Pregnancy is such a strange little season of life.
You are growing an entire human, your body is changing by the day, you’re probably simultaneously excited and exhausted, and somehow you’re expected to remember to document all of it.
That’s where maternity photography comes in.
And while I love a beautiful maternity portrait as much as anyone, I don’t think your maternity session has to look a certain way.
Maybe you picture yourself in a gorgeous flowing dress in a field at sunset.
Maybe you would rather be barefoot in your living room, curled up on the couch with your partner.
Maybe your perfect session involves your favorite coffee shop, a beautiful garden, or an evening at home eating pizza and playing board games with the people you love most.
There isn’t one right way to do maternity photos.
As a Raleigh and Wake Forest maternity photographer, my goal is to create a session that feels like you—and that starts with getting to know you.
Here’s everything you need to know about planning a maternity photography session in Raleigh, Wake Forest, and the surrounding Triangle area.
When Should You Book Your Maternity Photography Session?
I recommend reaching out to book your maternity session during your second trimester.
You don’t necessarily have to know exactly what you want yet. In fact, that’s part of what we’ll figure out together.
Booking early gives us plenty of time to have your consultation, talk through ideas, choose a location, figure out wardrobe, and create a plan that feels personal to you.
It also gives you a better chance of getting the date and time you want, especially if you’re hoping for a specific season, weekend, or evening golden-hour session.
When should the actual session take place?
Most maternity sessions take place somewhere around 28–34 weeks, but there isn’t a magic number that works for everyone.
Some women feel fantastic at 32 weeks and others are ready to put their feet up much earlier.
Your comfort matters.
We’ll talk about your due date, how you’re feeling, the look you’re going for, and the type of session we’re planning before choosing the perfect timing.
If you’re expecting twins or have been advised by your healthcare provider to deliver earlier, we’ll adjust accordingly.
Maternity Photography Can Be Whatever You Want It to Be
This is probably the most important thing I want you to know.
You don’t have to show up to your maternity session and simply follow a list of poses.
Your session is customized around your family.
Before your session, we’ll have a Zoom consultation where we can actually talk.
We’ll look at ideas, talk about your personality, discuss locations and outfits, and figure out what you want your photographs to feel like.
Maybe you want something romantic and beautiful.
Maybe you want something playful.
Maybe you want something cozy and intimate.
Maybe you have absolutely no idea what you want—and that’s okay too.
We’ll figure it out together.
What Could Your Maternity Session Look Like?
Honestly?
Almost anything.
A Cozy Indoor Maternity Session
If you love the idea of documenting this season at home, we can create something relaxed and intimate.
Think cozy sweaters, bare feet, coffee in the kitchen, snuggling on the couch, reading a book in the nursery, or simply hanging out together.
This can be especially meaningful if you’re planning an in-home newborn session, too.
There’s something really beautiful about photographing your family in the same space before and after your baby arrives.
A More Formal Maternity Session
If you’re dreaming about something a little more glamorous, we can absolutely create that too.
A beautiful dress, dramatic light, an outdoor location, and a little bit of magic.
Maybe it’s a gorgeous field at golden hour.
Maybe it’s a garden.
Maybe it’s somewhere that has special meaning to you.
Your maternity session can be as dressed-up and elegant as you want.
A Coffee Shop Date
One of my favorite things about lifestyle photography is that it doesn’t always have to look like a traditional photography session.
What if your maternity photos were simply an afternoon coffee date with your partner?
You grab your favorite drinks.
You talk.
You laugh.
You sit across from each other.
And we document this little piece of your life before everything changes.
Pizza & Board Games
Yes. I said pizza and board games.
Because maybe that’s actually what your family looks like on a Friday night.
Maybe you have older kids who are just as excited about the new baby as you are.
Maybe your family loves game nights.
Maybe pizza is your favorite meal.
Why not document that?
Years from now, you’ll probably care much more about remembering what your family was actually like during this season than whether every photograph looked perfectly posed.
