maternity photography - book your maternity session by 20 weeks into your pregnancy, yes, book early

Hey there all you moms to be!  I hope you're seeing this information early into your pregnancy.  Do you know how difficult it has been to reach you guys for the last several years?  Pre-Covid/Quarantine, I had magazines and pamphlets in OB offices, there were baby expos, etc, it was alot easier to reach out to moms who were either pregnant or planning to be pregnant....Fast forward a few years, and doctor's offices are still having you wait out in you cars until your appointment time, there is either no sitting in waiting rooms or there are no magazines available in waiting rooms since the pandemic.  
I have seen it's starting slowly to return, but who knows if it will ever be the same...so...how...does...a...photographer...reach...potential...maternity clients?  Like I said, It's been a challenge.
I'm writing this on a Sunday...it's busy season as it's November and we have the wonderful holiday hustle and bustle going on for holiday photos.  Our studio mostly focuses on newborn and maternity, so we don't offer too many holiday photos, however, we do offer them to the families that have been with us in the past.  It's a great way to see how the babies are growing up and nice to see all the parents and check in on how they're doing as well.  I love seeing their faces each year, however, I'd like to keep the germ level fairly low, which is why we offer a limited amount of these sessions.
I see i'm babbling a bit, however, getting back to your maternity photo session....I'm writing on a Sunday, because we've been getting numerous requests for last minute maternity sessions and we just don't have the time and resources to accommodate last minute usually.  
At the risk of "womansplaining" (If that's a thing), May I offer some inside scoop on small photography businesses?  My studio, like many small business studios, run differently than say a JC Penny type studio, where they're open all the time.  Although I cannot speak for every small business studio, many of us run by appointment only, or have set hours throughout the day.  A large corporate type studio has many staff photographers, I don't...I have two photographers that work here currently and we only have a certain amount of hours in our day and in our week and we specialize in different types of photography, I offer newborn, maternity and headshots and the other photographer offers swaddle sessions, milestone photo sessions and and seasonal family currently.  
I ask clients to book 2-3 months in advance, I have this on my website (and now that I think about it, maybe I'll add it Ig).  

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Also..guess what....we have kids...and they have needs, too....so even though we'd love nothing more than to work work work work and work, we can't because we have other obligations and if we work too much, our families will start to suffer, believe me, I know, it's happened; I've cut family vacations short, even this coming weekend my kids have a 4 day weekend and I'll be working Saturday and Sunday at the studio photographing seasonal sessions.  I love my job, however, it's never easy to try and find a balance.
Plus...Is this really something you want to rush the process in?  YOU need time...get yourself ready and prepared for your session, hair cut and color perhaps? ...nails a mani/pedi? Are you due for a facial or skin treatment? ...So, pamper yourself a bit,  Do you know there are a lot of details that go into your session.  Behind the scenes, we want to pamper the moms and help save them time so we have the wardrobe, we have hair and makeup, however, these are just a few of the details; we don't have our clients just show up on the day of their session and pop them in front of the camera; there is prep work that needs to happen before the session to make sure that each client's ideas are heard, we want to make sure we can accommodate these requests, that we're a good fit for your needs, and this all takes time. 
It takes time to find the right outfits, and a lot of other details, to make your visions happen, so please, offer us time.  To prepare for YOU.  You deserve this! 
The "I need a maternity session this Saturday!" is not a good call to hear for anyone.  The mom is stressed, who knows what happened to lead up to this call, and for us at the studio, it's devastating to hear a stressed mom and more devastating to know we just don't have the time to accommodate her. ​

Having a baby is such a special time in your life.  Believe me, I know photos usually aren't the first or maybe even the fifteenth thing on your mind when you find out your having a baby, right?  Professional Maternity Portraits are a luxury that not all want, however, if you're considering a maternity photo session, or even just have some questions about a maternity photo session, please contact a photographer by week 20.  At Millie Dee Photography Studio, we prefer moms come in during their second trimester for pictures, this way your cute baby bump is showing and you still have some energy to be posed.  Please don't wait until your 7th or 8th month to try and book a maternity session with a photographer that you've been eyeing up; by then, your favorite photographer is most likely booked up.  Make the call by 20 weeks.  
I know for me, I wanted to wait until a certain part of my pregnancy to tell everyone, to make sure I was in the safe zone, so I understand not wanting to jump on figuring out every detail of your pregnancy within the first month or two; however, don't wait long to book.  
I hear the regret in these mom's voices for not booking sooner when I say we can't accommodate them, and it's upsetting because this is a short time in your life but such a beautiful reason to celebrate with professional portraits.  Definitely get the pictures if you're thinking about it; You won't regret it.  If you're in Northern New Jersey, Millie Dee Photography Studio is located in Roxbury Township, Morris County, NJ.  We're happy to answer any questions you have about maternity photo sessions  or newborn photo sessions, too.  www.milliedeephotography.com.  

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