Over the past ten years, maternity photography has become very popular. The anticipated birth of each child into the family is being celebrated with a professional photography session to capture the time in the family's life. When considering getting pregnancy portraits done, there are some key elements to think about, including when to have the maternity session, who should be in it, and what to wear.

So when is the best time to do the maternity session? The ideal time is when the belly is nice and round, and the hands and feet are not swollen. You also do not want to wait so late that you miss the opportunity if the baby chooses to come early, which they sometimes do. Given these considerations, 32 to 36 weeks along in the pregnancy is usually good timing for the session.

Another thing to consider is who will be at the maternity session and in the photos? Clearly the pregnant woman will be there, but should the partner and other children also be in the session? This is a great time for a family portrait before the family expands. But it can also be a nice session to do as a more private study of the woman and the curves and the new life inside of her.

Choosing the location for the maternity session is key. Things to think about are whether the woman would be comfortable showing some skin in public places like a beach, city scape or meadow - or would it be better to have more privacy and do the session at a photography studio or at home?

The style of the shot will make a big difference for the overall feeling of the photos. To get ideas of the desired style, look on the internet for other pregnancy portraits and maternity photographs. Styles can range from moody and shadowy to light and airy to modern and funky.

What to wear or not wear for the maternity session is a significant topic. By looking into the style and the location first, the woman should already have a sense of whether she wants photos with clothes, with some amount of clothing, all nude, or nude with fabrics. Many maternity photography sessions will include some of each of these styles, or mostly nudes and fabrics.

Now that you are doing the maternity session and you will have these great pregnancy portraits, where will you put them in the house? If the prints are of the family clothed, they may be able to hang anywhere in the house. For prints that are with less or no clothing, it may be a better choice to hang those prints in a more private location like the master bedroom. Creating a fine art maternity album from the prints is another great choice that can then be a more private collection.

Complementing the maternity portrait session with a newborn photography session after the baby is born is an excellent idea. Once you have professional photographs of the pregnancy, putting professional newborn portraits into the same room or album can really finish up the project and create a family keepsake that will be treasured for generations.