So, When is the Best Time to Schedule a Maternity Portrait Session?
Well, Let’s Talk About It!
First off, Congratulations on your Pregnancy! This is such an exciting time for moms and families. Now you may be wondering when do you schedule maternity pictures! There are several answers but I help moms schedule their maternity picture session at the perfect time for them! Keep reading for some considerations to help you book your portraits at the perfect time!
Maternity portraits are such an amazing moment to have captured. Some women start dreaming about them the day they find out they are expecting, others wait until they are about to pop to even consider them. I once had a mom leave her maternity session and go the hospital to delivery baby! Sometimes maternity photos can seem like one more thing to add to your plate, but they are a beautiful reminder of what your body can do and how amazing it all is. You’ll be able to look back and share you pregnancy journey with your beautiful baby and family.
I want to make things simple for you, so that your experience is as magical as you imagine. So I put together a small list to consider when booking your Maternity Portrait Session in Colorado Springs.
How far along should you be when you schedule your session?
Around 20-24 weeks is when you will want to find a photographer to schedule your session with. Weekends book quickly, especially that coveted sunset time slot. I like scheduling sessions this way because it allows us time to really think about locations and the feeling you want for your maternity portraits.
When you go to choose your date, you’ll want to choose something between a 29-34 week time frame. I like to shoot about 28-35 weeks (around the third trimester). This also allows you to reschedule due to weather or not feeling well while still having pictures done during the best time. However; if you are carrying multiples or have other complications, I would suggest planning a bit earlier and not scheduling after 32 weeks.
This timeframe means that mom is usually still pretty mobile, and baby is still baking comfy. Your belly will have that cute round shape and this will allow us to get the perfect shots. I often tell moms we don’t want to get too close to baby time (36+ weeks) because your little one will likely arrive on their own schedule. We will also watch the weather and will work around any unforeseen changes.
Also remember that every pregnancy is different, every woman and their bodies are all different. Make sure to keep in contact with me about any changes that might come up. While the time frames I suggest work for most maternity portraits, the changes in your body and your growing bump shape could be different and that is okay. We can work around those unforeseen changes and get your bump captured at the best time.
Can I have my family in my scheduled maternity pictures? Yes of course, I encourage it!
I love to get shots of the entire family too! I encourage the people who are most important to you to be involved in at least some of your portraits. Capturing the anticipation of siblings and the connection between parents is incredibly special for these sessions! It also gives big siblings a chance to get to know me ahead of a newborn session.
I suggest taking into consideration nap times and when siblings are most likely going to be happy and ready to interact for your portrait session.
Special Requests? Absolutely, the more unique the better!
Anything you may want to incorporate in your session please feel free to bring it! Ultrasound photos, letter boards, those tiny baby shoes, and any other details you may feel is important to add is totally okay with me. Please remember to put any specific request you have in the Maternity questionnaire so that I can honor your wishes and plan our time frame accordingly. This questionnaire is sent out to clients after they schedule maternity pictures with me.
Location Selection
You’ll want to choose an area where you will be most comfortable or perhaps a place that has happy memories for you. Things to think about when choosing your portrait location depend on how you are feeling. Some moms have limitations so we consider those as well when we schedule maternity pictures.
Pay attention to the walk to get to the view you want… Is it rocky? Are there hills? Is it steep? These are just safety measures to be aware of, and only you know what your body can do.
If you are bringing kids along for the session, consider your comfort level with them running around. Do you want your little one to be only on flat surfaces? Are you comfortable with closeness to water?
I go over everything with each mom-to-be so that we can choose a spot that is beautiful and will help create the beautiful art she will cherish for years to come. If you aren’t sure of the area I will be glad to help you choose the perfect spot based on what you want to capture.
There is also an option to choose to schedule maternity pictures in my downtown Colorado Springs Photography studio if that better fits your needs or if you want a fine art feeling.
I would love to have the opportunity to chat about your maternity session vision! Here is a link for you to look at my Investment Page and a link to view my client closet Client Closet.