When Is the Best Time to Have a Maternity Photoshoot?

If you're wondering when to have a maternity photoshoot, the short answer is: for most women, I recommend having your maternity photos taken between 28 and 35 weeks of pregnancy.

This gives you that beautiful, unmistakable pregnancy bump while you're still comfortable enough to move around, change outfits and actually enjoy the experience.

But there isn't one magical week that works for everyone. Every pregnancy and every woman is different, so there are a few things worth considering before choosing your date.

The Ideal Window: 28-35 Weeks

One of the main reasons women book a maternity photoshoot is because they want to celebrate and show off their bump.

By around 28 weeks, your bump is usually well-pronounced, so there's no question that this is a maternity portrait. At the same time, most women still have enough mobility and energy to move comfortably through a shoot.

If you're expecting twins, I generally recommend having your maternity photoshoot earlier, around 22–26 weeks. With a twin pregnancy, your bump can become very pronounced much earlier, and comfort can become an issue sooner too. So rather than waiting until 28–35 weeks, I'd usually recommend bringing the session forward.

Your comfort comes first, however. You know your body better than anyone.

The same applies if this isn't your first pregnancy.

A maternity photoshoot isn't just about standing in front of a camera for an hour. During my sessions, we'll try different poses, change outfits, move between different lighting setups and take plenty of breaks along the way.

As you get closer to your due date, some things can become a little more difficult. The bump gets heavier, the baby may sit lower, and some positions can become uncomfortable. Sitting or lying down can take more effort, and you may simply find that you get tired more quickly. All of this is okay, we tailor the shoot to what you and your body can do and will get beautiful images regardless of ability. And we'll take as many breaks as you need to make sure you're feeling your best.

From my experience, mums can be surprisingly resilient when there's a photograph they really want, but I don't want you to soldier through it!

If you're already 35 or 36 weeks pregnant, don't panic. It may still be possible to have your maternity photoshoot depending on how you're feeling and my availability. But I wouldn't recommend leaving it this late if you already know you'd like maternity portraits.

Around this point, you may also be starting to nest and prepare for your baby to arrive. There's suddenly a lot to think about, and the last thing I want is for you to feel rushed or worried that the baby could arrive at any moment.

When should you book your maternity photographer?

This is actually a different question from when should I have my maternity photoshoot?

For my London maternity photography sessions, I recommend booking around a month in advance where possible.

I currently take on a very limited number of shoots each month, so if you have a particular weekend in mind, booking early gives you the best chance of getting the date you want.

I also need a minimum of two weeks between booking and your shoot. That's because my sessions aren't designed to be rushed or pulled together at the last minute.

Before your maternity photoshoot, we'll have a moodboard design session. We'll talk about how you want your portraits to look and feel, and that will guide the overall vision. I source outfits based on our plan. If I don't already have something that works with the vision we've created, I need time to find it.

And there are little things you might want to prepare too , whether that's making sure you have the right underwear, booking your nails, or simply giving yourself time to get excited about the experience.

So if you're searching for a maternity photographer in London, don't wait until you're 36 weeks to start looking.

Not sure if you're feeling ready for it?

You don't have to arrive already feeling confident in your changing body. In fact, most of my clients don't.

Pregnancy can be a strange time to look at yourself. Your body is changing constantly, sometimes faster than you can get used to, and you might find yourself missing the body you had before.

You might think you'll feel more confident once your bump is bigger, or once you get used to the new version of you. But the whole point of a maternity shoot, for me, is about helping you feel confident and comfortable in your body now.

The whole day is designed to be about you for good reason. Your body is changing because it's doing something extraordinary. And we are here to celebrate you and the goddess that you are. With professional hair and makeup, your favourite songs, beautiful dresses and expert posing guidance, you'll see that you are so uniquely beautiful in this precious moment.

That's also why my sessions take around six hours. We don't rush anything.

Hair and makeup can take an hour to an hour and a half. We have time for outfit changes, different lighting setups, different poses and plenty of breaks. You can go to the bathroom whenever you need to, sit down when you want to, have lunch with your partner and take some time to settle into being in front of the camera.

I find that it takes most people around 20 minutes to properly relax in front of the camera. That's completely normal. You're not expected to walk into a studio and immediately know what to do with your hands or how to pose!

By giving ourselves the time, you can actually enjoy the experience without worrying that we're running out of time.

And that's really what I want your maternity photoshoot to be: a day where you get to chill out, get pampered, feel beautiful and create something meaningful to remember this chapter by.