A Byron Bay Babymoon Maternity Photoshoot at Belongil Beach

Before there were three, there were two dreaming of this next chapter.

Cheyenne and Aaron came to Byron Bay for their babymoon: a few days away together before their baby arrived and life changed in all the wonderful, unknown ways it was about to.

They planned a relaxed maternity photoshoot at Belongil Beach while they were here. With the beach directly in front of Elements of Byron, it was an especially easy location to include in their stay: natural photographs together on the coast, gentle direction and no formal posing.

They didn’t need their maternity photographs to feel like a production. No elaborate set-up. No big performance for the camera. Just the two of them, already away from the noise of normal life, making space to notice where they were and what they were waiting for.

That is what I love about photographing a maternity session during a Byron Bay babymoon. The photos become part of the trip itself: an hour together, somewhere beautiful, before you go back to slow mornings, long lunches and doing very little at all.

Maternity photos that feel like part of your babymoon

A babymoon gives you something everyday life often doesn’t: time.

Time to be together without rushing to the next appointment. Time to talk about the baby, wonder who they will be and let the reality of this next chapter settle in. A maternity photoshoot can fit naturally into that space.

It doesn’t need to take over your day. Most of my maternity sessions are around an hour, with a little extra time allowed for walking, changing outfits or simply moving slowly. We usually meet near sunrise or in the softer light before sunset, then the rest of your day is still yours.

And your partner is not an extra in the photographs. This is their story too.

Cheyenne and Aaron’s session was about the two of them waiting together. The way he held her. The way they laughed. The quiet moments between them when neither was looking at me. Yes, we photographed her beautiful changing body, but we also photographed the relationship that existed before their family grew.

Why Belongil Beach worked beautifully for their maternity photos

We met at Belongil Beach, on the quieter northern side of Byron Bay and directly in front of Elements of Byron. For Cheyenne and Aaron, that meant their maternity photos could fit easily into their babymoon without spending a large part of the day travelling to and from a session location.

The day wasn’t the warm, sun-soaked Byron Bay afternoon people imagine when planning a coastal holiday. It was cold, and getting into the water was very quickly taken off the agenda.

But good maternity photographs don’t depend on perfect weather or recreating a picture we planned in advance.

We worked with what the day gave us. Cheyenne and Aaron stayed close, which was exactly what the weather called for anyway. We used the open beach and soft coastal light, then moved into the green around us for a second part of the session. The change gave their gallery two distinct feelings without turning the shoot into something complicated.

Their session felt as easy and natural as their session looked, fresh off their drive from the Sunshine Coast and then stepping into a laid back easy maternity session. No dressing up required , we talked and I joked about Aarons name ( you know the meme? A-Aron, IYKYK. I’m glad they found me funny and we joked about baby names too.

Nothing needed to be forced. I gave them enough direction that they never had to wonder what to do with their hands, then allowed space for them to settle into each other.

That balance matters to me. Natural doesn’t mean leaving you unsupported in front of a camera. It means gently guiding you into something that feels comfortable, then photographing what unfolds when you stop thinking about being photographed. It actually feels like a conversation but Im taking pictures

Why have maternity photographs during your Byron Bay babymoon?

You can absolutely have maternity photos at home. But there is something lovely about doing them while you are already away together.

You have stepped outside the ordinary rhythm of work, appointments, preparing the house and getting everything ready for the baby. You are somewhere chosen for rest. You may already be dressing for dinner, walking the beach and taking photographs of one another on your phones. A professional session becomes one meaningful part of the experience rather than another job waiting on a long pregnancy to-do list.

Byron Bay also gives us options. We can use the movement and openness of the beach, find something quieter and more protected just outside the centre of town, or choose greenery and softer landscapes if that feels more like you.

The location matters, but it is not the beautiful thing I am photographing. You are.

Fitting a maternity photoshoot into your Byron Bay itinerary

If you are visiting Byron Bay for only a few days, I recommend booking your maternity session before you arrive.