And I want to give you photographs that bring those memories right back.
A Garden or Outdoor Adventure
If you love being outside, we can plan a session around a beautiful garden, field, or outdoor location.
Raleigh and Wake Forest have so many beautiful options depending on the season and the look we’re going for.
Spring can be full of fresh blooms and greenery.
Summer gives us lush landscapes and beautiful evening light.
Fall brings gorgeous warm tones.
And winter can have its own quiet, beautiful simplicity.
The location becomes part of your story rather than simply being a pretty backdrop.
What Should You Wear for Maternity Photos?
This is probably one of the first things that comes to mind when you start thinking about maternity photography.
And yes, wardrobe matters—but you don’t have to show up in a giant flowing maternity gown if that isn’t your style.
We can talk about what feels like you.
You might choose:
- A beautiful flowing dress
- A fitted dress that shows off your bump
- Jeans and a simple top
- A cozy sweater
- Something more formal
- Something casual and comfortable
- Bare feet at home
- An outfit you’ve worn throughout your pregnancy
- Something meaningful or sentimental
I can help you think through colors, textures, and styles that photograph beautifully and work with the location we’ve chosen.
And if you’re including your partner or children, we’ll coordinate everyone’s outfits so everything feels cohesive without looking overly matched.
Should Your Partner Be Included?
Absolutely.
Your partner is a huge part of this story, and I love incorporating those relationships into maternity sessions.
We can photograph the two of you together, capture the little moments between you, and create beautiful portraits of you individually as well.
And if this isn’t your first baby, your older children should absolutely be part of the experience too.
Watching a child interact with their pregnant mom can be incredibly sweet—and sometimes hilarious.
We don’t need everyone looking at the camera the entire time.
In fact, I usually prefer when they don’t.
What About Older Siblings?
Bring them!
Maternity photography is about more than documenting your belly. It’s about documenting your family right before it changes.
Your older children are becoming big brothers or sisters.
Their relationship with you is about to shift.
They’re waiting for this baby just like you are.
Let’s photograph that.
We can get the classic family portraits, but we can also capture the hugs, the giggles, the belly kisses, the questions, and all of those little interactions that happen naturally.
Do I Have to Be Good at Posing?
Nope.
That’s my job.
You don’t need to know what to do with your hands, where to stand, or how to pose your bump.
I’ll guide you when direction is helpful, but I also want plenty of room for natural interaction.
My goal is for you to feel comfortable rather than like you’re performing for the camera.
And if you’re nervous about having your photograph taken, tell me.
We’ll work through it together.
What If I Don’t Feel Comfortable in My Pregnant Body?
This is something I think a lot of women quietly worry about.
Pregnancy is beautiful, but that doesn’t mean you automatically feel beautiful every single day.
Your body is changing.
You may feel swollen or uncomfortable.
Maybe you’re carrying differently than you expected.
Maybe this pregnancy has been physically difficult.
You don’t have to love every part of being pregnant to want to remember it.
I’ll help you find poses, angles, clothing, and light that make you feel comfortable and confident.
And we’ll never force you into something that doesn’t feel like you.
How Long Does a Maternity Session Take?
The length of your session will depend on the type of experience we create.
A relaxed lifestyle session at home might flow very differently than a more formal outdoor session.
That’s one of the reasons I don’t want to put your experience into a one-size-fits-all box.
We’ll talk about what you’re envisioning during your consultation and make a plan from there.
Can You Combine Maternity and Newborn Photography?
Yes—and this is where my Baby’s First Year Package can be a really great option.
If you already know that you want more than one session during your baby’s first year, we can bundle your sessions together rather than booking each one individually.
For example, you might choose:
Maternity + Newborn
or
Maternity + Newborn + Six Months
or
Maternity + Newborn + Family
The exact combination can be customized based on what you want to document.
Because you’re booking multiple sessions within your baby’s first year, the Baby’s First Year Package reduces the session fees compared with booking each session separately.
