Is there a Perfect Time to Take Maternity Photos?
As a maternity photographer in Rochester NY, I recommend taking maternity photos between week 28-34 of pregnancy. The best time to take maternity photos can vary person to person. In general, I recommend maternity sessions around pregnancy week 32 and no later than pregnancy week 35.
Factors for Moms: Choosing When to do a Maternity Session
1. Personal Comfort Level during Pregnancy
During the second trimester your pregnancy morning sickness might fade away but you may start experiencing brand new symptoms as your baby bump grows bigger!
This is the most important consideration, in my opinion. It’s also where personal preferences can and should come into play because pregnancy affects everyone differently. Only you know your body, how you’re feeling, and what your limitations during pregnancy or might become in the future.
A full maternity shoot can feel like a workout and only gets harder the further along you get. A maternity photo session can last for up to 3 hrs in some cases! And if you want maternity photoshoot in nature , then you need the energy for it. Have you tried walking on sand lately? It’s hard on a normal day, let alone during pregnancy!
You might be one of the lucky ones and have been feeling great through pregnancy. Then maybe you can give it more time. But if you’re like so many and pregnancy has been HARD, I might recommend an earlier session for you. Depending on your situation, I’d recommend later than pregnancy week 32.
Even if pregnancy has been a breeze, after week 35, you could start experiencing pelvic floor pain and/or lower back pain. You might not be sleeping well and have low energy. Swelling could be an issue, too! It’s very common to have swelling in the feet and legs later into your 3rd trimester.
So, all that’s to say, the exact sweet might be different for you vs. someone else. In general, the earlier the better and before week 34 is my honest recommendation.
2. Weather and Season for your Maternity Photoshoot
Knowing when to take maternity photos is a personal decision that ultimately depends on each individual’s preference. In addition to your personal comfort level during pregnancy, it’s important to consider the climate and weather if you want to achieve a specific outdoor look for your pregnancy photo session. Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a time that makes you feel beautiful, comfortable, and ready to capture this special moment in your life.
3. Planning Time
It pains me when people reach out after pregnancy week 34 and we have to rush to plan their maternity pictures within a week or two! It makes planning for the shoot feel rushed. You might have trouble finding the right thing to wear or have to settle for a whatever outfits you can pull together quickly. If you want professional hair and makeup, we may not be able to find an available stylist, or at the very least, book your preferred one!
Planning ahead will give you more time to really think about what you want your maternity photos to look like and it will give us more time to work together to make that vision a reality.
4. Leave Room for Rescheduling
Life happens! So my advice is to book your maternity photos earlier rather than later so you have wiggle room to reschedule, if something comes up!
Also, let’s face it, babies make their appearance whether you’re ready or not. But in the final month of pregnancy, it could truly happen any day. If maternity photos are important to you, plan ahead and make sure your session happens before baby (and you) start to get antsy.
Trimester by Trimester: Steps for Booking and Planning your Pregnancy Photos
Weeks 12-20: Research Photographers
I recommend beginning your research for your maternity photographer as soon as you feel ready during your first trimester. Most maternity photographers book photo shoots 1-3 months in advance. My best advice is to begin thinking about what kind of maternity photography you want so you can be ready to reach out!
Make a list of your top 3 choices for photographers, and inquire about their pricing and availability. Make sure they are a good match for your style and vision first by browsing their website and social media. Keep in mind that not all maternity photographers are the same! For example, my photography style is very natural and candid, while other photographers focus on high produced and highly retouched photos.
Weeks 20-28: Start Planning your Photo Session
If you are my client, than I will take you through a process for planning your maternity photos that gets to the heart of what you’re looking for. We’ll meet in person to talk about your vision, your style, story, and what you’ll wear!
Here are a few of the things to consider when planning your maternity session:
What is your personal style?
What do these photos represent for you on a personal level?
What do you never want to forget about this pregnancy?
What story do you want these photos to tell your baby?
What clothes do you feel most comfortable and beautiful in during pregnancy?
Do you want photos outdoors or in a studio?
Weeks 28-34: Best Time for a Maternity Photo Shoot
As a maternity photographer in Rochester NY, I recommend taking maternity photos between week 28-34 of pregnancy. The best time to take maternity photos can vary person to person. In general, I recommend maternity sessions around pregnancy week 32 and no later than pregnancy week 35.
It is not uncommon for babies to be born early. I’ve heard from a few Moms recently that ended up giving birth at pregnancy week 34.
So in addition to considering things like your personal comfort level, planning time needed, and making sure that you. get photos that match your vision, I recommend you take maternity photos sooner rather than later. Even as early (or earlier) than pregnancy week 28, especially if you value documenting more of the journey as opposed to just the final weeks.
Tips for Booking your Preferred Maternity Photographer
Did you know that most popular Birth Days are in July, August, September? If you’re expecting in those months, you definitely want to book your preferred maternity photographer as early as possible!
As a maternity & newborn photographer in Rochester NY, my busiest time is May-October.
A majority of my clients book me for both maternity and newborn photos (I offer a maternity + newborn session bundle package), so my busy season begins a little earlier than others. It really gets going in May with lots of maternity photos and the season winds down around November after all the of July-September babies are born.
I imagine the same goes for most maternity photographers in the area!
That’s why, if you have a favorite maternity photographer in Rochester NY that you want to take your maternity photos, than I recommend reaching out well BEFORE the end of your second trimester.
I recommend booking and reserving your maternity photographer by pregnancy week 25.
Other tricky times of the year for availability are the Holidays or Summer vacation time. Play it safe, reach out ASAP.
That way, you’ll have more flexibility when it comes to dates to choose from and you won’t miss your chance to work with your first choice maternity photographer.
And hey, if you’re interested in working with me, you can Inquire here ! <3
What am I missing? Do you agree that maternity photos are best done earlier rather than later in your pregnancy? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
What am I missing? Do you agree that maternity photos are best done earlier rather than later in your pregnancy? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Best Locations for Photos in Rochester NY & The Finger Lakes
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