When Should You Take Maternity Photos? An Arizona Pregnancy Photography Guide
Updated: Sep 5
If you're a pregnant momma-to-be, these months will fly by with all of the things you have to think about, prep, and decide before your baby comes. Before you know it, your due date is almost here, and you might not have taken care of one thing... your maternity photos. Or maybe you've been thinking about them from the beginning and wondering, "When should I actually take my maternity photos?"
The answer depends on what you want to document. Most mommas think it's just about the maternity photo session to show off the bump. But your pregnancy story can include so much more than a traditional maternity session, from your pregnancy announcement and gender reveal to your baby shower, maternity portraits, and even those first days with your newborn.
After photographing all of these milestones for Arizona families, I've learned that there isn't one perfect timeline or one way to plan it. So let's talk about what each stage can look like, when to schedule it, and what you should know before booking your session.
Arizona Pregnancy Announcement Sessions (Your First Chapter)
Pregnancy announcement sessions usually happen around 3 to 4 months into your pregnancy, when you're ready to share the news. But there's no rule that says a pregnancy announcement has to look a certain way. I've photographed everything from green open-field farm sessions in Gilbert to styled studio setups with newspapers and baby announcement props, surprise sessions with grandparents and dogs, and even cinematic announcement videos in the middle of the Arizona desert.
The fun part is figuring out what feels like you and how you actually want to tell the story.
A Gilbert, Arizona Farm Pregnancy Announcement Session
One of my favorite examples was a pregnancy announcement for a momma who I've worked with before. She reached out and let me know she was expecting twins... AGAIN! She already had twin boys, so she was about to have a complete set of four kids total! And this time, she would finally be getting her baby girl. Based on her inspiration, she wanted something very natural, green, and with open-field vibes. So I suggested one of my favorite locations, a farm-style home in Gilbert.
And when I say it was green, I mean green! We had open space, a large modern farmhouse, citrus trees, chickens, a turkey walking around, and even a little tree rope swing. It was such a different look from the typical desert scenery you might expect from Arizona.
For the 30 minutes I spent with her, her husband, and their kids, I went around snapping photos whenever the boys did something cute, like playing with each other on the grass or running after the chickens. And I, of course, guided them into cute family poses that incorporated tiny baby onesies and sonogram prints into the shoot. Nothing felt rushed or like we were trying to force a Pinterest idea into their photos. It was personal to their family, but still really customized to the look she had envisioned.
A Styled Mesa Studio Pregnancy Announcement
While an outdoor pregnancy announcement session is gorgeous, so can a styled studio shoot. For this Mesa studio session, I actually shot for a fellow photographer who told me, “it's just a maternity shoot.” So I expected a momma-to-be and maybe her husband. But I showed up and found out there were actually four people... plus two dogs! I was not given a warning about the grandparents and their pups joining, but honestly, it worked perfectly! 😂
The family had coordinated bandanas for the dogs that said “little brother” and “little sister” on them, along with newspapers and announcement props that we were able to lay out throughout the studio. The whole setup had a really aesthetic, editorial feel, which made it completely different from the natural outdoor announcement we had just talked about. And her butter-yellow dress stood out beautifully against the neutral studio.
You don't have to do what everyone else is doing or have a specific type of announcement in mind. We can make it as simple, playful, styled, or unexpected as your family needs it to be.
A Cinematic Lost Dutchman State Park Pregnancy Announcement Video
Pregnancy announcements don't have to be just photos, they can be videos too! I shot one at Lost Dutchman State Park for a couple who wanted something completely different from what they could get back home, as they were traveling here from the East Coast. They wanted that wide open desert landscape, the Superstition Mountains, and the warm golden light that makes Arizona so beautiful.
Since I'm also a cinematic videographer, we were able to turn their pregnancy announcement into more than just a few photos. Video gave us the opportunity to capture their movement, reactions, and excitement in a way that still felt natural and told a story. And because they were sharing the announcement with family and friends back home, having something they could actually watch made it even more meaningful.
I love that pregnancy announcements can be so different from one family to the next. One family might want a relaxed session in a green field, while another might want a styled studio setup with their doggos. There really isn't one right way to announce your baby. It's about figuring out what feels like you and creating something you'll actually want to look back on, something that captures the initial excitement and nerves of this new chapter.
Arizona Gender Reveal Photography and Videography: Where the Reality Starts Setting In
As much as I love photography, I am always impartial to videography as an Arizona videographer as well. Video is where the emotion behind a gender reveal can really be felt. These are usually done once you know the baby's gender and are ready to share it with your family and friends. Whether that's something cinematic in the desert, a styled studio setup, or something intimate with just your closest family, the goal is to capture that exact moment you finally know and everything starts to feel real.
