Pregnancy moves fast. One minute you’re announcing, the next you’re Googling “best time to take maternity photos” at 35 weeks wondering if you’ve already missed your window. So let’s talk about your maternity photos!
The Sweet Spot: 28 to 32 Weeks
28-32 weeks is my answer for most people on when to take maternity photos, and here’s why.
By 28 weeks your belly has taken real shape. Round, prominent, and exactly what you’re picturing when you imagine maternity photos. You’re not squinting at the screen wondering if it reads as pregnant. It does. But you’re also not yet in that late third trimester phase where everything is uncomfortable and moving around feels like a whole project.
The belly sitting high and round is a big deal in photos. Once a baby drops (which can happen anywhere from 34 weeks on, sometimes earlier) the shape changes. It sits lower and wider instead of forward and full. That classic bump silhouette we’re going for lives solidly in that 28 to 32 week window.
That said, 26 to 34 weeks can all work beautifully depending on how you’re carrying and how you’re feeling. It’s a starting point, not a rule.
Find Your Ideal Maternity Photography Window
Not sure when you will be in that maternity photo sweetspot? Plug in your due date below and I’ll show you exactly where your timing falls.
What About 36 Weeks?
Some photographers actually love 36 weeks. The bump is fully defined, completely round, and undeniably there. And honestly? They’re not wrong. It can be stunning.
But it makes me a little nervous. Babies don’t always wait for their due date. If we need to reschedule (weather, you’re not feeling it, literally anything) there may not be a backup date before you’re holding your baby instead of photographing your bump.
If you’re already at 36 weeks, don’t panic. We can make it work and I’ll adjust the session to keep you comfortable. But if you have the choice, earlier always gives us more room to play with.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long
I’ve had clients who were planning to book their session and then their baby showed up early. No session, no photos, just a very sad text message. That’s the worst outcome and it’s completely avoidable. You may have a maternity photo plan but your baby does not care, he’s coming when he feels like it.
Past 34 or 35 weeks, a few things tend to happen. The baby may have dropped, swelling is more common, energy is lower, and the session itself is just harder on your body. The photos can still be beautiful. But there’s no cushion left if anything goes sideways.
Book early if you can – it keeps it simple.
Why Most Photographers Wait Until 28 Weeks
Before 28 weeks, the belly doesn’t always have that distinct round silhouette, even with great lighting. It can read more like a big lunch than a baby bump, which is not the vibe. By 28 weeks the shape is there and it’s clearly, beautifully pregnant.
There’s also a wardrobe thing most people don’t think about. Maternity gowns are cut for a fully filled-out bump. The drape, the fit, the way fabric moves, it all works better once you’re in that late second or early third trimester range. Come in too early and even the most gorgeous gown can look a little lost.
In the studio I have plenty of gown options for clients to choose from, but if you are looking on your own, I have some of my favorite maternity styles and dresses linked here on my storefront.
If you’re further along and we do move forward, I’ll typically recommend a studio session over outdoor. Less walking, no weather to deal with, and you’re not on your feet as much. It’s a more controlled environment and honestly still produces stunning results.the flip side, if you’re 33 weeks and feeling amazing, we can make that work too.
Coming In Earlier Than 28 Weeks
If you’re expecting multiples, I’d actually push for 24 to 25 weeks. Twin and triplet pregnancies move faster, and getting in sooner means you’re more comfortable and still moving around easily.
Same goes if there’s any chance of bedrest, a planned early induction, or anything medical that might affect your timeline. Don’t wait to see how it plays out. Just reach out and we’ll figure out the right time for your situation.
I’ve shot sessions earlier than 28 weeks and they’ve turned out stunning. The bump might be a little less prominent, but that’s literally what posing and lighting are for. Earlier clients have always loved their photos. It’s just a different kind of beautiful.
It’s Not Just About the Week Number
When someone reaches out, the first thing I ask is how they’re feeling, not what week they’re at.
