Pregnancy is such a beautiful journey and capturing it with a maternity photoshoot is so worth it, in my opinion. You may not always remember exactly how your belly looked when pregnant, but you can always look back at your photos. There’s a lot to consider when booking a maternity photo shoot and I wish I had been more prepared for mine. If you need help with what you should consider, like deciding when to take them and how they work, keep reading.
When should I take maternity photos?
There are different opinions on when to take photos and looking back at my pregnancy, I wish I would’ve followed the recommended guidelines. Most photographers suggest taking them between 6-8 months or 28-30 weeks. Here’s why I think it’s best to follow that timeframe. I took my photos after I was 36 weeks and felt like I had limited options. I was heavily pregnant (and during the the brutal Texas summer I might add) so any outdoor photoshoots were out of the question. After 36 weeks, it was also crunch time for all things baby! My husband and I were busy prepping the nursery, taking baby classes and on labor watch. To be completely honest, I felt stressed having to squeeze in a photoshoot Finally, at 9 months pregnant, I wasn’t really feeling beautiful. At that point, stretch marks were visible, my feet were swollen and my face and cheeks were at their chubbiest. With all that said, our photographer was incredible and made me feel so comfortable and beautiful. She went out of her way to make sure I felt my very best. I loved our photos and thinking ahead to my next pregnancy, I’ll definitely be doing them sooner. 6-8 months might sound like a broad timeframe, but that’s good! You have enough time to work around your schedule, consider weather, how you’re feeling in your pregnancy and schedule a time that works best for you.
How do I find a maternity photographer?
My first recommendation when setting up a maternity photoshoot is to do your research on photographers who specialize in maternity photoshoots. Trust me, this makes a huge difference. I’ve done all kinds of photoshoots and you want to go in with a photographer who already knows what to expect. There are a few things to consider when choosing a photographer like budget, style, experience and availability. Something else to consider is wardrobe. Some photographers provide a closet with options for maternity photoshoots. It’s definitely helpful especially if you don’t know where to start. Now where do you find photographers? I like to do my research on Instagram first. Instagram is essentially where photographers post their work so you get a idea of what their photos will look like. I usually search hashtags like #maternityphotoshoots for overall Inspo on what I like and then hone in on my location, so I’d search #maternityphotoshotosaustin or #maternityphotosaustin as an example. Don’t be afraid to widen your search a bit to neighboring towns, if that’s doable in your situation. I also search photographers on Facebook and search Facebook groups for recommendations. Side note: I highly recommend joining local moms groups on Facebook in your town. It’s a great resource for all things motherhood. If you’re lucky, you’ll find community in yours. Google is going to be third in the research process. I’ll search maternity photographers in my area and from there, I’ll build a complete list of photographers that I’m interested in. After you do your research, then it’s time to narrow down your options.
What to consider:
Budget
Availability
Style
Wardrobe
Experience
Maternity Photoshoot Style
It isn’t necessary to get your makeup and hair done, but if it’s within your budget, I highly recommend! Photoshoots are an occasion and you want to walk into them feeling 100% and not stressed! I did my own hair and makeup but wish I would’ve gone the extra mile in getting both done. Again, at 9 months pregnant, I was not feeling my best so it was difficult putting myself together. Plus, it’s so humid during Texas summers and my hair was not cooperating! When it comes to style, you’ll find most maternity photographers have a built-in closet you can borrow dresses from, and that’s exactly what I opted for. I really loved the classic black turtleneck look that’s become pretty popular for maternity photoshoots, so I knew I wanted to do that.
My Maternity Photoshoot
Don’t be afraid to experiment with looks that are outside of your comfort zone. I normally wouldn’t gravitate towards this style, but I ended up choosing this dress for my second look. I love that I did!
I’m wishing you all the best in your pregnancy journey! If you have any questions regarding maternity photoshoots, let me know in the comments!
xoxo
-Josie
