How to Plan the Perfect Maternity Session | Tips & Tricks from an El Dorado Hills Maternity Photographer

studioMaternity

May 12

If you asked me to describe the difference between family photography and a maternity session, I would tell you that maternity sessions just feel different from any other kind of photography. It is quieter somehow. More tender. You are not just documenting how you look,

you are documenting who you are in one of the most transformative seasons of your entire life.

I have had the privilege of photographing so many beautiful mamas across El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Sacramento, and the surrounding foothills, and if there is one thing I have learned it is this. When a mama feels prepared, relaxed, and genuinely cared for, the images take care of themselves.

So I wanted to put together a little guide for anyone who is beginning to think about booking their maternity session. These are the things I share with every client, and I hope they help you feel excited and at ease about the whole experience.

Interested in learning about Maternity Sessions

When to Book
This is where it all begins, and it is the tip I share most often. I recommend reaching out and reserving your session date during your second trimester, ideally around weeks 16 to 24. Booking early gives us plenty of time to plan your styling, choose your location, and find a date that works beautifully for your family without any last minute rushing or worry.
Your actual session will typically take place in your third trimester, around weeks 28 to 36, when your bump is beautifully full and round but you are still feeling comfortable and mobile. This is the sweet spot, and it is worth planning for it early so everything falls into place naturally.
**A note for mamas expecting twins.** If you are carrying two, I always recommend scheduling your session a little earlier, around weeks 25 to 30. Twin pregnancies move quickly and beautifully, and getting you in front of the camera a little sooner means we capture that full, gorgeous bump while you are still feeling your best. Please do not wait too long on this one. Reach out early and we will make sure we have a date reserved that works perfectly for you.

Choosing Your Location
One of the first decisions we will make together is where to shoot, and it is one of my favorite conversations to have with clients because the location really does set the entire tone of your gallery.
**Golden Hour Outdoor Sessions**
If you are dreaming of soft open skies, wildflowers, and that warm honeyed light that settles over everything just before sunset, an outdoor session in the Sacramento foothills might be exactly right for you. Some of my favorite locations for maternity sessions are found throughout El Dorado Hills, Folsom Lake, Granite Bay, Roseville, and the surrounding area. Spring and fall tend to offer the most beautiful conditions, though every season has its own particular kind of magic.
**Studio Sessions**
If you love the idea of a clean, intimate setting with soft natural light and a relaxed unhurried atmosphere, my in-home studio in El Dorado Hills is a wonderful option. The studio is warm and welcoming, filled with neutral tones and gentle earthy touches that photograph beautifully and let you take center stage. It is also a wonderful choice during the warmer summer months when outdoor sessions can feel a little less comfortable in the later stages of pregnancy.
Not sure which option feels right for you? Reach out and we can talk through it together. I will always help you find the choice that feels most like you.

In-Home Sessions

Many of my clients prefer to capture this chapter of their story in the space where their family actually lives. I can completely understand that because this space is meaningful and comfortable for you. The soft morning light in your bedroom, the nursery you have been carefully putting together, the quiet corners of your home that already hold the beginning of your baby's story. In-home maternity sessions have a warmth and authenticity that is truly unlike anything else.

Because every home has its own unique light, the timing of your in-home session will depend on where the most beautiful natural light falls in your space and at what time of day. When we connect to plan your session, we will talk through the layout of your home and find the time of day that gives us the softest, most beautiful light to work with. It is a very personal and collaborative process, and I love every part of it.

Not sure which option feels right for you? Reach out and we can talk through it together. I will always help you find the choice that feels most

What to Wear

Getting dressed for your maternity session should feel exciting, not stressful. Here are a few gentle guidelines to help you feel your most beautiful on the day.

For Mama

Think soft, flowing, and feminine. Fabrics that drape and move beautifully, like chiffon, linen, and soft jersey, tend to photograph in the most stunning way. Colors in the cream, warm white, dusty mauve, soft taupe, and gentle earth tone family feel timeless and flattering against every skin tone.

Most importantly, choose something that makes you feel genuinely lovely. When you feel beautiful, it shows in every single frame.

The Client Closet

If pulling together the perfect look feels overwhelming, I have taken care of it for you. My client closet is filled with a hand selected collection of flowing maternity gowns and soft layering pieces chosen specifically with sessions like yours in mind. Simply let me know ahead of time that you would like to browse and I will help you find something that feels just right.

Online Styling Assistance

Every session also includes access to my personal styling program, which walks you through building a complete look from the comfort of your own home. Through a curated moodboard and personalized color guidance, we will put together a look that feels cohesive, flattering, and completely you.

How to Prepare in the Days Before
The most important thing you can do in the days leading up to your session is give yourself permission to rest and simply be present in this season. A few practical things that also make a difference:
Stay hydrated and nourished in the days before your session. You will feel and photograph more beautifully when your body feels its best. Get a good night of sleep the evening before if you can. Choose your outfits and pack your bag the day before so the morning of your session feels calm and unhurried. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready without rushing, and plan to arrive at your session feeling relaxed and at ease.
On the Day of Your Session
When you arrive, we ease in slowly. There is no rushing straight into photos and no pressure to perform. We will take our time, settle in, and let the session unfold naturally from there.
My only goal on the day of your session is for you to feel completely taken care of. To walk away not just with a beautiful gallery but with the memory of an experience that honored this season of your life the way it deserves to be honored.
Bring your partner, bring your other children if you have them, and bring anyone whose presence makes you feel loved and at ease. Maternity sessions are a celebration of your growing family, and everyone who is part of that story is welcome.

The Most Important Tip of All

Relax and enjoy yourself.

I know that sounds simple, but I mean it with my whole heart. This season is so precious and so fleeting, and your session is an opportunity to slow down and really be present in it. To let someone else take care of the details for a little while so that you can just exist in this beautiful, tender, extraordinary chapter of your life.

You are growing a whole person. That is worth celebrating.

One last thought to every sweet pregnant mama out there… Remember, you are way more likely to regret not getting the photos, than getting them. So book that session and remember you'll have these photos forever.

Your session is waiting for you...

A Special Note on Bundling Your Maternity and Newborn Session

If you are also planning to document your baby's arrival with a newborn session, I want to gently encourage you to consider booking both together. There is something so extraordinary about having both chapters of that story held in images side by side. The anticipation, and then the arrival. The bump, and then the baby.

When you book your maternity and newborn sessions together, I am happy to offer $200 off your total investment as a thank you for trusting me with the full story of this season.