Getting Ready for
Your Maternity Session
When to book, what to wear, studio versus outdoor — everything you need to know to get the most out of your session.
When's the Best Time to Have a Maternity Session?
Most maternity sessions work best between 28 and 34 weeks. At this point the bump is fully round and visible in images, but the baby hasn't engaged lower yet — which means you're still comfortable standing and moving without too much effort. Most mums describe feeling most like themselves again somewhere in this window.
Outdoor sessions can work a little earlier — from around 26 weeks — because there's more movement involved and you're not held in any one pose for long. Studio sessions work best from 28 weeks onwards when there's more contrast between the bump and the rest of your frame.
If you're already past 34 weeks, that's still fine. We regularly photograph sessions right up to 37–38 weeks. We just take a slightly more relaxed pace and keep the session a little shorter.
When to book: Ideally around 20–25 weeks. Weekends get taken quickly, and you want to make sure you have the right date secured before you're in the last few weeks of the pregnancy.
Studio or Outdoor — Which Is Right for You?
There's no single right answer here. Both work well; it comes down to what you'll feel most comfortable with.
Studio sessions give you complete privacy, no weather risk, and fully controlled lighting. The studio is warm, it's quiet, and there's no background to worry about. If the idea of being outdoors in front of a camera makes you uncomfortable, studio is the better choice.
Outdoor sessions feel more relaxed for a lot of people, precisely because there's more movement and it doesn't feel as much like a photo shoot. The backdrop is natural — Howth, Malahide, Phoenix Park, the coast, or wherever works for you. The light is different depending on the time of day, and it tends to look very natural in the final images.
We can also do a combination — start indoors and finish outdoors, or vice versa — if you'd like a range of different looks.
On Irish weather: If you've booked an outdoor session and the weather makes it impossible, we reschedule or move indoors at no extra cost. We check the forecast together the day before and make a call. It happens — we're used to it and we have a plan.
What to Wear
This is the question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is that it matters less than people expect. The goal is for the images to look like you — not like a photoshoot costume.
A few things that work well:
- Flowing fabrics — maxi dresses, wrap styles, anything that moves and catches light well
- Fitted fabrics — bodycon styles or fitted tops that show the shape of the bump clearly
- Soft wraps or draping — we have some available in the studio, but some people prefer to bring their own
- Neutral colours — cream, white, blush, soft grey, earthy tones. These photograph consistently well in both studio and outdoor settings
Things to avoid: busy prints, large logos or text, very bright colours that'll dominate the image. And if you have a saree or cultural outfit you'd like to include, bring it — some of the nicest images come from that combination.
Bring more than one option if you're unsure. Outfit changes are included in the session and we'll look at what works best once we see how the light and location feel on the day.
Partners and Family
Partners are included in every maternity session at no extra cost. We always spend time on portraits together — it's not an add-on. If your partner is the nervous type in front of a camera, we'll just ease into it and start with the solo portraits first. By the time we get to the couple shots, most people have relaxed a bit.
If you have older children who want to be part of the session, bring them along. Some of the most natural and spontaneous images come from having a toddler involved. We just keep their slot short so nobody gets frustrated. Bring snacks and a distraction device and they'll usually cooperate for the time we need them.
What If I'm Not Someone Who Likes Being Photographed?
This is genuinely the most common thing people say before a maternity session. And it's worth knowing that by the end, most of those same people are glad they did it.
The way a session works: we don't start with pressure. We spend the first 10–15 minutes settling in, I'll show you a few images on the back of the camera early on so you can see what we're actually capturing, and we go from there. Nobody is going to ask you to do something that doesn't feel right.
The images you end up with are from this specific point in your life. Whether or not you feel photogenic right now — and most people don't — these images have a way of looking different to how you expected. We hear that a lot.
What Happens After the Session?
You'll receive your edited images by online download link within 7–10 business days. The link includes full-resolution downloads and is easy to share with family. All images are fully edited — colour, exposure, skin retouching — before they reach you.
Ready to Book Your Maternity Session?
Tell us your due date and your preferred style and we'll figure out the rest together.