When to Book Your Maternity Portraits in Richmond, Virginia

One of the first questions I am asked when chatting with an expecting family is when should I schedule our maternity portraits? Like most decisions with parenting, there is no simple answer, since every situation is different. However I do have some recommendations for timing for maternity portraits in Richmond, Virginia based on the many families with whom I have worked in the past! 

When is the best time to take maternity portraits in Richmond? 

While there is no one-size-fits all answer, I will recommend most families to schedule maternity portraits for 26 – 34 weeks. Of course, if you’re needing an earlier or a later date, I work with families on a case by case basis and am flexible to your needs and concerns. 

What is the best trimester to take maternity portraits? 

26 – 34 weeks puts you at the beginning of your third trimester for maternity portraits. This tends to be an ideal time because mom is still feeling good and the baby bump is full and pronounced. 

Again, there is a lot of wiggle room in this time frame as each individual mom is different. First-time moms might not show as early, so you might want to hold off till a little closer to 34 weeks. Whereas veteran moms might show earlier and want to schedule closer to 28 weeks before the achey and swollen joints set it. Maternity photos are meant to celebrate the beauty of pregnancy, so you definitely want to have a noticeable bump to show off in your portraits. 

You may ask how this works with booking and scheduling? My biggest advice is to get on my calendar early and I will reserve time for you during this window. As we get closer to the date, we can go with how you are feeling and firm up the schedule then. 

When should I book my photographer for Richmond maternity portraits? 

I would book your maternity photographer as early as you can. Many photographers, myself included, book out months in advance. In order to have time reserved on my calendar during your third trimester, I would recommend booking as soon as you know you want to have maternity portraits. 

I also offer a maternity + newborn bundled package as well as a first year collective, which allows you to reserve the time on my calendar for subsequent portrait sessions as well! So many of my families who book these packages tell me it was such a relief to know that their important milestone sessions were already in the books so they didn’t have to worry about it. The best advice is to book early! Families will typically begin to reach out around 12 weeks. 

Is 35 weeks too late for maternity portraits? 

I know that for me, personally, I was uncomfortably swollen and sore by 35 weeks and not in the mood for portraits. However, with that being said I have had moms schedule up to 38 weeks and we kept it calm and simple and she had lovely portraits to remember the final days of her pregnancy. I find that sometimes, moms decide last minute that they want to document this special time near the end of the pregnancy. I will always recommend reaching out and booking as early as possible but I am also flexible for moms who change their mind at the last minute and want to add a Richmond maternity portrait session to their newborn portraits! 

Is 24 weeks too early for maternity portraits? 

You probably won’t be showing much by 24 weeks so I would recommend waiting a bit longer to schedule your official maternity portraits in Richmond, Va. However, I love when families book “announcement” portraits, which are a blend of maternity and traditional couple portraits, and help make your big reveal a lot more fun!  

Can I book solo maternity portraits? 

Yes, of course! In fact, I have a special place in my heart for solo maternity portraits. I believe it is such a beautiful and empowering time for a woman and I 100% support celebrating those feelings through a solo maternity portrait session. 

What is the best time of the day to schedule maternity portraits in Virginia? And what about the weather? 

I love to shoot with a lot of full light, so I schedule all my sessions for late morning or about 90 minutes before sunset. One of my favorite things about living in Virginia is its four unique seasons, each of which offer their own flair for maternity portraits. I love cozy winter maternity portraits and  or colorful summer portraits equally! 

As for the weather, that is one thing we cannot control. However, I like to set a rain date free of charge just in case the weather does not pan out on the original date! 

What if there are unexpected changes in the pregnancy timeline?

As a mom, I 100% understand that there will be unexpected changes in a pregnancy timeline. It’s important to communicate with your photographer as soon as possible. Most photographers understand that pregnancy can be unpredictable and are prepared to be flexible. They can work with you to reschedule the session if needed, ensuring that you still get beautiful maternity photos at a time that is safe and comfortable for you. It’s always a good idea to discuss potential contingency plans when booking your session, just in case adjustments need to be made later on.

Tips for when to book maternity portraits in Richmond, Va

• For most moms, typically between 26 – 34 weeks, however, pay attention to your body and how you’re feeling. 
• If this is your first pregnancy, you will probably want to schedule later in the booking window (30 weeks or later).
• Moms typically show faster if they’ve already been pregnant before, so book earlier in the window in this case (probably before 30 weeks).
• If you wait too long, you might feel tired and uncomfortable. 
• If you schedule too early, it could be difficult to see a defined bump, however you could always book a first year collective and bundle an announcement portrait session. 
• Reach out to your photographer once you are comfortable to book maternity and newborn portraits. This is often around the 12 week mark for most families. 
• Your photos will be beautiful no matter the season! 

Looking for more tips to prepare for your maternity portraits in Richmond? Here are some blog posts to help you plan! (Coming soon!)

• What to wear for your maternity portraits
• Our favorite locations in Richmond, Va for portraits 
• Booking the baby plan with Jacqueline

Jacqueline Aimee Portraits offers Richmond Maternity Photography for clients looking for timeless maternity portraits. See her latest work on Instagram!

Jacqueline Burns is Richmond family photographer specializing in maternity, newborn and lifestyle family photography. Jacqueline serves the Richmond, Virginia area, including the counties of Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield, as well as the cities of Bon Air, Ashland and Mechanicsville.