Maternity, Newborn and Family Sessions: What to Book and When

As a mother, I have witnessed firsthand the fleeting nature of time. One season folds into the next so quickly that it can take your breath away. The bump you carry now becomes the newborn in your arms, and then, almost overnight, a walking, laughing little person who fills the house with noise and love.

Many mothers come to me unsure of when to photograph all of this. Should they book a maternity session, a newborn session, or wait until the family feels more settled? My answer is usually gentle and simple. Each of these moments is its own small chapter, and each deserves to be immortalised. This guide will help you understand what to book and when, so that nothing precious slips past unrecorded.

Thinking of it as one story, not one session

It helps to picture these sessions as chapters in a single story rather than separate, unrelated bookings. Your maternity portraits capture the anticipation. Your newborn images hold that impossibly small, brand new baby. Your family sessions, in the months and years that follow, show the people you have all become together.

When you plan them as a whole, the images speak to one another. A framed maternity portrait beside a newborn frame tells the before and after in a way that moves everyone who sees it. So even if you book one session at a time, it is worth holding the bigger picture in mind.

Your maternity session, and when to book it

The sweet spot for maternity portraits usually falls between twenty-eight and thirty-six weeks, when your bump is beautifully round but you are still comfortable enough to move and pose with ease. I write about this in more detail in my thoughts on when to take your maternity pictures, if you would like to plan the timing carefully.

I recommend reaching out early in your second trimester to secure a date, because these weeks arrive sooner than you expect and my calendar fills ahead. Whether you dream of a soft studio portrait, a session on the sand at golden hour, or the serenity of an underwater shoot, choosing your style early gives us time to prepare. You can see how I approach this through my Simply Mother and Bumps and Bubs maternity experiences.

Your newborn session, and the narrow window

Newborn photography has a smaller window than many mothers realise. The first two to three weeks are ideal, while babies are still curled and sleepy and settle easily into those tender poses. Because of this, newborn sessions are best booked while you are still pregnant, with a due date reserved and a little flexibility around the actual arrival.

I love photographing newborns in the calm of home, surrounded by the softness of everything new. My guide to preparing for a newborn shoot walks you through how to make those first weeks gentle and unhurried. If you have booked a maternity session with me already, adding a newborn session means I arrive as someone your family recognises rather than a stranger, which makes the whole experience feel more relaxed.

Family sessions, as your little one grows

Beyond those newborn weeks, life keeps moving, and this is where family sessions come in. The first smile, the first steps, a first birthday, or simply a season when everyone is together and well. These are all beautiful reasons to be photographed as a family.

I gently encourage mothers to book a family session at least once a year. Children change so completely from one year to the next, and you deserve images that keep pace with them. If your partner and children were part of your maternity story, my guide to family maternity photoshoots shows how lovely it is to carry that thread all the way through.

A simple timeline to hold in mind

If it helps to see it laid out, here is the rhythm I often suggest. In early pregnancy, reach out to plan your maternity session and reserve a tentative newborn date. Between twenty-eight and thirty-six weeks, we photograph your bump. In the first two to three weeks after birth, we capture your newborn. Then, as your baby grows, we return roughly once a year for family portraits.

You do not have to commit to all of it at once. Many mothers begin with a single maternity session and find they simply cannot stop there, because once you see how quickly a season passes, you want to hold on to the next one too.

How I help you plan it all

I see my role as more than a photographer for a single afternoon. I am here to help you plan the whole arc, so that the important moments are photographed at the right time rather than remembered too late. When you book with me, we can map out which sessions matter most to you and when they should fall, and I will hold those dates gently as your family grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I book my maternity session?

Maternity portraits are best taken between twenty-eight and thirty-six weeks. Reach out early in your second trimester so we can reserve your date and plan your style before those weeks arrive.

When is the best time for a newborn session?

The first two to three weeks are ideal, while your baby is still sleepy and curls easily into gentle poses. Because timing is tight, newborn sessions are best booked during pregnancy with your due date reserved.

Can I book maternity and newborn sessions together?

Yes, and I love it when mothers do. Booking them together means your images tell the before and after story beautifully, and I arrive at your newborn session as a familiar face rather than a stranger.

How often should we book family photos?

Roughly once a year is a lovely rhythm. Children change so much between birthdays that annual sessions keep your walls and albums current with who they are becoming.

How far apart are maternity and newborn sessions?

Only a matter of weeks. Your maternity session sits around twenty-eight to thirty-six weeks, and your newborn session falls in the first two to three weeks after birth, so the two are often just a month or two apart.

Let's plan your family's story together

From the first flutter to the family you are becoming, every chapter deserves to be held onto. If you would like help planning your maternity, newborn and family sessions, I would love to guide you.

Click here to get in touch and learn more.

Sincerely yours,
Anastasia