That gives us time to choose a location, talk about what you would like your photographs to feel like and work around anything already booked—whether that is dinner, a spa treatment or a very firm plan to spend most of the afternoon beside the pool.

Where possible, it is helpful to schedule the session earlier in your stay. Coastal weather can change, and an earlier booking may leave us another opportunity if conditions become genuinely unsuitable.

Sunrise can be beautiful for couples who want quieter beaches and the rest of the day completely free. Sunset suits those who would prefer a slow morning and don’t mind planning dinner around the session. I look at more than the sunset time: wind direction, tides, cloud, beach exposure, privacy and accessibility all affect which location will work best on your date.

Where you are staying can help us choose well. Belongil Beach is particularly convenient for couples staying at Elements of Byron, as the resort sits directly beside the beach. It offers a more relaxed coastal setting while still being close to Byron Bay.

If you are staying in central Byron Bay, we may still choose a location a little outside the busiest part of town. The most recognisable beach is not automatically the best place for your photographs. I would rather give you enough privacy to relax than place you in the middle of a beautiful but crowded backdrop. My favourite being Broken Head , which wide with lots of space. And you can find a spot away from the crowds.

What should you pack for your maternity photos?

You do not need to fill your suitcase with clothing bought only for the photoshoot.

Bring something in which you feel comfortable and recognisably yourself. Fabric with movement can photograph beautifully near the coast, but a simple fitted dress, an open shirt, relaxed trousers or bare feet can work just as well. Your session does not need a dramatic maternity gown unless that is genuinely your style. I love bare bump and feel as though its a requirement for a beach shoot. A bikini or even an option to open a dress or top / kimono.

Once your booking is confirmed, I send guidance on clothing and what works well on camera. You are also welcome to send me photographs of your options before you travel. For a babymoon session, I would rather help you make something already in your suitcase work than add unnecessary shopping and luggage to your trip.

Do you need to know how to pose?

Absolutely not.

Most people tell me they feel awkward in photographs. You do not need to arrive knowing what to do, and I will not leave you standing in front of the ocean while I wait for something candid to magically happen.

I will guide you gently, where to stand, how to move and when to come closer. From there, the photos become less about holding a pose and more about being with the person you chose to build this life with.

Children, other family members and even dogs can be part of a maternity session, but a babymoon shoot with only the two of you can also be wonderfully simple.

When is the best time in pregnancy for a babymoon maternity session?

Maternity sessions are often photographed between approximately 28 and 36 weeks, when your bump is beautifully visible and you may still feel comfortable enough to walk and move.

There is no single correct week for everyone. Your health, travel plans, how your pregnancy is progressing and how you feel matter more than following a rigid rule. If you are uncertain, tell me your due date and travel dates when you enquire, and we can work out what is realistic.

For more on maternity sessions , how they work , when to book see my maternity information page here with information and FAQs

What happens if the Byron Bay weather changes?

I watch the forecast carefully, but I don’t make decisions from a single weather-app icon. Byron Bay and the surrounding coast can have very different conditions from one beach to another, and wind direction is often as important as the chance of rain.

We may adjust the exact location or meeting time if that gives us better conditions. If the weather is genuinely unsuitable, we will use the backup options agreed for your booking wherever possible.

Cheyenne and Aaron’s cold session is a good reminder that the day does not have to look perfect to become something beautiful. We didn’t get into the water. We didn’t need to. Their photographs were never really about the water.

They were about the two of them.

Planning your own Byron Bay babymoon maternity photoshoot

If you are coming to Byron Bay for your babymoon and would like to include maternity photographs in your trip, you can see more about my natural maternity photography across Byron Bay, the Northern Rivers and Tweed Coast.

Tell me your travel dates, where you are staying and roughly how many weeks pregnant you will be. I will help you choose a session time and location that fits your trip, and you will receive guidance before you arrive so it all feels easy.

You don’t need to create a polished version of this season for the camera.

Come as you are. Bring the person waiting beside you. We will photograph what is already here.

Check here to contact me and I’ll confirm availabilty , if you are wondering what packages include , visit my maternity photoshoot packages here