FAQ: WHEN SHOULD I TAKE MY MATERNITY PICTURES?
If you’ve already been wondering about when to take your maternity pictures then I would love to give you a big hug! Being pregnant is one of the most amazing experiences of a woman and couple’s life and I love it when a woman is eager to capture this time. While it’s true that pregnancy is a journey that can be stressful when we have to deal with swelling legs, painful heart burn and morning sickness, it’s also true that it’s a journey worth remembering. Having a little one growing inside of you is just an unforgettable experience. I remember being pregnant with my boys and each time, I’d catch myself just admiring my belly or holding onto it, waiting for a little kick or jab from them. Longing for those times so much! I also miss evenings with my husband on the couch with his hand on my belly. He was always so hopeful to feel a little movement. Scheduling a maternity session is a wonderful way to document this amazing time and I applaud you for recognizing that! Today I wanted to address one of my most frequently asked questions among mothers. “When should I take my maternity pictures?” In short, the ideal time to take maternity pictures is when you’re 7 to 8 months pregnant. Here’s why! You’ll want your belly to have popped and you’ll want to feel beautiful, too! The ideal time for maternity pictures is when both of those things are happening. On the one hand, you’ll want your bump to be showing so that you actually LOOK pregnant. On the other hand, if you wait too long to take your maternity pictures, your ankles and/or face might get swollen and your legs might become too heavy to support your growing belly comfortably, making the session less enjoyable. I find that right around the 7-8 month mark is when bellies have popped and women are feeling and looking great! Another advantage of having your maternity pictures done around that 7-8 month mark is that your belly will be at its highest since the baby won’t have started moving towards the birth canal yet. A high belly definitely has more appeal than a low belly.
Exceptions
Our bodies are all different so that needs to be accounted for as well. Some of us show at five or six months, others have to wait a little longer. Also, while some of us are mobile at eight months, some can barely move at six months. Consequently, knowing our bodies and keeping in time with changes helps us determine the best time to take maternity photos. This is why, though we may tentatively schedule your maternity session between 7-8 months, it’s important that you keep me updated as you advance through your pregnancy so that we can move the session up if you find that you’re starting to swell or feel uncomfortable. We don’t want to miss that window of opportunity to get your photos done! Another exception is if you’re having multiples! Whether you’re expecting twins or triplets, your belly is going to appear more prominently a little sooner. In these cases, it’s best to do the session at around the six month mark. Additionally, if your doctor has warned you about bed rest in the last weeks of your pregnancy, you’ll want to do the session well before then.
Additional Considerations
In spite of this ideal timeframe, other reasons why we are planning the photos play a considerable role in scheduling a maternity session. In this era when having a baby shower is almost a must for any mom, then having a photoshoot before the eight months mark will apply. We may want to include the photos in the baby shower itself – picture a gorgeous canvas on an easel welcoming your guests to your affair or perhaps some framed prints next to your center pieces – so you may want to schedule your maternity session based on your baby shower date.
I hope this post was helpful to you as you plan your maternity session! And because I love to show off my gorgeous mama clients, here are some of my recent favorite maternity photos!
