What to Know Before Booking an Outdoor or Indoor Maternity Session

If you have been pinning maternity images for months, you’ve probably noticed that nearly every beautiful photo you save falls into one of two situations: the outdoor or indoor maternity session. There are the soft, dreamy outdoor sessions in golden fields or sandy beaches, and there are the quiet, intimate indoor moments in a studio. As an expecting mama who wants to document this special season, you have probably wondered which one is actually right for you. The honest answer is that it depends on more than just your style preference, and after photographing many maternity sessions, I’ve learned the specific factors that will help you decide which maternity option is best for you.

Looking for tips on whether to choose an outdoor or indoor maternity session?

Sharing some below:

Why is this the first question to decide?

When an expecting mama reaches about about a maternity session, this is one of the first questions I ask. I offer both outdoor sessions (with a location guide of options to choose from) and indoor maternity sessions in my natural lit studio located in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach. Each option is beautiful and there is truly no wrong answer, but it is important to make this decision early in the process as the location will affect other factors for your photo session such as what you wear, the timing of your session, and any back-up plans that we may make based on weather. As your maternity photographer, I will help guide you through this decision to help you decide which route you want to take.

What does an outdoor maternity sessions look like and what factors should a maternity client think about?

I offer outdoor maternity sessions year round and will provide my clients with a location guide after booking. The guide will include the locations that I highly recommend for photos as they provide beautiful backdrops with ideal light, and are usually not very crowded. I shoot almost all of my outdoor sessions at “golden hour”, which is the hour before sunset, as it is the best (and most flattering!) light. This exact time depends on the time of year, but of course is later in the spring/summer, and earlier in the fall/winter seasons. This is definitely a factor to think about when considering an outdoor or indoor session, as my studio sessions can be more flexible on timing.

The light at golden hour can provide really dreamy images of your belly and outdoor sessions also enable more “walking” images and in general, the ability to have more energy and movement. If you feel like yourself more in the outdoors, you may want to consider an outdoor session as this vibe will show up in your gallery!

Another factor to consider when choosing an outdoor vs. indoor session is what you will be wearing. The styling choices you make absolutely will affect your final images and obviously depending on the time of year and weather, different pieces will work outside vs. inside. Layers may be needed in colder months of the year for outdoor sessions for both mama and any other family members included in the photos. It may also be more difficult to do any outfit changes (some of my maternity full session clients like to do multiple outfit changes and I am always happy to accomadate this!).

It’s also important to keep walking distances and restroom availability in mind, especially for those expecting mamas during their later months of pregnancy. Most of my outdoor locations do not have significant walking distances but also do not provide public restrooms.

What does an indoor maternity sessions look like and what factors should a maternity client think about?

All of my client have access to my natural lit, light and bright studio located in the Great Neck area of Virginia Beach. My studio has light wood floors, white walls, and classic furniture that can be used to create a timeless look for your maternity photos. The timing of my studio sessions can be more flexible, but I generally recommend to shoot here mid-day to get the best light and outcome for your photos.

A studio maternity session is generally more intimate than outdoors. It can be more slow and laid back, and also easier to predict since weather is not as much of a factor. The vibes are just different in an indoor session, more of an “at-home” laid-back feel, and and the photos reflect that, so this is absolutely something to think about when choosing which route that you want to go.

With an indoor maternity session, you can absolutely be more flexible with wardrobe as you don’t have to worry about temperatures that are too cold or too hot when deciding what to wear. Also in general, my clients do not wear shoes indoors (although they can!) so this is one less thing to think about!

I do have restrooms and a changing area in my studio, and if there are little ones also in the session, I will always bring out some toys to keep them entertained when not shooting.

What are some factors that a maternity client does not have to think about when deciding between an outdoor or indoor maternity session?

Many factors remain the same in all my full sessions, regardless of whether they are outdoor or indoor. This includes time shooting time provided for the session, gallery delivery turnaround, and the Session Prep Guide and other planning resources provided upon booking. Additionally, all my maternity clients who book a full session have access to my curated client closet and can include all immediate family members in their session (furry family members included!). You can learn more about my maternity sessions here.

In conclusion, choosing between an outdoor or indoor maternity session isn’t really about picking a winner. It’s about picking the experience that matches your specific pregnancy, specific season, and YOU! You don’t have to make this decision alone, part of working with the right photographer is having someone who asks the right questions before session day. I am here to help with that! 🙂

If you interested in learning more about maternity sessions, I would love to chat! You can inquire here or email me at ashleybricknerphoto@gmail.com. I hope to get the opportunity to work with you on this very special milestone!!

For more reading, check out a post from Michele about studio family sessions!

Maternity Session FAQs

• When is the best time to take maternity photos? I recommend that expecting mamas plan for their session between 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy. This is late enough that your baby belly is round and beautiful, but early enough that you aren’t super uncomfortable. The timing recommendation does not change for indoor or outdoor photos.
• What should I wear for a maternity session? I provide all of my clients with a Style Guide upon booking, and also the option to book a Prep + Planning call in which we can discuss outfits! I generally recommend long, flowy dresses for maternity sessions, have a curated client closet of options available for clients to borrow for their session.
• How long does a maternity session last? For scheduled maternity sessions, I offer both a full session (up to 60 minutes of shooting time) and a simple session (up to 30 minutes of shooting time). This does include any outfit changes, so typically I recommend a client who wishes to have multiple outfits to book the full session. The length of the session does not change for indoor or outdoor photos.
• Can my partner and kids be in the photos? Absolutely, any immediate family members are welcome in both full and simple maternity sessions (this includes partners, kids, and furry family members!). The Session Prep Guide (emailed to all clients upon booking) will include information on how to prep and style family members.