Let's Talk About MAternity Sessions
When to Book Your Maternity Session
Pregnancy has a way of moving faster than you expect. One week you're counting down to the anatomy scan, and the next you're scheduling a newborn session and wondering how you got to the third trimester.
Maternity photographs are one of those things that are easy to put off — and then the window closes. Here's a practical guide to timing, so you can book with confidence and not out of panic.
The ideal window: 28 to 34 weeks
For most moms, the sweet spot for a maternity session is between 28 and 34 weeks.
During this stretch, your bump is beautifully defined but you're usually still comfortable enough to move, change outfits, and stand for a while. That combination matters more than it sounds. A session involves posing, walking between setups, and possibly a few outfit changes, and it is much more enjoyable before the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Around 28 weeks, your belly has that unmistakable round shape that photographs so well. By 34 weeks, you still have energy in reserve. After that, the experience often becomes less comfortable — and for some moms, the baby has other plans.
Why not earlier
Before about 28 weeks, the bump can be subtle in photographs. If the whole point is to document this chapter of your pregnancy, an earlier session may not show the story you want to remember.
Some moms do choose an earlier session for a specific reason — a gender reveal, a specific season or location, a partner who travels — and that works perfectly well. Just know that if you want a clearly visible bump, waiting until the third trimester helps.
Why not later
Beyond 34 weeks, a few things start working against you:
- Standing and posing for an hour gets tiring quickly
- Swelling can affect how you feel about being photographed
- Session dates become harder to keep if you go into labor early
- You may simply feel done — and that is completely fair
Booking later is not impossible. It is just less comfortable, and there is more risk that the session does not happen at all.
If you want both maternity and newborn photographs
This is the most important timing consideration of all.
Newborn sessions are best done within the first two weeks after birth, and often sooner. That means your maternity session and your newborn booking should be planned together, not one after the other.
My recommendation:
- Book your newborn session early — ideally in your second trimester. Newborn availability is limited, and the parents who get the dates they want are almost always the ones who reserved before the baby arrived.
- Schedule your maternity session for 28 to 34 weeks, so you have portraits of the anticipation and portraits of the arrival.
Booking both together also means you are not trying to make decisions and send emails while recovering and running on very little sleep.
When to reach out to book
For planning purposes, I recommend contacting me about two to three months before your ideal session window.
If you are currently 20 weeks along, that is a good time to inquire. If you are already 30 weeks, reach out today — there may still be openings, and later dates can sometimes be arranged.
Fall and spring are the busiest seasons for family and maternity photography, so those months fill first. Summer and mid-winter sessions are often more flexible with shorter notice.
What to think about before your session
A few small decisions make a big difference:
Studio or outdoors? Studio sessions are controlled, calm, and unaffected by weather. Outdoor sessions bring in natural light and a seasonal backdrop — golden hour in a local park is hard to beat.
Outfits. I offer a client closet with gowns chosen specifically to photograph well during pregnancy. You are welcome to bring your own outfits too, and many moms mix both.
Who's included. Maternity portraits can be mom alone, or include your partner and other children. Both are beautiful. Let me know your preference when you book so I can plan the time appropriately.
How you want to feel. Some moms want elegant and dramatic. Others want soft and natural. Tell me which direction appeals to you, and we'll build the session around it.
A quick summary
Timing What to do Second trimester Book your maternity and newborn sessions20–24 weeks Ideal time to inquire and reserve dates28–34 weeks Schedule and shoot your maternity session First 2 weeks after birth Newborn session
