If you’re wondering when to take maternity photos, the quick answer is weeks 28 to 34. This post covers why that window works, when to move it earlier or later (twins, a low or petite bump, a pregnancy your doctor is keeping an eye on), and how your maternity timing sets up your newborn session about six weeks later.
Booking early matters more than most people realize, so I’ll get into that too. But first, the number to remember.
The Short Answer: Weeks 28 to 34
Most of the time, the best time for maternity photos is between 28 and 34 weeks. That’s the tail end of your second trimester into the early third, when your bump is round and unmistakably there but you’re usually still comfortable enough to move, stand, and actually enjoy the session.
If you only remember one thing from this post, remember that window. Everything else here is context for when to nudge it earlier or later.
When to Take Maternity Photos, and Why the Window Works
By 28 weeks, there’s no question you’re pregnant. The bump has shape and presence, which is the entire point of a maternity session. Earlier than that and it can read more like a big lunch than a third trimester, especially for first-time moms and anyone carrying low.
The top of the window matters too. Somewhere after 34 or 35 weeks, swelling and fatigue tend to ramp up. Feet hurt. Standing for a stretch gets harder. You can still get beautiful photos later than that, but the sweet spot is when your body is clearly showing the pregnancy and still cooperating with you.
There’s also the small matter of not cutting it close. Babies arrive early sometimes. A session inside the 28 to 34 window leaves a comfortable buffer before your due date.
When to Shift the Window
The 28 to 34 range is the default, not a rule. Knowing when to take maternity photos really comes down to two things: how far along you are and how you’re carrying. A few situations call for moving the window.
Twins or multiples. If you’re carrying more than one, plan earlier, usually around 24 to 28 weeks. Multiples show sooner, get heavier faster, and often arrive before 40 weeks, so the comfortable window shifts up. Tell me at booking that you’re expecting twins and we’ll get you on the calendar accordingly.
Low or petite bumps. If you’re carrying low, or this is your first and you’re on the smaller side, waiting closer to 32 to 34 weeks gives the bump a little more to work with.
A pregnancy your doctor is watching. If you’re on modified activity, early bed rest, or anything your OB is keeping a close eye on, we book flexibly and work around what your body and your doctor allow. Comfort comes first, always.
Already past 34 weeks? Reach out anyway. Plenty of lovely maternity sessions happen at 36 or 37 weeks. We just move a little quicker and keep the posing easy.
Book Early, Even If the Session Is Later
Here’s the part people miss. The ideal time to book your maternity session is not the same as the ideal time to shoot it.
The calendar fills, especially in fall. I’d rather have you reach out in your second trimester and hold a date inside your 28 to 34 window than have you wait until 30 weeks and find the weekend you wanted is already gone.
Booking early also means the styling, the wardrobe, and the plan are handled before you’re tired and enormous. You can browse the studio wardrobe, sort out what to wear, and show up with nothing left to figure out. For the full rundown, my guide on what to expect at a maternity session walks through it.
When you’re ready, you can book a session with a Connecticut maternity photographer and we’ll match your date to your window.
Studio or Outdoor, and How Season Plays In
Where you shoot can nudge the timing too. Studio sessions run year round at my Farmington, Connecticut studio, so if your window lands in January, that’s not a problem. Outdoor maternity sessions happen in the warmer months, roughly late spring through early fall, so if you have your heart set on greenery or soft evening light, your due date and the calendar have to line up.
Not sure which way to go? My post on studio versus outdoor maternity photos breaks down the tradeoffs.
How Your Maternity Session Sets Up Your Newborn Session
This is the quiet reason to sort out your maternity timing early. Your newborn session happens in your baby’s first couple of weeks, ideally within the first two. That’s a narrow window, and it lands right when you’re deep in the newborn fog and not thinking about logistics.
Booking maternity and newborn together means the second session is already handled before your baby arrives. Same photographer, same style, one less thing on your plate postpartum. About six weeks after your bump photos, you’re back in the studio with the actual baby.
If that appeals to you, it’s worth reading why booking your maternity and newborn photos together is the easiest way to do it. You can also look at newborn sessions with a Connecticut newborn photographer while you’re planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most maternity sessions land between 28 and 34 weeks, when your bump is round and clearly there and you’re usually still comfortable enough to move and pose. If you’re carrying twins, plan earlier, around 24 to 28 weeks.
Move the whole window up to around 24 to 28 weeks. Multiples show sooner and often arrive before 40 weeks, so that earlier range tends to be the sweet spot. Let me know at booking so we can time it right.
Not at all. Plenty of beautiful sessions happen at 36 or 37 weeks. We just work efficiently and keep the posing comfortable. The main reason to book early is in case of an early arrival.
It’s the easiest way to do it. Newborn sessions happen in the first two weeks after birth, which is a tight window during a hectic time, so booking both together gets it handled before your baby is here.
Kelli Dease is a Farmington, Connecticut newborn and family photographer specializing in timeless, light-filled maternity and newborn portraits, baby and children’s photography, and family portraits. She offers a relaxed, full-service experience for growing families, creating in-studio and outdoor portraits with a focus on simplicity and ease. Clients receive access to a curated studio wardrobe, thoughtful guidance throughout the planning and session process, and digital images, with the option to add fine art prints and albums. Please contact Kelli Dease Photography today to find out about session availability.
Kelli Dease Photography serves families throughout Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Canton, West Hartford, Burlington, Granby, and the surrounding Farmington Valley, Hartford County, and central Connecticut areas.
To see more of Kelli’s photos, please follow her on Instagram.
