From Bump to Baby; Planning Your Newborn Photography Sessions Together

There is something pretty incredible about photographing a mom while she's pregnant and then seeing her again a few weeks later.

Except this time she's carrying the little person who was inside that belly.

That's why I love when families plan their maternity and newborn photography together.

They're two separate sessions, but when you look at the photographs later, they become two halves of one story.

First, We Photograph the Waiting

Your maternity session captures your family before everything changes again.

Your belly.

Your partner's hand resting on it.

Older siblings waiting to meet the baby.

The anticipation.

The wondering.

Who will they look like?

Will they have hair?

Will they look like Mom?

Dad?

Big brother?

Right now, you don't know.

That's part of what makes maternity photographs so special.

Then Baby Arrives

And suddenly all of those questions have answers.

That belly you've been photographing is gone.

And there's a tiny baby in your arms.

Now we photograph the details you'll swear you're never going to forget—but somehow they change faster than you expect.

Tiny fingers.

Tiny toes.

Little lips.

Baby hair.

Sleepy stretches.

The way your newborn fits against your chest.

This is the other side of the story.

When Should You Book Your Newborn Session?

Ideally, you don't wait until baby arrives to start looking for a newborn photographer.

Newborn sessions are typically booked during pregnancy, using your due date as a placeholder.

Babies aren't particularly interested in photographers' calendars, so once your little one arrives, we can finalize the actual session timing.

Booking during pregnancy also means one less thing to figure out while you're adjusting to life with a newborn.

Maternity and Newborn Photos Look Beautiful Together

Imagine an album that begins with your maternity photographs.

Mom holding her belly.

Dad beside her.

Big brother or sister kissing the bump.

Turn the page.

Now they're holding the baby.

That's what I mean when I say we're telling a story.

They're not simply two photography sessions.

They're the before and after of meeting someone who changes your family forever.

Older Siblings Make This Even Sweeter

If your children participate in your maternity session, I especially love recreating some of those connections during the newborn session.

Maybe your daughter kissed your belly during maternity photos.

Now she's kissing her baby brother's forehead.

Maybe big brother had his hands wrapped around your bump.

Now they're wrapped around his new sibling.

Those pairings can become some of the most meaningful photographs in the entire gallery.

You Don't Need to Plan Everything Yourself

Preparing for a baby already comes with approximately 8,000 decisions.

Photography shouldn't become another overwhelming one.

We'll talk about timing, clothing, styling and what you should expect.

For your newborn session, we'll also talk about preparing baby and what to bring.

My approach to newborn photography is patient and baby-led.

Babies aren't expected to perform.

If your newborn needs to eat, we stop.

If baby needs to be comforted, we stop.

If we need time to settle your little one, we take it.

There is no prize for rushing through a newborn session.

Your baby's comfort and safety come first.

Photograph the Whole Beginning

Maternity photographs aren't simply about a belly.

Newborn photographs aren't simply about a tiny baby.

Together, they're about the beginning of a relationship.

One day your child will be able to look at those photographs and see something they can't possibly remember themselves:

how loved they were before you even met them.

And then they'll see what happened when everyone finally did.

That's the story I want to help you preserve.

Ready to Plan Your Maternity and Newborn Sessions?

If you're expecting a baby in Buckeye, Verrado, Goodyear or anywhere throughout Arizona's West Valley, you don't have to wait until your little one arrives to start planning.

We can begin with your maternity session and then continue the story once baby is safely in your arms.

Because these stages feel enormous while you're living them.

And somehow, they're gone before you know it.

Continue Your Story: Newborn Photography in Buckeye, Arizona

TAQ Photography specializes in patient, baby-led newborn photography along with maternity and family photography for families throughout Buckeye and Arizona's West Valley.