When Is the Best Time for Maternity Photos?

If you're pregnant and thinking about maternity photos, one of the first questions you'll probably ask is:

When is the best time to have them done?

You'll hear different answers everywhere you look. Some photographers recommend 28 weeks, others say 30 to 34 weeks, and some prefer you to wait until your bump is really prominent.

So what's actually the right time?

For most of my maternity clients, around 30 weeks is a lovely time to aim for, but there really isn't a magic number that works for every mum.

Pregnancy is different for everyone. Some mums have a beautiful round bump early on, while others don't really pop until later. Some feel amazing at 32 weeks, while others are already exhausted, uncomfortable and very ready to put their feet up.

I don't want you stressing about hitting the "perfect" week.

The most important thing is choosing a time when your bump is showing, but you still feel comfortable enough to enjoy the experience.

When should you book your maternity photography session?

This is a different question to when you should actually have your photographs taken.

If maternity photos are something you'd really love, I'd recommend getting in touch while you're pregnant so we have plenty of time to find a date that works for you.

It also gives us time to chat about what you're looking for, go through wardrobe options and organise any extras such as hair and makeup, without leaving everything until those final few weeks.

But if you're already 30-something weeks and thinking, Oh crap, I haven't organised maternity photos yet, don't panic.

Just ask.

If I have availability, I'll always do my best to fit you in.

What if I don't feel my best during pregnancy?

This is something I think we don't talk about enough.

We're constantly told that pregnancy is this beautiful, glowing, magical time.

And it absolutely can be.

But pregnancy can also be exhausting.

You can feel tired, bloated, uncomfortable, emotional and like your body has completely stopped belonging to you.

I remember feeling this myself.

During my pregnancies, I definitely didn't always feel like I was at my best. There were days I felt tired and bloated and just generally not particularly glamorous.

But at the same time, I knew my body was doing something pretty bloody incredible.

It was growing a whole human.

And I think those two things can exist at the same time.

You don't have to feel amazing every single day of your pregnancy to look back on it with love.

My second pregnancy was a whole different story

When I was pregnant with my second daughter, I was already chasing around a toddler.

And oh my goodness, I was SO tired.

I remember putting my daughter down for her daytime sleep and thinking, Right, she's asleep. I'm going to sleep too.

So I did.

I napped whenever I could because I genuinely needed it.

I also felt so much bigger and heavier the second time around.

There was no leisurely sitting around rubbing my belly and enjoying the pregnancy quite as much as there had been the first time.

There was a toddler needing me. Meals to make. Things to do. Life happening around me.

At the time, I probably would have told you I was over being pregnant.

But now?

My youngest is four.

And I would honestly love to go back and relive just one more day of those pregnancies.

Just one.

To feel those little kicks again.

Those tiny hiccups.

To have that gorgeous round bump.

To know that there was a little person in there who I hadn't even met yet.

And to parade that bump around knowing that I was growing my baby.

Looking back, I realise what a gift it really was.

I also know that not every woman gets the opportunity to experience pregnancy, and I never take for granted how fortunate I was to have experienced it.

That's one of the reasons I love maternity photography so much.

Because when you're in the middle of pregnancy, you're often just trying to get through the day.

You might be tired.

You might be uncomfortable.

You might be counting down the weeks.

You might not feel particularly beautiful.

But one day, you'll look back and those feelings will be very different.

You might miss the bump.

You might miss the kicks.

You might wish you could remember exactly what it felt like to have your baby moving around inside you.

And photographs can bring some of that feeling back- so if you feel that documenting your pregnancy is something that you'd love to do please send me a msg or give me a call on 0435 871 622 and we can discuss your vision. 

Stace x