"How much does a maternity photoshoot cost?" is the single most common question we receive. The honest answer: it varies enormously — from ₹5,000 for a basic freelancer to ₹1,00,000+ for a luxury multi-day experience. But most women in India spend between ₹15,000 and ₹40,000 for a quality photoshoot that includes a professional photographer, hair and makeup, and a designer outfit.
This guide breaks down exactly where your money goes, what each component costs individually, and why all-inclusive packages almost always deliver better value than piecing everything together yourself. For comprehensive planning guidance on timing and budgeting your photoshoot, see our complete planning guide.
The complete cost breakdown
A maternity photoshoot has five core cost components. Here's what each one typically costs in a metro city like Mumbai, Delhi, or Bangalore:
| Component | Budget Range | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photographer (1–2 hours, 20–50 edited images) | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 | ₹10,000 – ₹20,000 | ₹25,000 – ₹50,000 |
| Hair & Makeup Artist | ₹2,000 – ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 – ₹7,000 | ₹8,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Outfit / Gown (rent or buy) | ₹1,500 – ₹3,000 (rent) | ₹3,000 – ₹6,000 (rent) | ₹8,000 – ₹25,000 (buy) |
| Location / Venue | ₹0 (public outdoor) | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 (studio) | ₹5,000 – ₹15,000 (luxury venue) |
| Accessories & Props | ₹0 – ₹500 | ₹500 – ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 |
| Total (DIY / piecing together) | ₹8,500 – ₹14,500 | ₹19,500 – ₹40,000 | ₹48,000 – ₹1,10,000 |
The budget range gets you a decent shoot if you're willing to do the research, coordination, and outfit sourcing yourself. The mid-range is where most women land — a good photographer, professional MUA, and a rented gown. Premium is for a magazine-quality experience with top-tier vendors and luxury settings.
Why all-inclusive packages save you money
When you book each vendor separately, you're paying retail for each component. All-inclusive packages negotiate bulk rates with photographers, MUAs, and venues, then pass those savings through to you. Here's the math:
| What You Get | DIY Cost (Mumbai) | Our Package Price | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential: 1hr shoot, 20 images, basic MUA, 1 gown | ₹14,000 – ₹18,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹2,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Signature: 2hr, 2 locations, 50 images, premium MUA, 2 gowns, couple shots | ₹32,000 – ₹42,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹7,000 – ₹17,000 |
| Luxe: Half-day, 3+ locations, 100+ images, reel, top MUA, 3 gowns, album | ₹65,000 – ₹90,000 | ₹50,000 | ₹15,000 – ₹40,000 |
Beyond the price savings, the convenience factor is significant. Coordinating a photographer, MUA, gown rental company, and venue separately means managing 4+ vendors, aligning schedules, handling deposits, and troubleshooting if something goes wrong. At 7–8 months pregnant, that's stress you don't need. All-inclusive packages handle all coordination through a single booking.
Plan your maternity photoshoot
Know the costs — now plan the details. Our guide covers timelines, what to wear, and how to prepare.
Read the Planning Guide →Cost by city
Pricing varies meaningfully across Indian cities, driven by photographer market rates, venue costs, and demand. Here's what you can expect to spend for a quality mid-range experience (photographer, MUA, gown) in each major city:
| City | Budget Shoot | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹10,000 – ₹15,000 | ₹20,000 – ₹35,000 | ₹50,000 – ₹1,00,000 |
| Delhi NCR | ₹8,000 – ₹12,000 | ₹18,000 – ₹30,000 | ₹40,000 – ₹80,000 |
| Bangalore | ₹10,000 – ₹14,000 | ₹18,000 – ₹30,000 | ₹40,000 – ₹75,000 |
| Hyderabad | ₹7,000 – ₹12,000 | ₹15,000 – ₹25,000 | ₹35,000 – ₹60,000 |
| Pune | ₹7,000 – ₹11,000 | ₹14,000 – ₹25,000 | ₹30,000 – ₹55,000 |
| Chennai | ₹7,000 – ₹11,000 | ₹14,000 – ₹25,000 | ₹30,000 – ₹55,000 |
| Tier 2 cities | ₹5,000 – ₹8,000 | ₹10,000 – ₹18,000 | ₹20,000 – ₹40,000 |
Mumbai and Delhi are the most expensive markets because of higher photographer rates and venue costs. Tier 2 cities like Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, and Chandigarh offer excellent value — talented photographers at significantly lower rates. If you're travelling to a tier 2 city during your pregnancy (visiting family, for instance), it's worth considering booking your shoot there.
Where to save and where to splurge
Invest in the photographer. This is the one thing that determines whether you'll love your photos or be disappointed. A skilled maternity photographer knows how to pose you flatteringly, work with natural light, and capture emotion. The difference between a ₹5,000 photographer and a ₹15,000 photographer is enormous in the final images. Check our complete poses guide to see what skilled photographers can capture. On our platform, we handpick the best photographer for your style and location — so you don't have to worry about this decision.
Splurge on hair and makeup. Camera-ready makeup is a specific skill. Your everyday MUA might not know how to handle photoshoot-grade styling. The ₹2,000 difference between basic and premium MUA is visible in every single photo.
Save on outfits by renting. A designer gown you'd buy for ₹15,000–25,000 can be rented for ₹3,000–6,000. You'll wear it once for 2 hours. Renting makes more financial sense, gives you access to higher-quality pieces, and you don't need to worry about storage, cleaning, or a gown that'll never fit again.
Save on venues. Public outdoor locations (parks, beaches, promenades) are free and often more photogenic than paid studios. Check our city guides for the best maternity photoshoot locations in your area — many iconic spots cost nothing to shoot at.
Hidden costs to watch for
When comparing prices, make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Common hidden costs in maternity photoshoot pricing include travel charges (photographer travelling to your location), extra editing fees (basic edits may be included but retouching charged separately), print and album costs (digital delivery is standard, but physical prints and albums are usually extra), rush delivery fees, and additional outfit change charges. All-inclusive packages typically include all of these — the price you see is the price you pay.
Plan your perfect shoot
Use our step-by-step planning guide to budget your maternity photoshoot — from photographer to gowns to editing.
Read Planning Guide →Related guides: 50 Maternity Photoshoot Poses → · What to Wear Guide → · Complete Planning Guide →