Pregnancy is a suspended stretch of time, full of change and anticipation. It’s also a period when, buried in preparations, you rarely stop.
A maternity session isn’t only a keepsake. It’s something you do for yourself, for your body exactly as it is now, and for the child about to arrive. An hour or two where the only thing asked of you is to be there.
This page covers why it’s worth doing, how a session works, what to wear, and above all when to book it: the question I’m asked most.
Why do it
You don’t need to know how to pose
That’s the most common worry, and it goes away immediately: I won’t ask you to pose. I guide you step by step, give you simple directions about where to look and how to move, and leave room for whatever happens in between. The best frames almost always come from there.
We choose the setting, the light and the clothes that make you feel comfortable together. The rest isn’t your problem.
It’s a pause in a period that doesn’t offer many
Pregnancy brings joy, but also tiredness, uncertainty and an endless list of things to organise. Booking a session also means taking a couple of hours where someone else is looking after you.
Most women tell me afterwards that they hadn’t expected it to feel like that: less about the photographs than about the afternoon itself.
It’s a gift for the person arriving
These images aren’t only yours. In a few years your child will look at them and see how much they were already waited for. It’s a story that starts before the first breath, and there’s no way to go back and make it later.
When to book: the right weeks
The best window is between 28 and 34 weeks. The bump is clearly visible and energy levels are usually still good.
A few more specific notes:
- Before 28 weeks, the shape is often not defined enough for the images to say much.
- After 35 weeks can work beautifully, but it depends on how you feel. If you’re tired or swollen, it shows, and that isn’t what we want.
- With twins, bring it forward, usually somewhere between 24 and 28 weeks.
- Every body is different. If your midwife or doctor has given you any particular guidance, we work around it: length, positions, number of breaks.
Booking is a separate matter from the shoot date. Get in touch around the fifth month, so we can choose the window calmly and hold a backup date in case something comes up. Last-minute bookings do work, but they leave very little room.
How a session works
Where
In the studio, for an enclosed atmosphere and fully controlled light. It’s the practical choice in the colder months and the simplest if there are other children involved.
Outdoors, in the hills around Verona, on Lake Garda, or somewhere that means something to you. The best light is the hour before sunset.
At your home, which is the most intimate option and the most underrated. The nursery being prepared, the light through the bedroom window, your ordinary surroundings. All it takes is one bright room and a bit of tidying.
Who with
On your own, as a couple, or with your other children. Every combination works, and often we do all of them within one session.
If there are older children, I involve them at the start while they’re still curious. After half an hour their patience runs out, which is entirely normal: at that point we carry on without them.
The light
I only use light that’s soft on the body, never frontal and never harsh. In the studio I work with diffused, side-placed sources; outdoors I choose the hour, which does half the work by itself.
What to wear
I don’t supply clothing, but I help you choose from what you already own, and I send guidance before the session.
What works: soft, fluid fabrics that follow the shape without gripping; plain colours in neutral or dusty tones; long dresses; fitted fine-knit tops that trace the outline. Your partner’s shirt, if you like the idea.
What to avoid: strong prints and large logos, which pull attention onto the clothing, and stiff garments that don’t move with you.
One practical tip: in the hours before the session, wear something loose. Elastic and seams leave marks on the skin that stay visible for a long time, and they show in photographs.
Coordinate without matching. If your partner and children are joining, a shared palette is plenty.
What you receive
An online gallery with a selected, edited set of images in high resolution, ready to print, along with formats suited to social media and messaging. The exact number depends on the package and I confirm it beforehand.
Many families combine the maternity session with one in the first days after the birth. It’s the sensible approach: you make the decision once, and together the two sessions tell a passage rather than two separate moments.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a session last?
Between one and one and a half hours, with as many breaks as you need. I don’t work to a stopwatch.
I don’t think I’m photogenic.
It’s the sentence I hear most, almost always from people who end up recognising themselves in the final images. You don’t need to be photogenic, only willing to be guided.
Should I have hair and make-up done?
If it makes you feel more confident, yes, and I can recommend people. Natural make-up that enhances rather than covers photographs better than a heavy application.
Do I have to show a bare bump?
Not at all. Pregnancy can be photographed in countless ways, fully clothed included. You decide, and you can change your mind during the session.
What if it rains?
We move the date or switch to the studio. With maternity we always keep an alternative ready, because the useful weeks are limited.
Does the session run in English?
Yes, from the first message to delivery.
Which areas do you cover?
I’m based in Verona and travel regularly around Lake Garda and the wider province.
Can we do this after the birth as well?
Yes, with a newborn session, usually within the first two weeks. If you’re interested, it’s worth mentioning now.
