A hat does two jobs in a maternity session that people rarely expect. It frames your face, and it gives your hands somewhere to go, which is the thing most expecting mothers feel awkward about in front of a camera. Below are fifteen fall outfits I've built around a hat, from a velvet gown with a wide brim to overalls and a newsboy cap. I've kept the focus on what the hat and the clothes do together: where the bump shows, what goes on your feet for a field or orchard, and which brim shape suits which outfit. Pick the setting first, then the outfit; the hat follows from both.
Keeping Your Eyes Out of the Brim's Shadow
The most common problem I see with hats in outdoor portraits is a dark band across the eyes. Any brim wider than a couple of inches will throw shade onto the upper face when the sun is high, and in the photo your eyes look like two dark holes. A few habits prevent it.
- Shoot in the last hour or two before sunset, when the light comes in low and slides under the brim
- Tilt the hat slightly back on your head for close portraits, and wear it level only for full-length frames
- On a sunny midday, use open shade like the edge of a tree line rather than direct sun
- Lift your chin a little more than feels natural; the camera reads it as relaxed, not proud
Caps and berets avoid the problem entirely, which is why I suggest them to anyone booking an early afternoon slot. A wide felt brim rewards you with drama, but it asks for softer light.
1. Rust Maternity Maxi Dress With Felt Hat
Rust is one of the few colors that looks warm against yellow leaves without disappearing into them. I'd choose a wrap or empire-waist maxi for this, since both define the bump and leave you room to breathe. A camel or chocolate felt hat keeps the palette in the same family; a black hat here would feel heavy. Brown ankle boots, small gold earrings and one bracelet finish it. A flowing skirt is worth showing in a slow walk. Holding the brim with one hand and the bump with the other is a pose that feels natural even for people who hate posing. Shoot it near sunset, when the low light warms the rust even further.
2. Cream Sweater Dress With Camel Fedora
Cream is a risky color in bright sun, because it can blow out to plain white, so I like it best on an overcast day or a shaded tree-lined path. A ribbed maternity midi with real stretch follows the bump and still lets you sit. Add a camel fedora, taupe knee-high boots and a brown crossbody that comes off for close portraits. A long camel coat worn open frames the shape. The brown pieces are what stop the cream from looking washed out against orange and red leaves. Stand slightly sideways with one knee soft, then try a candid walk, eyes down, fingers on the fedora brim.
3. Burgundy Velvet Maternity Gown With Wide-Brim Hat
This is the most formal look on the list, and the wide brim needs a gown with enough weight to balance it. Burgundy velvet does that, and it photographs with real depth in soft outdoor light. Look for long sleeves, a defined waist and a skirt you can walk in. Low block-heel boots, fine gold jewelry and a plain manicure are enough. I'd choose a hat with almost no trim; a big band or feather fights with the velvet pile. The thing I always check with a wide brim is the shadow line across the eyes, so this one wants open shade rather than direct sun. Pose seated on a bench, then in a standing profile for the bump.
4. Olive Wrap Maternity Dress With Tan Rancher Hat
Olive is easy to love and easy to lose in a green field. Choose a shade a little darker or a little more yellow than the grass around you so it separates on camera. The wrap waist adjusts to a growing bump, and the V-neck leaves room for a small pendant. A tan rancher hat has a stiffer, flatter brim than a fedora, which gives this outfit a slightly Western edge, and cognac ankle boots plus an open cream cardigan keep it earthy. Shoot the cardigan on and off for two looks. A three-quarter pose with a hand under the bump suits it, and so does holding the rancher at your side.
5. Black Maternity Dress With Plaid Shacket And Fedora
Black is the color I'm cautious with in maternity photos, because a fitted black dress can flatten the bump into a silhouette with no detail. The plaid shacket solves that by adding a lighter edge on each side. Wear it open, in camel, rust or muted burgundy, over a midi or maxi. A black or taupe fedora and suede ankle boots pull it together, with small hoops and a fine chain. It suits a city park, brick wall or country road. Get one front-facing frame with both hands on the bump and one walking shot that shows the whole outfit.
6. Floral Maternity Maxi Dress With Wool Hat
Pattern works in maternity photos as long as the scale stays small to medium; a large floral stretched over the bump distorts as the fabric pulls. I look for autumn tones in the print, like burgundy, mustard and forest green, then pick a solid wool hat that matches one of the quieter colors rather than the loudest. Brown boots, simple drop earrings and a slim belt above the bump complete it. No patterned scarf, no busy bag. An orchard or a late-season garden suits the colors. A slow spin shows the skirt, and a profile under a bright tree gives you a softer frame.
7. Maternity Jeans And Cardigan With Brown Fedora
Some of my favorite maternity images come from sessions where nobody wore a gown. Jeans with a supportive panel, a fitted ivory top and a long oatmeal cardigan feel like you on a good weekend. Straight or slim legs keep the line under the bump clean; wide legs can make the lower half look heavier in a full-length frame. Brown ankle boots and a medium-brim fedora suit it, with a pendant or small hoops near the face. Leave the cardigan open and push the sleeves up a little. A porch or a weathered fence is backdrop enough. A thumb in one pocket and a hand under the bump is the pose.
8. Maternity Overalls With Turtleneck And Newsboy Cap
Overalls are comfortable and playful, and they're the outfit I suggest for families with toddlers who won't sit still. A fitted cream turtleneck under dark denim or brown overalls shows the bump at the sides without exposing it. The tweed newsboy cap sits close to the head, so it never shades your eyes the way a brim can. Lace-up ankle boots and small studs finish it. If you're petite, a slight roll at the hem keeps the legs from looking cut off; a relaxed leg gives more room through the hips. Pumpkin fields and barns are natural settings. Hand in the side pocket, other hand on the bump, or a slow walk through leaves looking away.
