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Lena Porter

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Maternity

Q&A: When to Take Maternity Photos

Hi, I'm Lena.
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All the questions, timing, and recommendations for deciding when to take maternity photos. All I hope is to calm your nerves and help you plan a maternity photo session you’ll thoroughly appreciate.

Maternity photo in a lush green field with the mom-to-be holding her belly

When is the best time to book maternity photos?

All pregnancies are different, but the usual range for taking maternity photos is between 28 and 32 weeks.

How far in advance should you schedule maternity photos?

That being said, you’ll need to schedule the photos in advance — not only to fit into your busy schedule, but to ensure that your photographer of choice is available.

The second trimester is a great time to plan ahead and get your maternity photos on the calendar (that’s between 13 and 26 weeks). This gives you time to coordinate hair and makeup, find outfits, and pick an ideal day and time. For my Tacoma and Seattle maternity clients, however, I provide a client closet and access to the top hair and makeup artist so you don’t even have to worry about that. 

Which month is best for a pregnancy photoshoot?

If you’re not counting weeks, but are instead charting your pregnancy by the month, then your session should take place in the 7th or 8th month.

Is 30 weeks too early for maternity pictures?

Not at all! That’s when you should still be comfortable and have a little bit of energy. Plus, you’ll have a beautiful round bump that will photograph well. Too close to 40 weeks poses the risk of delivering the baby before we’ve had the chance to take your photos! We also want to be mindful of high risk pregnancies that may have bed rest required closer to the due date.

Is 6 months too early for maternity pictures?

Typically, yes — 6 month is a bit too early for maternity photos. At 6 months, you will likely be glowing, but still missing the full and round baby bump that most mothers hope for in their maternity photos. You can start looking around for a photographer at this time, and try to get on their schedule for the 7th or 8th month of your pregnancy.

Are maternity photos worth it?

As a photographer and mother of four kids, I can’t help but to say yes. For first-time mothers, there’s that anticipation and growing love that is captured in the photographs. And when it’s the second or third child, you can bring your littles along to document the family that awaits its newest addition. 

Those transitions between chapters pass by far too quickly and most of the time, mothers don’t often make it into the day-to-day photos at home because they’re taking them. So, if you’re already wondering if it’s worth it, chances are you not only want maternity photos, but you’ll love having them to look back on.

Have more maternity photo questions? Find the full maternity photo guide here.
See more of my maternity photography on Instagram and learn about my services.

  1. Iris Smith says:

    Thank you for mentioning that even though you will probably be radiant at six months, you won’t have the large, rounded baby bump that most women desire in their maternity photographs. My friend is now pregnant early on. I’ll advise her to schedule maternity photography for six months.

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Hi I'm lENA

Welcome to the blog, a place for helpful parenting resources and planning tips for couples. Stay a while and say hello!

Learn more

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