yours, you feel comfortable. And comfort is everything. When you're comfortable, you look like yourself.
How They Use Location & Atmosphere
A skilled photographer doesn’t just pick pretty backgrounds. They “compose” them. Can you see how they use light, space, and furniture "(or lack thereof) to fame their subjects? No matter where they shoot, are they intentional with their environment? A photographer that understands location, furniture, negative space and atmosphere is someone who knows how to make any space work for you.
How They Make You Feel
Check out their website and read their vibe. Does their language resonate? Then head to their Google reviews. What stands out about how clients describe working with them? Look for words like "comfortable," "safe," "trusting." That matters as much as the photos.
2. HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR MATERNITY SHOOT
THE WORK IS IN THE DETAILS, SO THAT IN THE SHOOT YOU CAN LET IT GO
Timing
“When is the best time to shoot maternity?” I get this question ALL the time. Based on my personal experience as both a mother and a photographer, the sweet spot for maternity is around 30-34 weeks. At this point, your bump is beautifully defined, and you’re still comfortable enough to move, pose, and enjoy the experience.
Here's the thing though: reach out a month or two in advance. I know sometimes the decision to do maternity photos comes later in pregnancy—and that's okay. But the closer you cut it, the harder it is to find an available photographer. I hate having to turn people away because my calendar is full.
Make a Mood Board
Where the intention meets the vision. Start by creating a collection of imagery. I prefer Pinterest boards as you can upload pins from your phone or computer and also pin from all over the internet. Not to mention, Pinterest’s algorithm is pretty dang intelligent so it will start recommending you similar imagery once you get going on a board. It doesn’t need to be organized to start off, just start and it will distill as you go.
Here's the important part: Make sure your photographer's existing work matches your mood board aesthetic. If you're saving studio-produced, editorial looks, your photographer should already be doing that work. Don't expect someone whose style is natural and candid to suddenly produce something highly styled and produced.
A detailed mood board is THE BEST way to communicate your vision to your photographer. That being said, you may not have any specific image ideas in your mind. And that’s ok too. Your photographer should be able to help you define your vibe.
What to wear
Your photographer may offer styling pdfs or have a wardrobe (I offer both). Likely, they have a style established and can help you achieve that look. What you’re looking for is if they can support you to get the look. If you admire their eye for style, lean on that expertise. A stylist typically charges $250+ per client, if your photographer offers styling and delivers beautiful results, that’s a huge asset.
Ask About Logistics
Your photographer should have clear answers to: Can I bring my dog? Do I need hair and makeup? How long is the session? How many images are included? If they don't, ask anyway. This is exactly why you have the pre-shoot call.
3. The Session Experience
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE & DURING A SHOOT
Your Booking Process
When you reach out, ask about how your photographer works. Here's mine: After discussing pricing, process, and availability, we pick a date and time. I request a deposit to hold your spot and send over the contract and invoice. Then I follow up with a call to get to know you, talk through your mood board and vision, and answer any questions. By the end of that call, you'll know exactly what to expect.
HOW DO WE POSE ( AND HOW TO NOT BE AwKWARD)
Direction should honor your body, your comfort, and what you actually want these photos to feel like. Your mood board is inspiration, but real direction is conversational. "This isn't working for your frame—could you shift your hand here?" "Try lengthening your neck." "Lift your chin slightly to the right." The best direction is organic and instinctual; it finds your comfort first, then adjusts for the camera if needed.
I also find that demonstrating with my own body before asking you to do it makes the direction clear.
And lets not forget about how important angles are. You could be doing everything right posture-wise, but if your photographer isn't capturing you from a flattering angle, something feels off. This is the skill that separates good photographers from great ones—and it's honestly undervalued.
Everyone wants a natural, candid capture. And this requires you to breathe, and remind your body to move and make adjustments.
If you’re feeling nervous about posing that’s 100% normal, almost everyone I work with says “I need help, I’m super awkward”. It's not about being naturally photogenic. It's about a photographer who makes you feel comfortable through genuine connection and clear, detailed direction. That's an art in itself.
SHOOT DAY - Minute by Minute: What actually happens (on set with me!)
First 10 minutes: We settle in. Take a look at our wardrobe, remind ourselves of the plan we set out on our call for looks and goals.
Minutes 10–25: Shooting starts, I make sure your outfit is sitting well and your hair is perfect. It's conversational. I'm directing you (where to stand, how to hold the bump, where to look) but you're not performing, movement is great, you can trust my guidance and eye. I show you a preview of some of the photos so you can see how you look, and I continue to do this throughout the shoot.
Minutes 25–45: You’re probably a bit more comfortable and confident now. We move through poses, areas in the studio, or outfit changes—whatever we’ve planned, I communicate when the moment is right to change positions and outfits.
Minutes 45–60: We check in with the plan and do the last look, make sure we got all the key shots you wanted.
Everyone is always so surprised at how fast an hour goes by at the end. You can leave knowing you were part of the process, you saw most of the images as we shot them, you felt held by clear guidance and my energy, and you can feel genuinely good about what we created.
Ready?
The best maternity photographer for you is someone whose work speaks to you, whose vibe feels right, and who makes you feel safe and seen. If you get that feeling from me, I'd love to work with you.
Welcome!
I’m Ashley, a Toronto/Montreal based photographer. Curious about services? Check out my about page.