The best time for maternity photos

Plan for perfect photos by timing your maternity session just right!

If you’re expecting a baby, I hope you’re got maternity photos at the top of your pregnancy to-do list! These sweet photography sessions perfectly capture the beauty of motherhood at its beginning.

I suggest mamas-to-be start thinking about their maternity photography sessions at the end of the first trimester. By this point, you’re (hopefully!) almost over the exhaustion and morning sickness of the first 12 weeks. It’s a good time to figure out the style of photos you like and where you might want to have your photos taken.

The best time to schedule maternity photos

For the sake of clarity, there’s scheduling a maternity session and having maternity photos taken.

I suggest mamas schedule their session by getting on a photographer’s calendar during the second trimester. There are a few key reasons why this is a great time to get on a photographer’s calendar:

– You’re further into pregnancy by this point, usually know what you’re having and have a firm due date

– It’s more likely your photographer will have availability for your session

– You can plan ahead to decorate your nursery with maternity photos and have them on display at your baby shower

If you’re looking for a photographer around 16 weeks, you’ll have plenty of time to review photographer portfolios, figure out your photo budget and find someone you really love to capture amazing memories of your baby bump.

You don’t want to be rushed to find an amazing photographer, and the best ones are often booked several weeks to months in advance. Plus, getting on someone’s calendar during your second trimester leaves time to work out details for an incredible session: figuring out what to wear, making hair and make up appointments and making any necessary booking arrangements for your dream location.

I’m always thrilled when a mama contacts me earlier in her pregnancy! You don’t want to settle for a maternity photographer since these photo sessions are often a big investment of time and money.

Plus, you’ll feel a million times more comfortable having the same person shoot your newborn session if you’ve already worked with them for your maternity photos.

The very best time to have maternity photos taken

Your maternity photos will look best when taken at 28-35 weeks pregnant. (If you’re expecting multiples, get your session done by 30 weeks max!) The earlier you can schedule within this timeframe is often best for your comfort and enjoyment of the session.

At 28-35 weeks, most mamas have a gorgeous, very round baby bump – and that’s exactly what you want for a stunning maternity session! In addition, you’re probably still feeling pretty good, baby isn’t too heavy yet and you’re feet and hands aren’t yet to the super-swollen point.

Plus, we don’t know exactly when baby will make their big arrival! The earlier we schedule during this timeframe makes it more likely you won’t be in labor or deliver before your maternity session!

Remember, this is so much more than a just another photography session!

Here’s your chance to embrace your new identity as a mother. The entire session is structured around making you look and feel your absolute best as your wait to meet your son or daughter.

This is the perfect opportunity to get away from work, baby planning and chores around the house. It’s an hour or two with your spouse (and other kids, if you have them!) when it’s just your little family, celebrating the upcoming arrival of baby. You’ll savor those tiny kicks and flips and the incredible feeling of carrying your baby safely inside.

My maternity sessions are a little like date nights; we work in plenty of hugs, snuggles and soft kisses. I favor locations that aren’t super busy so we can chat about how you’re decorating the nursery, if you’ve settled on baby’s name, what you’re most looking forward to once baby is here.

If this is your first baby, you might have realized that pregnancy is 99 percent about you and baby. Your spouse sometimes feels left out, especially since you’re the one with the baby belly that everyone wants to touch.

But a maternity session isn’t just about you or your bump! We actively and purposefully involve dad-to-be because there is no better time to focus on two people in love than when baby is on the way!

Planning the perfect session

The hardest part (and what usually takes the longest!) is simply finding a photographer whose style you love.

You’ll feel so much better about your maternity session once you find someone you love and officially book your photos. That’s when your photographer will step in with tons of guidance for what happens next:

– Five tips to ensure beautiful maternity (and newborn!) photos

– Everything you need to know about maternity gowns

– What to wear for a gorgeous maternity session (with photo examples!)

I provide my clients with a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Celebrate Motherhood magazine that includes my very best tips for maternity, newborn and baby photography sessions. It walks them through what to expect for every session, how to prep your baby (and bigger kids) for a lovely, stress-free session, FAQs, a timeline of what happens when… and lots more! I even include a recipe for DIY padsicles (postpartum cold packs) and my favorite lactation muffins.