Are you expecting a new bundle of joy and hoping to document this journey with a photo session? If you plan on taking photos, you might wonder what the perfect time is. There is an ideal timeframe that works best for taking maternity photos. The goal is to show off your bump but not worry about being so close to your due date that you could go into labour and miss out on getting photos.
THE PERFECT TIME FOR TAKING MATERNITY PHOTOS
My recommendation is between 32-35 weeks. Anything beyond 35 weeks will be exhausting and during those last few weeks of pregnancy some women put on a lot of water weight, which might not have you feeling your best photo a glamorous photo session. On the flipside, if you schedule too early, your bump may not be prominent enough to really show – especially if it’s your first pregnancy.
BOOKING A PHOTOGRAPHER
Now that you know the ideal time, you have to consider whether the photographer that’s top of your list will have availability. Some women are super planners and reach out well in advance to guarantee their spots for maternity and newborn photos, other times mamas wait until they are in that 32-35 week timeframe to reach out. Many photographers book up in advance so if you wait too long you may be disappointed when they are full. I recommend to wait until you enter that second trimester and reach out right away so that if you’ve fallen in love with a maternity photographer’s work, they are more likely to have an open spot.
WHAT ABOUT NEWBORN PHOTOS
Typically couples will book their maternity and newborn portraits with the same photographer. This is a great option because then the style of both photo shoots will match and be cohesive if you plan on printing the photos and displaying them together, like on a gallery wall in your home. Some photographers will offer a maternity + newborn photo package or a baby’s first year milestone package. This is something to consider at you begin this amazing and magical journey. Trust me, you’re going to want to document your baby as much as possible because they are so stinking adorable and they change so quickly in that first year.
Here’s a few photos from a maternity session and a newborn session, both done in my Burlington studio. The style is the same so you can imagine how gorgeous these photos would look together on the wall. My studio has a full client closet of dresses that work for maternity and post-partum so often a mama will come back for her newborn session and wear the same dress she wore for maternity photos. I love that! You’ll sit or stand in the same spots you cradled your baby bump just weeks before and now hold your brand new baby. It’s quite magical.
If you’re interested in finding out more contact me and we’ll chat. Over phone or over email – you choose 🙂
Hope + Salt Photography specializes in natural newborn and baby photography in the Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton and Waterdown areas. For more information or to book a session contact me here!Follow me:
Learn more about my maternity photo sessions!
