When clients inquire about reserving a maternity session, one for the first questions is “When is the best time to take maternity pictures?” I’ll be totally transparent – I became a mom before I became a photographer – it’s one of my biggest regrets, not doing a maternity photography session to document such a short, but important part of my children’s story. Being pregnant is very overwhelming, and it’s hard to find days that you feel beautiful. I really love to encourage my moms to get over that feeling – and allow me to help them embrace their baby bump, and everything that comes along with it. A maternity session can actually be a fun and enjoyable experience. The best feeling is when I hear a mom-to-be say at the end of her session “That was fun, I can’t wait to see my images”.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when reserving your maternity pictures is that you want to make sure you are feeling good but that baby bump is showing. The second trimester is typically a time where most moms are feeling like they have their energy back. The morning sickness has hopefully passed, and that pregnancy “glow” is really shining through.
I typically recommend maternity sessions land between 27-34 weeks.
Sometimes moms show earlier or later. Typically first time moms don’t pop out until that third trimester, and that’s okay. Our goal is to have a nice, round belly. Believe it not, the camera takes away the belly, so you’ll want to make sure you are definitely showing.
If you are tall and have a longer torso, aim for a session closer to 34 weeks. If you are shorter and have smaller torso, aim for a session closer to 27 weeks.
A few things that may change your date range…
- If you are having twins (or triplets), this date range will change too. You’ll want your maternity session much earlier, as you will tend to show much sooner and hit that “uncomfortable” phase a lot quicker.
- If you are have a history of preterm babies. It’s better to reserve a date a bit on the early side, so we can ensure that baby doesn’t come before our session together.
- If you are wanting an outside session. We live in Ohio, and our weather is very unpredictable. Giving some buffer for the possible need to reschedule due to weather conditions is preferred.
If you are expecting a baby, and would like more information on reserving a maternity session, simply click HERE to fill out the contact form. I will be in touch soon with details and investment information. I would love to document this special time for your family.
The First Year Membership is a great way to preserve all the milestones your little one will having in their first year. Please visit this page for more information.