When to Take Maternity Photos
Are you expecting a sweet new addition to your family? Congratulations!! If beautifully documenting major family milestones is important to you, you may be wondering when to take maternity photos. While there is a general guideline, there are multiple factors to consider.
Note: Ultimately, I encourage you to document your pregnancy. I mean this even if you’re “outside” of the timeline I recommend for when to take maternity pictures. This season may feel never-ending if you’re constantly sick during the first half of your pregnancy (or the whole time, like me) or super uncomfortable at the end and begging your baby to get this show on the road. In reality, this is such a short season in the scheme of your life. And how miraculous is it that your body was able to support and grow another human? Talk about beautiful!
When to Take Maternity Photos
You may be looking for a quick answer, so I’ll cut to the chase. However, know that I will dive into some other important factors to consider below. When asked when to take maternity photos, the general rule of thumb is to aim for 28-34 weeks gestation. Why is this the recommended timeframe for maternity pictures?
- We want to capture your portraits at a point in your pregnancy when you’re really starting to look pregnant or “show”. For most women, this “look” occurs at the beginning of the third trimester. At this point in the pregnancy, your bump will generally be nice and high. It will “drop” later in the pregnancy as labor approaches.
- Ideally, we’ll capture your portraits before the potential discomfort and swelling that sometimes occurs at the end of pregnancy. I personally believe that the female body is beautiful at any stage of pregnancy; swelling, extra pounds and all! You’re growing a human, for goodness sake! But I also understand the self-consciousness that may come with these physical changes. Participating in extra activities that involve standing for an extended time can also become uncomfortable at this stage. Your maternity session should be an enjoyable experience rather than an uncomfortable one! I say this having been a bridesmaid in two weddings during the third trimester of my first pregnancy. The swelling in my feet at occurred at these two events ruined more than one pair of shoes.
- When considering when to take maternity pictures, realize that there’s always a chance you could go into labor early. If maternity portraits are important to you, let’s not miss the window! While the most common time frame to spontaneously go into labor is between 38-41 weeks, I believe it best to leave a good bit of margin around that timeframe when scheduling maternity pictures. Granted, even so, our best laid plans could always come to nought if your new addition decides to make a really early entrance. If this is a concern for you, it’s never a bad idea to ask your photographer about their cancellation policy in the event that you go into labor before your maternity session.
Reasons To Schedule Maternity Pictures Slightly Later
There are a couple or reasons why you may opt to schedule your maternity photos on the later end of the recommended spectrum. (And let me emphasize again- If you’re 34 weeks pregnant and just starting to think about when to take maternity photos, it’s not necessarily too late. Don’t throw in the towel on your desire to document your pregnancy. It’s worth the effort to hunt around for a photographer in your area who might have a last minute opening.)
- If this is your first pregnancy, you may want to schedule your maternity session later in your pregnancy. Typically, with your first pregnancy it takes a bit longer for your baby bump to make an appearance. When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I remember wondering if I would ever show. It really wasn’t until closer to the third trimester that I started sport a noticeable baby bump. Until then, my abdominals held her in pretty tightly.
- If you’re hoping for an outdoor maternity session, the conditions outside may sway your timing. This is especially true if the 28-34 week mark of your pregnancy occurs around a seasonal transition. If it occurs around the transition from winter to spring, I personally would consider holding out a little bit for spring blooms and greens over the dull grays or winter in my area. (This may not be an issue for you if you live in an area with beautiful snow.) Likewise, it may be worth holding out for the cooler temps and colors of fall if this milestone occurs at the very end of summer. However, be careful to not stray too far from the 34 week mark as there is always a chance of early delivery.
Reasons to Schedule Maternity Pictures Slightly Earlier
When considering when to take maternity pictures, there are a few factors that may sway you to schedule them slightly earlier in the 28-34 week spectrum.
- If this isn’t your first pregnancy, you will show sooner! Remember how I talked about how it felt like it took forever to show with my first pregnancy? Well that certainly wasn’t the case for my second and third. By the end of the first trimester, it felt like my bump was already starting to make an appearance. My abdominals were thoroughly stretched out by my first daughter so by the middle of the second trimester I was well on my way to a photogenic, obvious baby bump. (I will also note- Pelvic Floor PT wasn’t as widely talked about at that time. If you’re in the Chattanooga area, I recommend checking out Embodied Pelvic Health.)
- If you’ve delivered babies early in the past or are experiencing complications that may result in an early delivery, opt to schedule your maternity pictures sooner rather than later. If you have already scheduled with a photographer and it’s looking like you may deliver before the agreed upon date, communicate this with your photographer! If he or she has availability, most will do their best to accommodate a scheduling shift. I personally have a friend who has delivered all of her babies early. For her third pregnancy we intentionally set up maternity photos extra early. We got them done. The next day she went in for a doctors appointment and the hospitalized her to induce delivery. We were both so grateful that the photos had already been taken.
In Summary: When to Take Maternity Photos
The 28-34 week timeframe of pregnancy is usually the ideal time for taking maternity photos. However, everyone’s circumstances and experiences are different. Don’t be afraid to stray a little from this timeframe. The most important thing is that you document this season of your life if you want to!
Bonus Tip: If you’ve found a photographer who’s style you love, go ahead and book both your maternity and newborn photos with them! Many photographers offer packages that include both types of sessions, allowing you to mark schedule newborn photos off of your to-do list! (And making you more likely to actually get the taken.)
One More Tip: Talented, experienced photographers usually have schedules that fill up quickly. If you have your heart set on working with a particular photographer, reach out to them early in your pregnancy. Consider starting the booking process once your pregnancy is confirmed and you have a due date. Reaching out early will likely ensure more flexibility when it comes to choosing the date of your maternity photos.
Working With Me!
If you are drawn to the images featured in this post and think our personalities might mess, let’s chat! I’m located near Chattanooga, TN and serve surrounding areas as a Chattanooga Maternity Photographer. However, I am entering a season of motherhood where travel for sessions is more of an option, so don’t let the distance stop you from reaching out.
I offer both maternity/newborn photography packages and 1st Year Memberships. 1st Year Memberships include up to 4 sessions within 18 months. This is a perfect combination for families who want to document a variety of of milestones, potentially including a combination of birth announcement photos, maternity portraits, newborn photography, and milestone sessions.
As a full service photographer, I also help you answer the question: “What should I do with my photos?” As a part of our time working together, I will walk you through the process of designing and ordering archival wall art, albums, or prints. These professional prints will actually capture the colors you see on your screen and preserve your images for a lifetime of enjoyment. Don’t worry, though. I’m fully aware that we live in a digital age. You’ll receive a digital copy of any images your purchase! Learn more by clicking here.
Why are physical products a priority to me? After almost a decade as a photographer, I have come to realize that digital files alone are actually not a truly finished product and are not the best way to store your images long term. (Feel free to ask me about the clients who have reached out years later because they don’t know where they saved their files and never got around to printing their images.) Life gets busy! Making hard copies of your family’s artwork can easily fall to the end (or completely off) of the to-do list. Therefore, I make it a priority to help you through this last, crucial step of preserving your family memories.
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