Grace Layne Photography - 7 Things to Know When Booking Your Maternity Session

Congrats on your new little bundle of joy! Pregnancy is the most amazing thing our bodies can do in my opinion! As a mom to be, there are at least a million and a half things on your to-do list. The nursery, the car seat installation, the day care, etc. the list goes on and on! But one of those things that you can most certainly look forward to is your Maternity Photo Session!

When you are expecting, so many emotions take over about the changes going on to your body and your life in general. One way to help you through the changes, is to celebrate your pregnancy with a photoshoot of this time in your life! A maternity session with the right photographer is one thing clients NEVER regret, and usually ends up as one of the highlights of their pregnancy!

So, if this is your first or even your third pregnancy, and you are trying to figure out how to plan for your maternity session, I have compiled a list of 7 things to help you navigate the process of booking and doing your maternity shoot.

1. Schedule your session early One thing that sometimes creates a bit of stress for an expecting mom is waiting to long to schedule their maternity session. I recommend scheduling your session around 20 weeks. That way you may know the gender of the baby and can plan colors or themes accordingly. Many photographers book a couple months out, so securing your date for your maternity session early helps insure you will have your session when it is best.

2. Do your maternity session between 30-34 weeks if possible. This is what I think of as the "sweet spot" for maternity sessions. It is when you have a nice and round belly, but you won't have too much trouble posing or standing for long periods of time.

3. Do your research. What I mean by this is, look at the photographers work, or even Pinterest for certain poses or ideas that you may want to include in your maternity session. Then be sure to relay that information to your photographer so they can plan to give you exactly what you want!

4. Pamper yourself! This would be the PERFECT time to go get that manicure and pedicure you have been wanting! I love to get close up shots with your hands on your sweet belly so be sure to have them looking their best!

5. Be sure to have the right undergarments. This is something that is not always on your mind until the day of your session. I like to suggest the maternity underwear you can get on amazon that goes under the belly. Light colored(white or nude) underwear and bra are best! For the bra, strapless is preferred but not a must!

6. Figure out who will be coming with you to your session. Whether it be just your significant other or your other kiddos too, be sure to know who all will be joining you at your session so you can plan the outfits and colors that you all will wear.

7. Don't Stress! I know being the star of the show in your maternity shoot can cause some stress if you feel out of your element. But I am here to tell you DON'T STRESS! I've got you! You just have to show up with your beautiful belly, and I will take care of the rest! I can pose you just how you need to be to make you look your best, and can even provide you with your clothes to wear with my client closet! You don't need to worry about a thing, just enjoy your time in the spotlight! :)