Babybauch photos: how to shoot a monthly bump series yourself

Why the same shot makes all the difference

A single bump photo captures one moment. It's only the full series that shows what happens over nine months. For that to work, as little as possible should change between shots. If the spot, light, distance and clothing stay the same, almost the only thing that changes in the picture is your belly. That's exactly what makes the series so striking later on, even though each individual photo might seem unremarkable on its own.

You don't need a studio or an expensive camera for this. A phone is enough. What matters more than the gear is repeating the same small decisions, month after month.

The right spot and the right light

Pick one fixed spot in your home where you'll take the photo every month. A plain wall without a pattern works well, since it doesn't distract and won't change if you rearrange furniture. A nearby window is helpful too: daylight is softer than artificial light and doesn't distort skin tone and colours as much.

Try to shoot at a similar time of day each month, say mid morning or just before dinner. Light shifts a lot over the course of a day, and a photo taken at nine in the morning looks quite different from one taken at seven in the evening. If you pick a time that already fits naturally into your routine, the ritual becomes easier to keep up, and you're less likely to forget it.

Distance and angle

The distance to the camera determines whether the photos will line up well later on. The simplest trick is a mark on the floor, a strip of painter's tape works fine. You stand on the same spot each time, and the camera stays at the same height and angle. A small tripod or phone stand helps too, since you won't have to guess the position freshly each month.

Shoot from the side, not head on. From the side, the curve of your belly is easiest to see as the months go by. One hand resting on your belly, or both hands in a similar position, also gives the series something recognisable to hold onto.

Clothing and pose

Wear similar clothing for the photos if you can, for example always a close fitting top or the same high waisted skirt. It doesn't need to be the exact same piece, but the cut and colour should be alike. Loose clothing hides the change, while fitted clothing shows it more clearly.

Repetition helps with your pose too. Stand the same way each time, with the same foot slightly forward or both feet parallel, whatever feels comfortable to you. The less you have to think through fresh each time, the easier it is to keep the project going over months, even on days when you're tired and not really in the mood for photos.

Technique: self timer, tripod or a partner

If no one's around to take the photo, a self timer comes in handy. Most phone cameras have one built in, often with a three or ten second delay. A small tripod, which costs just a few euros, makes things far easier than propping your phone against the wall.

If a partner is taking the photo, agree beforehand on the height and distance you want, ideally using the previous month's photo as a reference. That way the series stays consistent even if different people end up taking the shot.

When in the month to take the photo

Pick a fixed day, for instance always at the end of the pregnancy week that matches your due date, or simply the same calendar day each month. Some people use the day of their midwife appointment, others the first Sunday of the month. What matters is having a rhythm you can remember without having to think about it too much.

Some pregnancy apps, including Lunabia, let you save a bump photo for each month right in the app and show the series side by side later on. That doesn't replace your own care with light and distance, but it does help you avoid missing a photo and end up with a complete series.

What you can still adjust afterwards

If one photo turns out brighter or darker than the others, your phone's editing tools can usually even that out. A slight brightness or contrast adjustment is often all it takes, without reaching for heavy filters. Strong filters change skin tone and proportions, which tends to look jarring rather than cohesive across a whole series.

If you like, you can arrange all the photos side by side at the end, sorted chronologically, so the progression is visible at a glance. This is especially worthwhile for the final weeks before birth, when the change from month to month is greatest and the difference from the very first photo is most striking.