And honestly, I love this option because it allows us to tell the whole story.
We start with your family before the baby arrives.
Then we document those first newborn days.
Then we watch your baby change and grow throughout that first year.
Those photographs become a collection rather than just one moment in time.
If you’re already thinking, “I definitely want maternity photos AND newborn photos,” it’s worth asking about the Baby’s First Year Package before booking your first session.
Why I Love Maternity Sessions So Much
I think maternity photography gets misunderstood sometimes.
People think it’s just about photographing a pregnant belly.
But it’s really about documenting your family before it becomes a slightly different version of itself.
It’s the last few weeks before you become a family of four.
Or the last few weeks before your first baby arrives.
It’s the nursery waiting for someone to fill it.
It’s your older children wondering what their new sibling will be like.
It’s you and your partner realizing that your lives are about to change in a really big way.
And that’s what I want your photographs to capture.
Not just what you looked like.
What this season felt like.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maternity Photography
How far in advance should I book a maternity photographer in Raleigh?
I recommend reaching out during your second trimester. This gives us time to schedule your Zoom consultation, plan your session, choose a location, and make sure we have the date and time you want.
What is the best time for maternity photos?
Many maternity sessions take place between 28 and 34 weeks, but the best time depends on your pregnancy, comfort level, due date, and the type of session we’re planning.
Can I book maternity and newborn photography together?
Absolutely! If you know you’d like more than one session during your baby’s first year, ask about my Baby’s First Year Package. Bundling multiple sessions reduces the session fees compared with booking them individually.
Do you help with planning the session?
Yes! Your session begins with a Zoom consultation where we’ll collaborate on the vision. We’ll talk about the location, wardrobe, people you’d like included, the overall vibe, and any ideas you have.
Do maternity photos have to be outdoors?
Not at all! Your session can take place at home, outdoors, in a garden, at a coffee shop, or even somewhere that is meaningful to your family. We can create something formal, casual, cozy, playful, or anything in between.
Can my partner and children be included?
Absolutely. I encourage it! Maternity photography is a wonderful opportunity to document your entire family right before you welcome your new baby.
What should I wear for maternity photos?
That depends entirely on the vision for your session. We can talk through dresses, casual outfits, cozy clothing, colors, textures, and what will work best with your location. You don’t have to wear a traditional maternity gown unless you want to.
What if I don’t know what I want my session to look like?
Perfect. You don’t have to!
That’s exactly what the consultation is for. We’ll talk, look at ideas, and figure out what feels like you. Sometimes the best sessions happen when you start with, “I have no idea, but I know I don’t want anything cheesy.”
Can we do something non-traditional for maternity photos?
Please do!
Coffee dates, pizza nights, board games, cooking dinner, hanging out in the nursery, going for a walk—these are all possibilities. Your session should reflect your family rather than what you think a maternity session is “supposed” to look like.
What happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate?
We’ll have a plan. Depending on the session we’ve designed, we may be able to move indoors, choose another date, or adjust the location. The goal is to create a beautiful experience, not stress over a little North Carolina weather.
Ready to Plan Your Maternity Session?
If you’re looking for a Raleigh maternity photographer or Wake Forest maternity photographer, I’d love to create something with you that feels personal, relaxed, and completely your own.
Whether you’re dreaming of a beautiful sunset in a field, a cozy afternoon at home, coffee with your partner, a garden session with your kids, or an evening of pizza and board games, let’s make photographs that tell the story of your family.
Your maternity session doesn’t have to fit into a mold.
It just has to fit you.
And if you’re also thinking about newborn photos or documenting your baby’s first year, ask about the Baby’s First Year Package. It can be a beautiful—and more cost-effective—way to document all of these fleeting milestones together.
Linsley Schneider Photography serves families throughout Raleigh, Wake Forest, and the surrounding Triangle area with maternity, newborn, family, and senior photography.
