Once upon a bump: Photographer transforms expectant mothers into Disney princesses to celebrate the magic of pregnancy - and show 'what happens after happily ever after'

A Brazilian photographer is shining a spotlight on the magic of pregnancy by transforming expectant mothers into Disney princesses.

Vanessa Firme , 39, is a maternity photographer in Rio de Janeiro, and over the past few years, she's made a habit of having moms-to-be dress up as glamorous Disney princesses like Belle, Cinderella, and Jasmine. 

But these photo shoots catch the princesses after a bit of a fast-forward through time, when they're heavily pregnant — presumably after marrying the Beast, Prince Charming and Aladdin. 

The moms-to-be dress up in special Disney princess maternity dresses, like this soon-to-be mother dressed up like Cinderella alongside her little pumpkin. 

'These photos tell mothers that they can all be whoever they want to be,' the photographer told Good Morning America. 'It shows what happens after happily ever after.' 

Firme told Indian Express that she started shooting moms-to-be as princesses a few years ago, and it wasn't entirely planned. 

The live-action Beauty and the Beast film had just been released, and a maternity designer named Amada Mae had given her a custom-made Belle dress. 

Her Belle posed in the yellow off-the-shoulder gown, cradling her bump with one hand and holding a single red rose with the other.

Coincidentally, she was also working with a client at the time who was pregnant with a daughter — whom she'd planned to name Bela. 'I thought how magical it would be for her when she saw her own mother dressed as the princess,' Firme told GMA.

Other moms-to-be have dressed as Ariel and Jasmine, whose costumes conveniently show off a bare belly.

Isn't it neat? This Ariel's 'treasures' photo prop include a pacifier (and, of course, a Dinglehopper).

'People loved it and we decided to make more princesses,' she said. 

She's gone on to dress expectant mothers up as a bump-baring Cinderella with long gloves and a headband, Snow White holding an apple, and Sleeping Beauty's Aurora, pictured here.  

The next generation: She's even introduced the theme into shoots with new moms and their babies.

Something there that wasn't there before: This mother's little boy makes a very adorable Beast.

She even dressed a pregnant woman up as Maleficent — naturally, the Angelina Jolie version. 

Firme has branched out to non-Disney characters, too, like Princess Fiona from Shrek and Wonder Woman, pictured.  

Another kind of princess: This mother-to-be is dressed as Fiona from Shrek. 

Pageant queen: The expectant mom also took on Sandra Bullock's character in Miss Congeniality. 

Kicking butt: She was a super tough — and super pregnant — Lara Croft in Tomb Raider

Fun: She even dressed her up as Julia Roberts' prostitute character in Pretty Woman.

In another shot, the mom was Jennifer Beals' character Alex Owens in Flashdance. 

Dark: Finally, she dressed as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, from the 1988 film.