I know how this goes.
You open a tab for pregnancy portraits while sitting in a pickup line or folding tiny baby clothes on the couch. You scroll through photos for a few minutes. Maybe you even find a photographer you like. Then you think:
“I should wait until I feel better.”
“I need to figure out what to wear first.”
“I should probably clean the house.”
“I still need to book newborn photos too.”
“I’ll do it next week.”
And then next week turns into 34 weeks. Then 36. Then suddenly you’re ordering a giant box of postpartum pads at midnight while timing contractions.
Most women don’t put off pregnancy portraits because they don’t care. They put them off because they care deeply. They want the photos to feel meaningful. They want to feel comfortable in their body and have enough energy to enjoy it. They want life to calm down for five seconds first.
But pregnancy rarely gets quieter before the baby arrives.
There’s always another appointment. Another form. Another Amazon package. Another child who needs a snack while you’re trying to answer emails.
So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to finally book your pregnancy portraits, this is me gently telling you: you probably don’t need a better week. You just need permission to stop overthinking it.
First, a Quick Hello
Hi, I’m Megan. I’m a Minneapolis maternity and newborn photographer, a mom of three, and someone who knows how quickly this season passes. I photograph pregnancy portraits in a relaxed, connection-focused way that feels natural and low-pressure (even with toddlers in the mix). If you’ve been thinking about documenting pregnancy but keep putting it off, I’d love to help make the process feel simple and easy.
Why Most Moms Put Off Booking Maternity Photos (And Why I Get It)
A lot of moms assume they need to “arrive” at some magical place before booking a natural maternity photoshoot.
But honestly, pregnancy is already a lot. Most of my clients are balancing careers, school pickups, sports schedules, doctor appointments, and approximately 47 tabs open in their brain at all times. Adding one more thing can feel overwhelming.
That’s why I keep my pregnancy portraits simple and relaxed. I’m not expecting you to show up perfectly rested with a color-coded Pinterest board. I’m expecting you to show up as a real person growing a baby.
That’s enough.
And if you’re already thinking ahead to those first blurry newborn days, I always recommend reading my post about newborn sessions in Minneapolis too. A lot of moms book both pregnancy portraits and newborn photos together so they don’t have to think about it later.
You Don’t Have to Feel “Ready” to Be Photographed
This might surprise you, but almost every mom tells me some version of:
“I’m awkward in photos.”
“I don’t know what to do with my hands.”
“I don’t feel like myself right now.”
And then we start shooting.
Your kids start laughing.
Your partner pulls you in close.
You rest your hand on your belly without even thinking about it.
The wind catches your dress.
You forget about the camera for a second.
That’s when the good stuff happens.
The best pregnancy portraits usually come from letting go a little. Not performing. Not trying to look perfect. Just being in this season as it actually is.
Sometimes that looks soft and emotional.
Sometimes it looks chaotic because your toddler is sprinting through a field eating crushed Goldfish.
And I promise that years from now, your kids will not care whether your hair cooperated. They’ll care that you were there in the frame.
What Maternity Photos Actually Look Like When You Let Go of Perfect
I think a lot of women avoid documenting pregnancy because they picture stiff poses and uncomfortable studio sessions.
That’s not how I photograph moms.
My pregnancy portraits are usually:
- Movement-filled
- Playful
- Relaxed
- Outdoors or in-home
- Child-led if siblings are involved
- Focused on connection instead of posing
I care way more about the feeling of the photos than perfection.
I want you to remember:
- How your daughter wrapped her arms around your belly
- How your son kept asking when the baby was coming
- The way your partner looked at you
- How it felt to carry this baby before you met them
That’s the real pregnancy keepsake.
Not the perfect angle.
If you’re in that last stretch right now, my post about 10 rituals for the last trimester of pregnancy might feel like a deep exhale too. I wrote it for moms who want to slow down enough to actually remember this season.
The Outfit Stress Is Real (But Here’s What I Tell Every Mom)
Let’s talk about what to wear for maternity photos because this question comes up constantly.
First: you do not need a whole new wardrobe.
Second: the best maternity photo outfits are usually the ones that feel the most like you.
I always tell moms to focus on:
- Comfort first
- Movement
- Soft textures
- Simple colors
- Pieces that make you feel relaxed instead of restricted
You also don’t need to stress about dressing everyone in identical beige outfits. Coordinating matters more than matching.
I help all my clients plan outfits because I know this part can feel weirdly stressful when your body changes every week.
That’s also why I created my free Minneapolis moms resource guide. It’s full of genuinely helpful local resources for moms who already have enough on their plate.
When to Book Maternity Photos So You’re Not Scrambling at 37 Weeks
This is the part where I gently encourage you not to wait too long.
The sweet spot for pregnancy portraits is usually around 28 to 34 weeks. Your belly is beautifully visible, but you’re hopefully not fully in survival mode yet.
Of course, every pregnancy is different. Some moms feel amazing at 36 weeks. Some are done by 29.
But I can’t tell you how many inquiry emails I get that basically say:
“Hi, I’m 38 weeks and panicking.”
And sometimes I can squeeze people in. Sometimes I can’t.
If documenting pregnancy matters to you, booking earlier gives you:
- More flexibility
- More location options
- Time to plan outfits
- Less stress overall
It also gives you space to think about the season after birth too.
If you’re planning ahead, learn more about my Fresh 48 sessions, ways you can savor the newborn stage, and tips for building a real-life postpartum care kit.
And if you like listening to podcasts during pregnancy walks, nursery organizing marathons, or those wide-awake-at-2am nights, my Made for Minnesota Moms podcast shares real conversations with Twin Cities experts helping you navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood.
This Chapter Goes Faster Than You Think
I know people say this constantly. Sometimes it’s annoying. But pregnancy really is strange that way.
At the time, the weeks can feel endless.
That’s one reason I care so much about documenting pregnancy honestly.
Not because every second feels magical.
Not because you need proof that you “bounced back.”
And not because motherhood needs another performance metric.
I care because memory fades.
Pregnancy portraits let you hold onto pieces of this season later. The anticipation, the waiting, the tenderness, the weirdness of building a whole person while also trying to answer Slack messages and remember where you parked at Target.
You Deserve to Be in the Story, Not Just Behind It
A lot of moms spend years documenting everyone else.
You take the birthday photos, record the milestones, capture your partner holding the baby, save the artwork.
You remember the details. But you deserve to exist in the story too.
Your children will never look at these pregnancy portraits and think about whether you found the “perfect” maternity photo outfits. They’ll see you and they’ll see the beginning of their story.
That matters.
So if you’ve been putting off documenting pregnancy because life feels busy or messy or uncertain, this is your sign to stop waiting for perfect. You already are living a season worth remembering.
If you’re looking for more support during pregnancy and early motherhood, you can grab my free Minneapolis moms guide with local resources, recommendations, and helpful tools for this season.
And if you like honest conversations about motherhood, pregnancy, family life, and slowing down enough to actually remember it all, you can join my newsletter and podcast community over at Made for Minnesota Moms.
If you’re ready to book pregnancy portraits in Minneapolis, I’d love to help you document this chapter in a way that feels real, relaxed, and completely like you. Contact me to get started.
comments +