You’ve looked at that little stick and it says positive. You’re pregnant! You know you want to have pictures taken to document and capture this special time, but you’re not sure how to prepare for maternity photos. I am here to help give you all the details of when to have your session and how to prep for it!

When to have your maternity session

I usually recommend coming in for your maternity pictures between 30 and 36 weeks. By 30 weeks, you’re usually plenty big to look solidly pregnant and not just “I ate too many tacos.” After about 36 weeks, you just start to get uncomfortable and at least for me, I felt overwhelmingly BIG and puffy and it was harder to move around and get up and down.

I’d contact a photographer sooner, rather than later if you know you want them to capture you. It can be difficult to get schedules to match up and you don’t want to miss that comfortable window for your session.

How to prepare for maternity photos

Now in general, I’d recommend a skirt or dress because they just look so beautiful on those bellies. Some women prefer something loose and some prefer tight to show off that bump. A form fitting gown will show off that bump beautifully, but be aware of how you feel in the gown and if it feels too revealing or restraining, maybe a looser fit would be better for you.

If you go with a flowy gown, be aware that you’ll need to keep your hand under your belly to help define it and help it stand out. We want to make sure that bump is the star of the session! If you want to make an event of this, getting nails, hair and makeup always feels good. If you’re only going to pay for one prep service, I’d recommend getting lashes applied as they can make a huge impact on your look. Here’s some of my favorite looks.

How to get your people on board for your maternity session:

If this is your first, tell your spouse how important it is to you to document this short time. Help them to understand that it will be relatively painless for them and that you really value capturing this time in your lives.

If you have children, I treat the session like any other family session. I play games and ask questions and prompt all of you to interact in various ways to get you connecting and loving. I promise everyone will have fun and you will have beautiful images of everyone’s excitement and love for this new baby before they’re even here.

Do you have any questions about when to have your maternity session or how to prepare for maternity photos? What do you like to do to pamper yourself before a photo session?