If you’re 30 weeks and your face is puffy, you’re struggling to get around, and you just don’t feel great, we’re not waiting. I’d rather photograph you at 29 weeks feeling confident than at 32 weeks feeling completely done.
And if you’re 33 weeks and feeling amazing, that works too.
What I’m Actually Thinking About When We Pick a Date
- How are you feeling right now? Do you love where your bump is?
- Is this your first pregnancy or have you been pregnant before?
- Do you have a planned induction or c-section?
- Indoor or outdoor session?
- Any specific setting you’re going for?
That last one matters more than people expect.
The Weather Thing Is Real
If you want an outdoor session (golden hour, fall leaves, that last bit of warm weather) we need enough runway that if your original date gets rained out or is 40 degrees when we were hoping for 65, we still have a backup that works before the baby arrives.
Fall is the most requested season and it books the fastest. If you want October or early November, you really need to be on the calendar by midsummer at the latest. Spring is similar. Winter sessions are beautiful but unpredictable — I’ve had clients chasing the first snow of the season and we watched the forecast together for two weeks waiting for the right day. Summer has its own thing going on with heat and humidity, which is a real factor when you’re very pregnant and we’re outside.
The point is, the season you want affects when you need to book, not just when you need to shoot. Factor that in early.
And sometimes the weather just has other plans. You’re hoping for spring blooms and it’s been raining for two weeks straight. That’s just the reality of outdoor sessions, and it’s part of why I always try to build in extra time. We might end up shooting a little later than planned, or swapping flowers for trees, or finding a completely different location that works better for the conditions. It’s not always picture perfect timing, but it usually still works out.
Are Maternity Photos Even Worth It?
If you’re on the fence about whether to do them at all, here’s my honest take: this is one of the only times in your life that looks exactly like this. Pregnancy is fleeting, and for a lot of people it only happens once or twice. The women I’ve photographed who skipped maternity sessions and then saw their friends’ photos, or who had a complicated delivery and never got to do a newborn session either, are the ones who reach out later wishing they had something from that time.
You don’t have to love being pregnant to want photos of it. A lot of my clients feel awkward or unsure going into their session and leave completely surprised by how they look. That’s kind of the whole point. Pregnancy is also just genuinely hard sometimes, and having beautiful images from that season of life means something different than people expect. The internet is full of women saying they regret not doing it. I’ve never had a client tell me they regret that they did.
The Most Important Things About When to Book your Maternity Session
Book early. Not because you have to lock in a date, but because being on the calendar gives you options. Once you’re booked we figure out the timing together. I’ll check in as you get further along, ask how you’re feeling, and we’ll land on a date that actually makes sense for you.
Waiting until you “feel ready” usually means the dates you want are gone.
One of my favorite sessions came together in just four days. A client reached out at 32 weeks wanting a sunrise shoot. She was already convinced she’d waited too long and wasn’t sure how she’d look. We got her in immediately, the morning was stunning, and she was gorgeous. She cried. It was perfect. That’s not always how it goes, but it can – when someone just reaches out instead of waiting a little longer to decide
There is never a time too early to book. Reach out now and we’ll sort the rest later.
Quick Reference: Timing at a Glance
- Before 24 weeks: Too early for most. The shape isn’t quite there yet.
- 24–25 weeks: Ideal if you’re expecting multiples or have medical timing concerns.
- 26–27 weeks: Close enough. Works well depending on how you’re carrying.
- 28–32 weeks: The sweet spot. Bump is full, baby hasn’t dropped, you still feel like yourself.
- 33–34 weeks: Still totally bookable, just less wiggle room.
- 35–36 weeks: We can make it work but we’re moving fast.
- Book by: Second trimester if possible. Your photographer will help dial in the actual date.
Already Thinking About Newborn Photos?
Your baby will be here before you know it and newborn sessions have their own timing sweet spot worth knowing about now. Read all about when to book your newborn session here
And if you want to hear more about a Rel Portraits maternity sessions in Chicago schedule a call today so we can get planning!
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