#TipTuesday: The Best Time to Schedule Your Maternity Session

Scheduling your maternity session is equal parts art and science. The art being the process of planning the perfect poses and lighting to capture the beauty and essence of your growing baby bump, and the science being the literal clock ticking down to baby’s arrival. As much as we as mothers love to plan, babies have their own ideas about when they want to make their grand entrance into the world. Even so, there are a few tips to keep in mind when planning for your maternity photo shoot.

When to book your session

By the beginning of your second trimester, you’ve formulated a bit of a game plan. You know your due date and have other big events (like your baby shower) scheduled as well. With all of this in mind, it’s the perfect time to get your session booked. Maternity sessions grow in popularity by the day, so get your session scheduled by week 13-15 to give both you and your photographer ample time to prepare. While you’re at it, you can also go ahead and schedule your newborn session!

The golden window for your session

The idea of a maternity photo shoot is to capture all of the essence of your pregnancy. We want the glow, the excitement, and the magic of a body that is able to grow and nourish a tiny little human. For that to happen, the ideal time to have your session is in your third trimester. Now, that last trimester is the trickiest one. In the beginning, you feel all of the magic of pregnancy. Your baby is kicking, your belly is nice and round, and you feel all the goodness of anxiously awaiting your little one’s arrival. Towards the end of that trimester, however, things can get pretty uncomfortable and you’ll be in no mood to even get dressed, let alone have your picture taken. Scheduling your session between 32-35 weeks gives us the best opportunity to capture your pregnant body at its most stunning.

Your belly is nice and round but you are still feeling like yourself. Of course we want to capture your belly at its roundest and loveliest, but we also want you to be comfortable enough to really enjoy this experience. Scheduling your session too early can mean that your belly isn’t quite as visible, and waiting too long can mean feeling uncomfortable. During this window, you’re experiencing all of the magic of pregnancy while still feeling like your normal self.

You can still move comfortably and safely. Maternity photography is a stunning work of art, but also requires a great deal of care. Safety is my number one priority and I want you to be able to try out the poses you’ve pictured for this moment while still keeping both you and baby safe. Once your belly feels too big for your comfort, it may be difficult to move around or hold poses for an extended time (the average maternity session can take a couple of hours). Especially if you’re planning on having an outdoor session in the Phoenix, AZ area, your physical comfort is a top priority.

You’ll have time to get more use out of your photos. If you’re planning to use your photos as part of your baby shower invitations or perhaps your thank you cards, scheduling your session at the beginning of your third trimester will allow time for you to receive your photos and use them as you wish.

No matter when you choose to have your session, remember that the goal is to capture this sweet phase of your life, one that is as unique as the child you’re carrying. Already got the + and ready to book? Let’s connect and get your session on the calendar!