When Is The Best Time To Book Maternity Photos?

Pregnancy is such a magical, life-changing time. Your body instinctively knows how to grow and change to support your growing baby, and every day is filled with new experiences...some positive and some not so enjoyable!

It also passes so quickly, and before you know it you’re holding your gorgeous new baby in your arms. That’s why having professional maternity photographs taken is such a wonderful thing to do - freezing this magical time forever, so that you can look back and remember how amazing it felt to be carrying your baby, and show your little one how they looked inside your tummy when they are old enough to understand.

When you’re planning a maternity shoot I’m sure you’ll have lots of questions. From what to wear to the best time in your pregnancy to have the photographs taken.

In this article I’ll focus on the best time to book your maternity photo shoot. We’ll cover:

• The best time during your pregnancy to take maternity photographs
• What to do if you’re at risk of an early delivery
• When to contact photographers and book your shoot

You’ll find that every photographer has their own preference about when they take maternity photographs during your pregnancy.

However you’ll probably find that most photographers recommend taking your maternity photographs between 30 - 36 weeks. This will usually result in the most flattering photographs as your bump will be nice and round at this stage, but not so heavy that you feel overly tired and uncomfortable.

It also means that you have the photographs taken well before your baby reaches full-term at 37 weeks. After all, you can’t go back and take the photographs once your baby has arrived.

Every pregnancy is different, and you may be in a situation where your doctor has discussed the possibility of you having an early delivery.

If this is the case, please don’t worry. The 30-36 week guideline is just that - a guideline not a rule.

I recommend discussing your individual situation with your chosen photographer. They will be able to talk to you about your options, and the kinds of photographs they can capture for you earlier on in your pregnancy.

Again, you’ll probably also find that each photographer has their own recommendation about when you book your maternity photo shoot.

I recommend booking your maternity photo shoot as soon as you have had your 20 week scan. Since there’s little flexibility over when you can have the shoot this gives you the best chance of securing the right date and time, and also gives you and your photographer plenty of time to plan the shoot so that it's tailored to you.

There’s so much going on during pregnancy - from choosing buggies and birth options, to thinking about names and attending appointments. It can be easy to get to the last few weeks and realise that you haven’t arranged that maternity shoot you had been thinking about.

I hope that this article has given you a good idea of the timings involved, so that you can plan your own shoot in good time.

What other questions do you have about maternity photography? I’d love to answer them for you. Let me know in the comments below, or send me a message here and I will get back to you.

If you're pregnant and thinking about a maternity photo shoot, you may also find these articles about newborn photography helpful:

• How to find a good newborn photographer
• How much does newborn photography cost?
• Lifestyle vs posed newborn photography. Which is best for me?

You can find out more about booking a maternity photo shoot with me here:

• Maternity portfolio
• How maternity sessions work
• Maternity session pricing