This session was shot by GMP founder and Principal Photographer Elizabeth Millar
Lavender Pregnancy Maternity Photoshoot with Retro Vibes
I cannot stop thinking about Lauren and Kashif’s lavender pregnancy maternity photos I had the honor of capturing recently. They flew from New York City to Sarasota, Florida, specifically for this shoot. They had a vision, a vibe, and zero interest in anything that felt generic or forced. What we made together over the course of one day—across four completely different scenes—is some of my favorite work I’ve ever shot.
Lauren & Kashif’s IVF Journey & Maternity Photo Inspiration
Lauren is an event planner based in NYC. She works with photographers for a living, which means she knows exactly what she’s looking for—and exactly what she’s not. When she started searching for someone to document this pregnancy, she did her research. She scheduled multiple consultations. After ours, she canceled every other one.
I’ll let Lauren explain how she found me and knew I was the photographer for her:
“I did extensive research and found Elizabeth. I scheduled a consultation and described my vision. I explained that I didn’t want anything too intimate, as we are not in a romantic relationship. Yet I wanted a sense of love and warmth. Not only did she explain how our vision could be achieved technically (film vs digital), but she also made suggestions for wardrobe, setting and scenes. She was so passionate and motivated. Her energy made it clear that there was no contest.”
She was looking for a creative partner—and that’s exactly what this became. A few weeks later, she and Kashif boarded a plane and flew south.
What Is a Lavender Pregnancy?
A lavender pregnancy refers to a pregnancy between two people who aren’t in a romantic relationship—close friends, chosen family, or co-parents who deeply love and support each other without being a couple. Lauren and Kashif’s story is a beautiful journey of two close friends who genuinely care about each other and the life they’re bringing into the world together, and it shows in every single frame.
The Vision: Retro Style, Super 8, and a Warm Vintage Vibes
From our very first conversation, Lauren was clear: she wanted warmth and love, but not romance. She wanted something that felt personal and a little unexpected. She brought inspiration images, and we started building a concept together.
We landed on a retro photoshoot aesthetic—rich color, bold patterns, a vintage sensibility that felt more like a film still than a traditional maternity session. One of our best decisions was incorporating a Super 8-style camera as an actual prop. Kashif filmed Lauren throughout the shoot, which both added to the visual story and made the whole thing feel more candid and natural.
A Retro Maternity Photoshoot in Four Distinct Scenes
We chose a unique Central Florida photoshoot location that gave us a vintage playground. The Magical Artful Living Space in Sarasota’s Whitfield neighborhood is a fully curated guesthouse—every corner designed with aesthetics in mind, packed with color, texture, and natural light. Between the kitchen, living room, backyard, and pool, we had four completely different backdrops without ever leaving the property. We also planned four outfit changes, one per scene, so every look would match the energy of the space we were shooting in.
Scene 1: The Kitchen
We started in the kitchen, and honestly, it set the tone for everything that followed. Lauren wore a rich burgundy polka-dot set, and it’s one of the best maternity photoshoot outfits I’ve seen for this kind of shoot. The warm tile backdrop, the mint kettle—it all came together into something that felt straight out of the 1970s. Kashif stood across from her with the Super 8 camera raised, filming her as she cradled her belly. Tender, silly, and cinematic. These are the kinds of maternity photos poses that don’t feel posed at all.
Scene 2: The Living Room
The living room gave us a totally different energy. Lauren changed into a black and white two-piece set and settled into the space’s colorful sofas—belly out, confident, completely owning it. Kashif leaned all the way into the retro music aesthetic we’d been dreaming of. This scene had so much personality. It was bold and a little editorial, the kind of maternity photo energy that’s more “album cover” than “baby announcement.”
Scene 3: The Back Yard
Then we took it outside. Lauren stepped into a flowy yellow knit dress and oversized sunglasses. Kashif’s “Daddio of the Patio” apron was perfect. The scene was a fun, sun-drenched, suburban retro vibe. These pregnancy photos outside had a completely different feel from what we’d done inside—loose and joyful, like a backyard hangout that happened to also be a maternity shoot.
Scene 4: The Pool
The pool was the finale, and it delivered. Lauren came out in a bold red bikini. Her belly was front and center in the pool, a fried egg pool float bobbing beside her (all the eggs in the session were a nod to their IVF journey), the Florida sky wide and blue. This is what portraits can look like when everyone is truly having a good time.
Vintage Maternity Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
This session is a masterclass in choosing wardrobe with intention. Lauren wore four completely different looks, and every single one worked because it was chosen to match the energy of the scene, not just to fit a bump. The throughline wasn’t a color palette or a style rule—it was vibe.
Hair and makeup
Every look was pulled together by Haley Finegan Hair and Makeup, and her work was a huge part of why the retro aesthetic landed so well. Lauren looked polished and camera-ready through all four scenes—no small feat for a full shoot day with multiple outfit changes in the Florida heat.
Honest Reaction
Lauren and Kashif recorded their reaction to seeing the final photo gallery in real time. I love seeing their joy at how I captured their lavender pregnancy maternity photos!
Lauren summed up this fun experience in her own words:
“When I initially opened the gallery I squealed so loudly. Elizabeth COMPLETELY understood our vision and brought such a creative and personal touch to each frame. Her ability to capture the beauty of every moment was stunning. We teared up with every click. The attention to detail and creative eye made each shot feel like a cover shot! When we showed our friends and family, they were in absolute awe. The photo shoot really made me connect with my belly and baby as a first time mom. She created an incredibly memorable and touching experience for my partner and I. Every time I look at the photos I get emotional. I cannot say enough about her, the results and the experience in general.”
That’s exactly how your maternity photoshoot is supposed to make you feel.
Looking for a Central Florida Photographer for Your Own Stylish Maternity Photos?
Not every pregnancy looks the same. Not every family looks the same. And not every maternity shoot needs to. Whether you’re navigating a lavender pregnancy, an IVF journey, a solo pregnancy, or just a story that doesn’t fit the traditional mold—you deserve photos that actually reflect who you are and what this moment means to you. That’s exactly what I’m here for.
Browse more maternity work here and fill out my inquiry form and let’s start talking about your session.
