When is the best time for maternity photos? A Perth guide

If you're wondering when to book your maternity photos, you're not alone. It's one of the first questions I'm asked, usually by someone who has just realised the weeks are going faster than expected.

Here's how I'd think about it.

The short answer: between 32 and 36 weeks

For most mums, the sweet spot for maternity portraits is between 32 and 36 weeks.

By then your shape is beautifully defined, but you're usually still comfortable enough to move, walk and change poses easily. Much later and the last weeks can feel long, warm and a little unpredictable.

It also leaves a gentle margin in case your baby decides to arrive early.

How to work out your own window

The easiest way is to count back from your due date:

• 32 weeks is about eight weeks before your due date

• 36 weeks is about four weeks before your due date

So if your due date is 15 November, your window runs from around 20 September to around 18 October.

I'd suggest getting in touch after your 20 week scan. Your session is booked for a set date when you book, which means the date is yours and there's nothing left hanging. I'll be in touch again a few days beforehand to go over everything.

If you're expecting twins, we'd usually plan a little earlier, at around 28 weeks.

Studio or golden hour?

Both are lovely, and the choice usually comes down to the feeling you want.

The studio is warm, private and calm, and it works in any weather. It suits simple, sculptural portraits where the light does most of the work. You'll find it inside Beautiful Beginnings Ultrasound at Lakeside Joondalup, close to the car park entrance, with pram parking directly in front, so there's no long walk at the end of your pregnancy.

Outdoor sessions happen as the sun goes down. We start about an hour before sunset, when the light turns soft and gold and everything slows down. Outdoor sessions feel looser and more romantic, with room for a gown to move and a slow walk together.

Either way, the wardrobe is here for you to choose from, your partner and children are welcome, and I'll guide you the whole way through. You don't need to know how to pose.

Maternity sessions run for 60 minutes, in the studio or outdoors.

Planning around Perth's seasons

Perth's light changes a lot through the year, and that shapes when outdoor sessions happen. In early September the sun sets around 6pm, so we'd start at about 5pm. By early January sunset is closer to 7:30pm, which pushes summer sessions later into the evening and makes for a beautiful, warm end to the day.

The weather does have a say. If it isn't suitable on the day, whether that's extreme heat, strong wind or rain, we won't push on regardless. Depending on availability, we can either reschedule to another date or move your session into the studio. There's no fee to reschedule because of the weather.

Is it too late?

This is the question I get most often, usually from someone who has just worked out that they're already at 37 weeks.

It's absolutely not too late. If you're feeling well and I have availability, I'm very happy to photograph you at 37 weeks or beyond.

Sometimes the weeks simply get away from you, so if your ideal window has passed, please still get in touch.

What to wear, and who can come

You don't need to buy anything special, and you don't need to plan an outfit.

I have a curated maternity wardrobe chosen to suit both studio and outdoor sessions, with up to three changes during your session. We'll talk through what you're drawn to beforehand, and everything will be ready when you arrive.

Your partner and children are very welcome to be part of your session, at no extra cost. Some mums want a few frames on their own and the rest together. Some want the whole thing as a family. Both are completely normal.

If you'd like both chapters photographed

Some families want to remember the waiting as clearly as the arriving.

Bump to Baby photographs both chapters of the same story: your maternity portraits in the final weeks of pregnancy, then your newborn portraits once your baby is here, with consistent styling across both sessions, so your maternity and newborn portraits feel like one beautiful story. Your images are then revealed together at one gallery appointment, allowing you to see both chapters together for the first time.

Questions mums ask me

How many weeks pregnant should I be for maternity photos?

Usually between 32 and 36 weeks.

When should I book?

After your 20 week scan is ideal. Your session is booked for a set date at that point.

How long is a maternity session?

60 minutes, in the studio or outdoors.

Can my partner and children be in the photos?

Yes, they're very welcome, at no extra cost.

Your next step

If you'd like something to work through at your own pace, my free Portrait Planning Checklist covers when to book, how to choose the right photographer, and the questions every expecting parent asks. You'll find it near the bottom of the maternity page, under "Planning your maternity or newborn portraits?". No email required.

And when you're ready, get in touch. Anytime after your 20 week scan is a good time, so we can find a date that suits you while there's still plenty of room to plan.

I'd love to photograph this chapter for you.