And why waiting for the "perfect" moment often means missing this chapter altogether

 

If you're expecting a baby, you've probably already wondered when you should book your maternity photos. Perhaps you've read that 28 to 34 weeks is the ideal time. Maybe you've looked at beautiful photographs online and thought, I'd love those... but I don't quite feel like that.


For many women, pregnancy is full of mixed emotions. There is excitement, anticipation and the quiet realisation that life is about to change forever. There can also be swollen ankles, aching backs, restless nights and days when you barely recognise yourself in the mirror.


It's one of the reasons so many mums tell me they're thinking about booking a maternity session, only to keep putting it off. They want to feel more like themselves first.


 

The "perfect" time isn't just about your bump

 

You'll often hear photographers recommend booking your maternity session between 28 and 34 weeks, and from a practical point of view, it's good advice. By then, your bump has usually become beautifully round, but you're often still comfortable enough to enjoy walking, changing locations and spending time outdoors if that's the kind of session you've imagined.


After 34 weeks, many mums are still feeling good, but it's also impossible to predict exactly how you'll be feeling or if your little one might decide to make an early appearance. Booking during that window simply gives us the best chance of creating a relaxed experience without feeling rushed.


 

You don't have to feel glamorous

 

This is something I wish every expectant mum knew. You don't have to wake up feeling radiant to deserve beautiful photographs. In fact, I don't think I've ever photographed a mum-to-be who arrived saying, "I've never felt more confident."


Most tell me they're worried about their arms, their face looking fuller or the fact that none of their usual clothes fit anymore. I understand those feelings because I've been there too. As mothers, we're often kinder to everyone else than we are to ourselves.


The truth is, your baby will never look back at these photographs and notice any of the things you've spent weeks worrying about. They'll see the woman who carried them safely through those first nine months and loved them long before they ever met. That's what makes these photographs so meaningful.


 

This chapter deserves to be remembered too

 

Pregnancy can feel incredibly long while you're living it. There are appointments to remember, endless preparations, nursery lists and so many things to think about before your baby arrives.

Then suddenly, it's over. One day your bump is part of your everyday life and the next you're holding your baby in your arms, wondering where those months went.


It's easy to think you'll remember exactly how it felt, but memories soften with time. Photographs have a way of bringing you back. Not just to what you looked like, but to who you were in that moment. The excitement. The anticipation. The quiet conversations about the future. The feeling of resting your hands on your bump without even thinking about it. Those are the things that become precious.


 

Bring the whole family if you like

 

Although maternity sessions are a lovely opportunity to celebrate you, they don't have to be just about you. If you're already a family, your partner and children are always welcome to be part of the session.


I love watching older siblings chat to the baby they're waiting to meet or cuddle into mum as they wonder what life will be like once the baby arrives. Those photographs become even more meaningful after the birth because they capture the last little chapter before everything changed.


 

I'll help you feel prepared

 

One of the biggest worries expectant mums have is knowing what to wear. You won't be left to figure that out on your own.


Before your session, you'll receive my Welcome Guide with styling advice, and you're very welcome to borrow from my carefully curated client wardrobe. Together we'll choose something that feels comfortable, flattering and true to you, so you can spend less time worrying about outfits and more time looking forward to the experience.

 

A note from Jenny

 

When I was pregnant with my boys, I spent so much time thinking about the baby that I didn't spend very much time thinking about myself. Looking back, I wish I'd paused more often to appreciate everything my body was doing. Pregnancy asks so much of us, physically and emotionally, yet it's often over before we've had chance to take it all in.


That's why I love maternity photography. Not because every mum feels glowing every day, but because every mum deserves to be remembered during the remarkable season when she was growing an entire little person.


One day, these photographs won't just remind you what your bump looked like. They'll remind you of where your family's story began.

 

Looking for a maternity photographer in Surrey?

 

If you're looking for a Surrey maternity photographer who offers relaxed maternity photoshoots, I'd love to help you celebrate this extraordinary chapter in a way that feels natural, calm and completely true to you.


Whether you picture a golden evening outdoors or a quieter session at home, we'll create photographs that you'll treasure long after your pregnancy has become a memory.