Should You Add Your Partner and Kids to Your Maternity Session? (Honest Answer)

This is one of the most common questions I get, usually phrased as: "Is it weird if it's just me? Should I include my partner?" or the opposite: "My partner doesn't really like photos, but should I push it anyway?"

The answer, like most things in maternity photography, is: it depends on what you actually want — and you're allowed to choose.

Here's my honest take.

The Case for Including Your Partner

Some of the most powerful maternity images I've ever made are of a couple together. Not because the pregnancy needs a witness — it's complete on its own — but because the images capture a relationship in a specific, once-in-a-lifetime state.

The way a partner looks at a pregnant mama. The hands placed over the belly from behind. The foreheads touching. These are moments that show this is us, at this time, in this love — and years from now, they're the images that matter in a way that's genuinely different from the solo shots.

Partners who "don't like being in photos" almost always relax within a few minutes. I've seen it hundreds of times. My job is to make them as comfortable as the mama — and by the end of the session, the hesitant partner is usually the one saying "can we do one more?"

My recommendation: if you have a partner, include them for at least part of the session. Even 15–20 minutes of couple shots alongside your solo mama time gives your gallery something that solo images simply can't.

The Case for Solo Mama Photos

Solo maternity portraits are their own genre — and they're stunning. The focus is entirely on you, your body, the shape you've grown into. There's an intimacy and a power in a solo maternity portrait that a couple image changes rather than improves.

If you're a single parent, if your partner is travelling or working, if you simply want the session to be your time — solo is not a lesser choice. It's a different and equally beautiful one.

Some mamas do an entire solo session for themselves and then a separate family session later. That's a completely valid approach.

Including Older Children and Siblings

My honest take: yes, include them — but plan the session structure carefully.

Toddlers and young children have a limited window of cooperation. The key is to bring them in after the adult/mama shots, not before. That way, if they have a spectacular meltdown, your best images are already captured.

The sibling shots are always magical to me. A toddler leaning against mama's belly, hands on the bump, face a mix of curious and slightly bewildered. These images telegraph the before-and-after of your family's story in a single frame.

Keep expectations loose. The image you'll treasure might be a candid moment rather than the posed one you planned — the toddler pressing an ear to your belly, looking up at you — and those happen best when you're not forcing it.

Practical Structure: How I Handle Mixed Sessions

For sessions including partners and/or kids, my typical structure:

1. Start with solo mama shots — you fresh, hair and makeup on point, nobody else's energy to manage
2. Bring in the partner for couple shots
3. Add kids last, for a shorter, more spontaneous set
4. Optional: end with one last solo image to close the gallery

This structure means no matter what happens with the kids, the gallery is complete. And it means you open and close the story as the protagonist — which is exactly right.

FAQ

My partner really doesn't want to be in photos. Should I push it?
I'd gently encourage you to try — most reluctant partners come around once they're actually there. But ultimately, it's your session and your family. A partner who's visibly uncomfortable in photos won't give you the images you're hoping for.

My toddler is going through a difficult phase. Should I skip the sibling shots?
I've seen "difficult phases" produce some of the most memorable gallery images — because real, messy, human moments often photograph better than staged perfection. That said, if your child has a very low tolerance for anything photo-related, it might be worth discussing whether to include them.

Can I add my partner as a session add-on if they're not in the base package?
Partner inclusion and family shots are available as add-ons for certain packages and included in others. Check the package details here.

Questions about how to structure your session? Send me a WhatsApp message and I'll help you figure it out.

Fernanda Bautzer · Maternity & Family Photography · Calgary, AB.