When to shoot maternity pics?

[Deleted]

I wasn't originally going to do them, but a friend of mine is a photographer, and she wanted to shoot my newborn pics. I have another friend that's a photographer that (I think) does better newborn shots, so she's doing my newborn pics. I have that books already - so I told other-friend she could do the maternity pictures (which she actually does a better job with IMO). 

That said, I LOVE fall, and here in MI we have epic fall seasons with cider mills and gorgeous colors and amazing weather. It's by far my favorite season. However, I'll only be 28 weeks at the end of October. So I won't be super big, but very obviously pregnant. I could do them in early November, but I know at least one weekend I'm out of town and possibly 2 weekends for my OOT shower. 

Is that too soon to take them? Should I wait until closer to Thanksgiving? The mills will be open still, but it'll be really chilly by then. 

Just curious when others had theirs taken. Thanks!

[linz]

I think anytime in 3rd tri would be fine. Since you'll have some busy weekends I'd do it around 28 weeks. I'm sure you'll be showing enough in them.

[jewel]

Do them whenever YOU feel best. I know it sounds totally cheesy, but if you feel good, you'll look much better in your pics.

We just did ours this weekend, at 38 weeks. I hadn't planned on pictures at all, and this just kind of fell into my lap last-minute. They look good, but it was difficult to move around much. I would have looked ridiculous at 28 weeks, because my bump was still pretty small then, and we would have had to make a huge point to emphasize it. But, I also prefer pictures that are less "OMG, touch the belly" and more like just a photo shoot for us, and I happen to have a huge belly (if that makes any sense).

[Bonita]

I guess if you know you would be showing enough at 28 weeks then I would do them then. Otherwise I would probably wait until around 30 weeks - I'm 28 weeks this week, and still don't have an obvious bump...Somehow I assume I'll have one at 30 weeks

[ringstrue]

I'd error on the side of doing them 28ish weeks and then you can push it back a couple if you want. Its easy to start looking puffy soon after that so I'd not plan on doing them at say, after 35 weeks. Everyone is different but I know for me anything after 36 weeks would have been too late.

[zarapipe]

I think that's too soon.... but I am doing mine this week at 36w 5d . They were supposed to be at 34 weeks but then I had to reschedule and then she did. I am afraid, very very afraid.

[undecidedowl]

I'm doing mine this week at 31 weeks and I wouldn't want to do them much later because I am starting to swell a bit. But, this is my second and I am bigger this time.

[Deleted]

Thank you all! I'm thinking I can get them in at 30.5 weeks which is early November, right before the 2 trips out of town. I'm very short in the torso, and I honestly think i'm going to look a bit ridic at the end of this anyway. So that will work. Hopefully we'll catch fall colors!

Thank you

[rachelgreen]

I have a similar "look" here in WI. I haven't decided when I am going to do those. Our peak will be sometime in October and I wanted to have the leaf colors in the background. We shall see how this will work out, lol.

I do have my Chicago maternity shoot booked already on Oct 17th. I will be third tri, 29 wks. I must have maternity pics in my hometown. It's just something I want and I don't know that we will be back home at any point between the shower and birth. We plan on doing some pics on one of the L platforms and at Lincoln Park Zoo's Honeycomb and then some city shots. I am so freaking excited!

[MamaMaui24]

Don't wait too long. I'm 34+ weeks now (with my second) and My face already feels too swollen for pics.

32w would be a Great time.

[smm5623]

Personally, I felt better about myself prior to 34 weeks. I didn't want them done when I was close to term because I felt gross. I think 28-32 weeks is perfect timing.

[estrellita]

I wanted to do mine in either Nov or early Dec so they could double as Christmas card pics, so it will depend on the photographer pretty much. I'd be around 28-31 weeks or so. I would think that would be a good time. Obviously pregnant but not too terribly uncomfortable or huge!

[orangeglow]

I scheduled mine for 31.5 weeks.  I already have an obvious bump at 22 weeks - so I'm not concerned about that part!  I may not be pregnant much past 34 weeks though, so I think I made a good choice.

[Deleted]

Ok we are doing nov 1 and I will be about 29 weeks! We are going to hit up a cider mill that has a barn and haystacks and pumpkin patch. Picture perfect fall. Thank you all so much!

[formerlyllizzyb]

I did mine at 35 last time. Totally lucked out, because I started swelling at 36 weeks.

This time we are combining with family fall pics and doing mid Oct. I'll be 27 weeks. It's a little early, but the focus isn't really on my belly.

Most photogs I know say ideal is btwn 30-34 weeks.

[Blue Moon]

I think 30 weeks would be perfect given the circumstances. Honestly though, it's so hard to predict how you will be feeling. Everyone told me how miserable I'd feel being at the end of my pregnancy in the hottest part of the summer. I didn't schedule any pictures because I figured I'd be swollen and uncomfortable and it wouldn't be worth it. At almost 39 weeks, I honestly feel great, am not swollen at all, and regret not taking maternity pics now.