Last updated October 2026
A maternity photoshoot is one of the few things in pregnancy you can plan on your own timetable. Get the timing right and you have photographs of your bump at its best, taken while you still feel comfortable enough to enjoy the session. Leave it too late and you are squeezing it in between midwife appointments, or not doing it at all.
★View the Best Photographers in Pukekohe→Here is how families in Pukekohe and the wider Franklin area can plan a session that feels relaxed rather than rushed.
When to book, and when to be photographed
These are two different dates, and both matter.
Book in the second trimester
Many maternity photographers take a limited number of sessions each month, and the best weeks for photos are popular. Getting in touch during your second trimester gives you the widest choice of dates and time to talk through what you want.
Be photographed around 30 to 34 weeks
For most single pregnancies, a bump is nicely rounded somewhere between about 30 and 34 weeks, while you are still comfortable standing, moving between poses and changing outfits. If you are expecting twins, photographers often suggest an earlier session, around 26 to 30 weeks, because bumps grow faster and the later weeks can be harder going.
Every pregnancy is different, so treat these as a guide. If your midwife has asked you to take things easy, tell your photographer: a good session can be paced around you.
- Second trimester
- Choose a photographer and book a date
- A few weeks before
- Plan outfits, who is joining you and any special ideas
- About 30 to 34 weeks
- The session itself (around 26 to 30 weeks for twins)
- After the session
- Choose your favourite images from the gallery
Studio or outdoors
Both can produce beautiful photographs. The difference is mostly about control, comfort and the look you like.
A studio session
A studio gives you flattering, controlled lighting, privacy and a warm space whatever the weather. That matters in Franklin, where a winter session outdoors can mean wet paddocks, wind and short afternoons. Studios usually have a range of backdrops, so you can get several looks in one visit without moving location.
An outdoor session
Outdoor maternity photos feel softer and more natural, with flowing gowns, open sky and greenery. The farmland, gardens and bush around Franklin make lovely backdrops. The trade-off is that you are working with the weather and the light, so outdoor sessions are usually timed for the softer light of early morning or late afternoon, with a back-up plan if it rains.
Or both
Some photographers offer a combined session: studio portraits first, then a short walk to an outdoor setting nearby. It is a good way to get variety without two separate bookings.
Who can join you
Maternity sessions are not just solo portraits. Partners are often included, and older children can make some of the most memorable images, a sibling with their hands on the bump, or the whole family together before the new arrival. If you want others in the photos, mention it when you book so enough time is set aside.
What happens on the day
Most maternity sessions run from around half an hour for a short session to an hour and a half for a longer one with more outfits and settings. A few things make the day easier:
- Arrive rested and fed. Bring water and a snack. Pregnancy is tiring and a long session is easier with breaks.
- Expect to be guided. You do not need modelling experience. A maternity photographer will show you how to stand, where to place your hands and how to angle your body so the bump is the focus.
- Allow time to change. If you are wearing more than one outfit, changes take a little longer in the third trimester.
- Bring meaningful extras. A scan photo, baby shoes or a name you have chosen can be included in a few frames.
Questions to ask a maternity photographer
- When do you recommend booking, and when should the session be?
- Is the session in a studio, outdoors, or both?
- Can my partner and children be included?
- Do you provide gowns, or do I bring my own outfits?
- How many edited images are included, and how long until I receive them?
- How do you handle bookings if my due date changes or I need to reschedule?
Where Racheal Trail Photography fits
Racheal Trail Photography is a maternity, newborn and milestone photography business run by Racheal Trail from a studio in Drury, South Auckland, around 15 to 20 minutes’ drive from Pukekohe. Racheal has more than eight years specialising in maternity and newborn photography, and her awards include gold in newborn photography at the Asia Pacific Awards and gold and silver at the NewGen Photo Awards.
Her maternity photography sessions are fully guided and held in the studio, with nearby pond and creek settings for outdoor portraits in the Deluxe Collection. She recommends booking during your second trimester, with photos generally best between 30 and 34 weeks, or around 26 to 30 weeks for twins. Partners and children are welcome, and clients have access to a wardrobe of over 150 maternity gowns, dresses and fabrics.
You can see recent sessions in her maternity portfolio and compare the Mini, Classic and Deluxe options on her collections page. Enquiries can be made through her website or by calling or texting 021 144 0023.