And when done right, it naturally gives you those emotional family reactions, movement, and storytelling that you'll never want to forget. This is also a great time to think about video if you know you want something you can share with family and friends who aren't there in person. Check out an intimate Scorpion Gulch gender reveal I created specifically for social sharing below.
Arizona Maternity Sessions: The Part Everyone Thinks About First
A maternity session showing off the baby bump is what most people think of when they search for an Arizona maternity photographer, but even this has layers. You can do solo maternity portraits, couple-focused sessions, or maternity sessions that include your kids. Involving kiddos is one of my favorites because they're part of the journey too!
So, When Should You Take Your Arizona Maternity Photos?
This is where the timing question you've been asking from the beginning comes in. I typically recommend taking maternity photos around 7 to 8 months of pregnancy, when you usually have that beautiful, round belly while still feeling comfortable enough to move around and actually enjoy your session. I definitely recommend booking your session around the 5 or 6 month mark, though, especially if you already know you want a specific location, outfit, or creative setup. Booking earlier gives us time to figure out all of those details instead of trying to put everything together when you're already well into your third trimester.
And if you're wondering why I recommend 7 to 8 months instead of waiting until you're almost due, there are a few reasons. I always make it a point to check in constantly with my pregnant mommas, asking them how comfortable they are and if they need water or a break. But by 9 months, things will most likely be very uncomfortable, and in Arizona, the weather can make that even more challenging, especially in the summer. The last thing I want is for you to spend your maternity session exhausted, overheated, or wishing it were already over!
If your due date falls during the Arizona summer, I may also recommend a studio session instead. I know, I know! Most of us love that golden hour outdoor look, but your comfort comes first. There are ways to create beautiful maternity portraits indoors while still making the session feel completely like you.
Arizona Baby Shower Photography and Videography: The Milestone Most Moms Forget to Document
Please! Please don't forget about the baby shower when thinking about your maternity photography and videography journey. This is one of those in between milestones that feels small at the time, but ends up being incredibly meaningful once the baby is here!
Baby showers usually happen anywhere from the 5 to 8 month mark, depending on family schedules and planning timelines. So if you're already thinking about having your baby shower documented, this is another part of your pregnancy photography timeline to start thinking about early. And while baby showers are often seen as an event, they're actually one of the most emotional parts of the entire pregnancy journey. You've moved past the announcement stage, you're deep into preparing for your baby, and you're surrounded by the people who are going to be part of your child's life. It's the one part of your pregnancy where others are involved to share in your excitement, ask about the baby names, your cravings, and everything in between.
As a Phoenix, Arizona maternity photographer, I aim to document these moments in a way that feels like I am a fly on the wall. This can include candid guest reactions, detail shots of decor, styled tables, gift openings, and video coverage of speeches or surprise moments. The same storytelling approach that I use in maternity sessions applies here too. It's about presence over perfection, so that when you look back, you are transported right back to how you felt in that moment.
Arizona Newborn and Fresh 48 Photography: What Most Moms Don't Plan Ahead For
I've encountered many moms who don't realize newborn and Fresh 48 sessions are something they can think about while planning their maternity photography too! Fresh 48 sessions are pretty much exactly what they sound like. They happen within the first 48 hours after birth, usually in the hospital, and capture those first emotional, raw, real moments with your "fresh" baby. There are hospitals who have their own photographer and offer it to you while you are there, or you can bring your own photographer aka me!
But if you don't want a Fresh 48 session, newborn photos are typically done within 1 to 2 weeks after birth, either at home or in a studio while baby is still in that sleepy, curled up newborn stage. The baby scrunch is the best! You can still capture around the 3 to 4 week mark, but things naturally start to shift away from that classic newborn feel, which is why timing matters so much.
Don't be like my sister in law who thought she didn't have photos in those first few weeks and now deeply regrets it. It absolutely broke my heart when we talked about it. I know during those first few days or weeks there is a lot going on, but their newborn phase will go by in the blink of an eye. That's also why I recommend thinking about newborn photos before your baby arrives. You don't want to be home with a brand new baby, running on no sleep, and suddenly realize you never figured out when or where you wanted those photos taken. If you already know you want maternity and newborn photos, we can talk about both during the planning process and make sure you know what to expect for each stage.
Final Thoughts on Booking Maternity Photos in Arizona
As you can see, your maternity photos don't have to be the only thing you document. Your pregnancy can start with an announcement, continue through a gender reveal and baby shower, lead into your maternity portraits, and eventually bring you to those first days with your newborn.
After photographing all of these different milestones for Arizona families, I've learned that there isn't one perfect way to document pregnancy. Some moms want one beautiful maternity session and thats it. Others want to capture the entire journey. Whatever you choose, I want the experience to feel personal to you and your family, not like you're checking another thing off your pregnancy to do list. Because these months really do fly by. And once your baby is here, you'll be so glad you took the time to capture the little moments, the excitement, the nerves, and everything that made this chapter yours.
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