9. Plaid Midi Skirt With Fitted Sweater And Beret
The elastic waistband is what makes this outfit work: it sits above the bump, and a fine-knit sweater smooths down over it without bunching. Heavy knits add bulk here, so keep the sweater thin. A wool beret is the hat I choose when a brim would feel too much; it adds polish without casting any shadow. Opaque tights, low-heeled ankle boots and a small structured bag complete it. Burgundy, forest green, camel and cream are safe colors for the plaid. A café front, stone walkway or tree-lined street suits it. An angled stance shows the bump; a bench portrait shows skirt, boots and beret together.
10. Lace Maternity Dress With Floppy Hat
A floppy hat is the least stable hat in wind, so before I plan this one, I check the forecast. On a calm day it pairs well with a long-sleeve lace maxi in ivory, taupe, muted blush or cinnamon. The lace must be lined, or sunlight will show straight through it. A gently fitted bodice and flowing skirt keep the shape visible. Neutral boots and delicate earrings are enough; lace already gives you detail at the neckline. If the wind picks up, pin the hat through your hair or carry it for some frames. Backlight shows off the lace, but make sure your face still has light on it, then finish with a side pose, hands above and below the bump.
11. Mustard Maternity Dress With Brown Felt Hat
Mustard is bold, and it needs the right backdrop. Against red leaves or dark evergreens it glows; against yellow foliage it vanishes, so pick your spot for contrast first. A long-sleeve midi or maxi with an empire waist and a soft skirt flatters the bump. A deep brown felt hat and chocolate ankle boots ground the color, with plain gold accessories. If the dress feels loose, a slim belt above the bump adds definition, but nothing that pinches. Keep everything else neutral. A walk, a laugh or a quiet look down at the bump keeps the bright color from feeling staged.
12. Chocolate Knit Set With Baker Boy Cap
A knit set is the modern choice for anyone who doesn't want a gown. The ribbed top and high-waisted midi skirt stretch over or under the bump, whichever is comfortable that week. Tonal chocolate can photograph as one dark block, so the long beige coat and cream ankle boots matter; they put light at the edges of the frame. A camel baker boy cap adds shape without a brim. Pale stone, clean architecture or a minimal studio suit it best. Angle one shoulder to the camera with a hand under the bump, then drape the coat over your shoulders for a second look.
13. Denim Maternity Dress With Suede Rancher Hat
Denim feels right for early fall, when it's still warm enough to skip a coat. Choose soft chambray or a medium wash with buttons, long sleeves and a waist seam above the bump. A camel suede rancher hat and tan knee-high boots suit it; keep in mind that suede spots in rain, so this is a dry-day outfit. Add a leather belt only if the dress allows it. Small turquoise studs or silver hoops add a little contrast. An orchard, barn or rural path all fit. Skip distressed denim, logos and big pockets, which pull the eye. Walk holding the skirt lightly, lean on a fence, or hold the hat at waist height in close portraits.
14. Ivory Maternity Maxi Dress With Wool Cape And Hat
The wool cape is what makes this outfit practical on a cold morning, and it gives the ivory dress a storybook shape. Choose a simple fitted or empire-waist maxi, then a camel, taupe or soft gray cape that falls open around the bump. If you're petite, keep the cape short and light; a large one swallows a small frame and hides the bump entirely. A matching felt hat, neutral boots and pearl or gold earrings finish it. Push the cape behind your shoulders for some frames. Pale grass, misty trees and neutral stone suit the soft palette, and swapping between hat on and hat in hand gives you variety from one outfit.
15. Burnt Orange Jumpsuit With Cream Hat
Jumpsuits are underrated for maternity sessions; a wide leg balances the bump, and you never have to manage a skirt in wind. Look for a wrap-front or empire waist. If the neckline is low or the morning is cold, a fitted cream turtleneck underneath works. The cream felt hat repeats the turtleneck color, which ties the top and bottom of the frame together. Taupe block-heel boots and geometric gold earrings finish it. A cropped beige jacket can go on between shots, worn open. Pale walls, dried grass or green woods all suit burnt orange. Put one foot forward to show the wide leg, then turn sideways and frame the bump with both hands.
Measuring for a Hat That Stays On in Wind
Hat sizes are based on head circumference, measured with a soft tape about a finger's width above the ears and across the middle of the forehead, where the hat will actually sit. If you fall between sizes, go up and add a strip of hat sizing tape inside the sweatband; a hat that grips too tightly gives you a headache halfway through the session and leaves a red line on your forehead.
Felt and wool hats keep their shape through a breezy afternoon. A floppy brim with no internal wire will fold and flap, which looks charming in one frame and frustrating in twenty. If your location is exposed, like a hilltop or an open field, choose a stiffer rancher or fedora, or bring two bobby pins to anchor the hat to your hair from inside.
Hair That Works Under a Brim
A high bun or ponytail pushes a hat up and off balance, so I plan hair with the hat in mind. Loose waves, a low side braid or a low bun at the nape all sit comfortably underneath. Put the hat on before the final touch-up so you can fix anything it flattens, and keep a small brush in your bag for the frames where you take it off.
Try the Hat With the Outfit Before Session Day
Every outfit here, from the velvet gown to the overalls, comes together only when the hat, shoes and layers belong to the same palette and the same mood. Pick colors that stand apart from your location and fabrics that stretch or drape comfortably. The hat should fit snugly, sit back enough to light your eyes, and support the outfit rather than take it over. Pack flat shoes, wear the full look at home once, and ask for both posed and candid frames. If you feel like yourself in it, that comes through in the pictures.
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