How Many Weeks Pregnant Should You Be for Maternity Photos?



Written by Emma Williams — Newborn Safety & First Aid Certified Photographer, Founder of Manawa Studio.



It's one of the very first questions every mum-to-be asks once she decides to book a maternity session: when should this actually happen? Book too early and the bump may not be as defined as you'd hoped. Leave it too late, and you risk being too physically uncomfortable to enjoy the session — or missing the window entirely.

The Ideal Window: 28 to 36 Weeks

For most pregnancies, the sweet spot for maternity photography sits between 28 and 36 weeks, with many photographers (us included) suggesting around 32 weeks as the ideal middle ground.

By this stage, your bump is beautifully rounded and well-defined, but you're generally still comfortable enough to hold poses, move around a little, and enjoy the experience rather than simply endure it.

Why Not Earlier?

Before around 28 weeks, your bump may not yet be as pronounced, particularly with a first pregnancy. While early sessions can still be lovely, they tend to read more as "pregnancy announcement" style images rather than the fuller, more sculptural maternity photography most people picture.

Why Not Later?

After 36 weeks, most mums start to feel significantly more fatigued, and standing or holding poses for an extended session becomes genuinely more difficult. There's also, of course, the very real possibility of baby arriving early — and once you're in active labour, the maternity session window has understandably closed.

Factors That Might Shift Your Timing

Multiples (twins or more): bumps grow faster, so many multiples mums book slightly earlier, often around 26–30 weeks

First pregnancy vs later pregnancies: later pregnancies often show earlier, so timing can shift a week or two sooner

How you're feeling physically: comfort matters more than hitting an exact week — if you're feeling great at 34 weeks, that's a wonderful time to shoot

Travel or work commitments: if your schedule is tight later in pregnancy, booking on the earlier side of the window gives more flexibility

When Should You Actually Book?

Because the ideal window is fairly specific, we recommend booking your maternity session as soon as you know your due date — ideally in your second trimester — even if the shoot itself won't happen for a few more months. This guarantees you a spot at the right time, rather than trying to find last-minute availability once you're already approaching the ideal week.