When to Schedule Your Maternity Photos: A Week-by-Week Guide

Written by Jordi Dalmau, maternity and wedding photographer on the Costa Brava. Last update July 2026

The question I get most from expecting parents is not about outfits or beaches. It is about timing. Book too early and the bump barely shows on camera. Book too late and you spend the session dreaming about your sofa. After five years photographing maternity sessions on the Costa Brava, this is my honest, week-by-week answer.

Looking for outfit ideas and beach locations? That lives in my full beach maternity photoshoot guide.

When should you schedule maternity photos?

The best time for maternity photos is between weeks 28 and 36. The bump is round and defined, and most moms still move comfortably.

Inside that window I aim for weeks 30 to 34 whenever the calendar allows. The shape reads clearly from every angle, your energy is still there, and walking on sand for a couple of hours feels doable instead of heroic.

One thing most guides skip: book the session around week 20, even if the shoot happens at week 32. Golden hour slots fill up fast in June and September, and reserving early lets us pick the light instead of settling for what is left.

My maternity sessions last 1.5 to 2 hours, with breaks whenever you need them. That is exactly why the week matters: the same session feels like a walk at week 31 and like a marathon at week 39.

What does your bump look like on camera, week by week?

From week 24 the bump starts reading clearly on camera. Weeks 30 to 34 are the visual sweet spot, and after week 37 comfort drops fast.

This table comes from real sessions, not from a textbook. Every pregnancy is different, so take it as a photographer’s field notes, and let your doctor have the final word on anything medical.

Weeks	How the bump photographs	How you will likely feel	My verdict
24-25	Visible but soft, loose fabrics can hide it completely	Full energy, totally mobile	Early, only if the calendar forces it
26-27	Rounding nicely, fitted dresses start to work	Great energy	Good opening for twins or packed schedules
28-29	Clearly pregnant from every angle	Comfortable and agile	The window opens here
30-31	Round, high and defined, profiles look stunning	Energy still high	Sweet spot
32-33	Full and sculptural, silhouettes at their best	Slower, still comfortable	Sweet spot
34-35	At its most photogenic	Tires faster, needs breaks	Great, I plan a calmer session
36-37	Very full and beautiful	Heavy legs, less mobility	Late but lovely, we keep it short
38-40	Baby may drop and change the shape	Honestly, you would rather be home	Only for the brave (I adapt everything)

If you remember one line from this guide, make it this one: weeks 30 to 34, golden hour, a beach you love. Everything else is negotiable.

Is it ever too early or too late for maternity photos?

Before week 24 the bump rarely reads as pregnancy on camera, and after week 37 most moms feel too heavy to enjoy the session.

Too early is mostly a styling problem. Around week 22 a flowing dress can erase the bump completely, and profiles need very deliberate posing. If your only option is early, I lean on fitted fabrics, hands on the belly and side light to define the shape.

Is 36 weeks too late? No. If you feel good, week 36 still gives beautiful photos. I keep late sessions shorter, pick a beach with parking close to the sand, and build in seated moments. Past week 38 I only shoot if you genuinely feel up for it, and I always hold a plan B date.

Twins move everything forward. With multiples the belly runs about four to six weeks ahead, so I recommend shooting between weeks 24 and 30. And whatever your situation, one honest note: I am a photographer, not a doctor. These weeks are camera guidance, and your midwife or doctor always outranks me.

What are the best months and light for maternity photos on the Costa Brava?

June and September are the best months for beach maternity photos on the Costa Brava: warm water, soft golden light and far fewer tourists.

July and August work too, but I move those sessions to sunrise. The light is just as good at 6:30 am, the beaches are empty, and nobody in a bikini photobombs your silhouette. May and October are lovely with a warm layer, though the sea stays cold for anything beyond ankle dips.

Whatever the month, the hour matters more. I shoot one to two hours before sunset, or just after sunrise, when Mediterranean light wraps softly around you instead of carving hard shadows.

Here is the practical trick: count back from your due date to find your week 28 to 36 window, then see which months it lands in. Due in December? Your window is September and October. Due in July? We aim for May, or a June sunrise.

Most of my maternity sessions happen on Costa Brava beaches like Calella de Palafrugell, Begur or Cadaqués, a bit over an hour from Barcelona. If you live in the city, the drive is worth it. Locations, outfits and posing ideas are all in my beach maternity guide.

What if you feel unsure about being photographed?

Almost every mom tells me the same thing before booking: I feel huge and I am not photogenic. Solving that is literally my job.

Nobody arrives at a maternity session feeling like a model, and my way of working assumes that. Before the session we talk, I prepare a moodboard around what you like, and I choose the location based on how you feel about walking, water and people around.

During the session I guide you softly. No stiff poses, no holding a smile for thirty seconds. We walk, the breeze does its thing, your partner makes you laugh, and I photograph what happens between my directions. Those in-between frames are always the best ones in the gallery.

If you can walk on a beach at sunset, you can do this. That is the whole skill requirement.

How do you book, and what does a maternity session include?

Write me with your due date and I take care of the rest: the week, the beach, the light and a plan built around how you feel.

Every maternity session includes a pre-session consultation, the planning (moodboard, location and outfit guidance), 1.5 to 2 hours of relaxed shooting, and a private online gallery with 40 to 70 edited high-resolution photos.

Your partner is always included, and kids are welcome too. Some of my favorite frames are big siblings kissing the belly.

Ready to look at dates? Tell me your due date here and I will come back with a plan. Wondering about numbers first? I publish my session prices here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Maternity Photos

Is my partner included in the maternity session?

Yes, always, at no extra cost. Kids are welcome too, and I photograph a mix of solo, couple and family moments within the same session.

How long does a maternity session last?

Between 1.5 and 2 hours, with breaks whenever you need them. In late pregnancy I shorten the route and build in seated moments.

When should I book my maternity session?

Around week 20 is ideal, aiming to shoot between weeks 28 and 36. Golden hour dates in June and September go first, so earlier is safer.

Is 36 weeks too late for maternity photos?

No. If you feel comfortable, week 36 still photographs beautifully. I keep the session short, stay close to parking and adapt the pace to you.

Do you retouch maternity photos?

Every delivered photo is edited for light, color and skin tones. I do not reshape bodies. You will look like you, in the best light of the day.

What should I wear for maternity photos?

Flowing fabrics like muslin, gauze and linen, in white, cream, earth tones or sea colors. My beach maternity guide has a full outfit section.

Can I do maternity photos expecting twins?

Yes, and earlier is better: with multiples the belly runs four to six weeks ahead, so I recommend shooting between weeks 24 and 30.

What happens if it rains or is very windy?

Wind usually makes the photos better, dresses and hair come alive. If it rains, we move to a covered spot nearby or simply reschedule.

Planning your maternity photos?

I am Jordi Dalmau, a natural-light maternity and wedding photographer on the Costa Brava. If you want a calm, unposed session by the sea, say hi and we will find your perfect week.

About the Author:

Jordi Dalmau is a luxury wedding photographer based on the Costa Brava, Spain, working across Catalonia, Mallorca and Europe under the studio name Dalmare. His editorial, unposed style has been featured in The Wed, Carats and Cake, Wezoree and Hola.