Your Maternity Photo Session

So you booked your session. Yay! Let’s go over what comes next.

Make sure to fill out my “Maternity Pre-Session Questionnaire”

After you’ve completed your booking, I’ll send an email with a short pre-session questionnaire. Taking a few minutes to fill it out helps me get to know you better and shape our session to reflect your vision. Your answers will guide me in capturing the moments that matter most to you.

Location

After you’ve filled out your pre-session questionnaire, I’ll send an email to start a conversation about choosing the perfect location. Based on your answers, I’ll suggest a few options that fit your vision.

Want to start getting inspired? I’ve put together a guide featuring some of my favorite Marin County locations—complete with sample images to help you visualize each setting. You can check it out here:
https://www.janetsanchezphotography.com/marincountylocations

I’m always up for shooting at spots I know and love, but if you have a special place in mind, I’d love to hear about it!

Styling Your Maternity Session

I’ve put together a full styling guide to help make outfit planning feel easy and stress-free. It includes color palettes, fabric suggestions, examples for different locations, and tips for partners and families as well.

If you’d like a place to start, I recommend browsing that first:
View the full styling guide here
https://www.janetsanchezphotography.com/styling-guide

And of course, everything below is here as additional guidance specific to maternity sessions.

Colors That Photograph Beautifully

I recommend leaning toward soft, earthy, and neutral tones, which photograph beautifully in natural light and outdoor environments.

Some favorites:

• Cream, ivory, soft white

• Warm beige, tan, camel

• Rust, terracotta, muted mustard

• Olive, sage, soft greens

• Soft blues and muted grays

These tones reflect light gently and allow your connection — not your clothing — to be the focus.

If you love color, muted or washed-down shades tend to work best. If you’re drawn to something a little richer, jewel tones can be a beautiful choice as well. I generally recommend avoiding neons, bold logos, heavy patterns, or very high-contrast color combinations, as they can pull attention away from the emotion of the moment.

Silhouettes & Texture

Flow and movement photograph beautifully during maternity sessions.

• Flowy dresses, wrap dresses, or maxi dresses allow for natural movement and a soft, timeless feel

• Cozy knits, light layers, and natural textures (linen, cotton, wool) add depth without feeling styled

• If you prefer something more casual, a fitted top paired with jeans or trousers can feel grounded and very you

There’s no “right” choice — both elevated and simple looks can be beautiful when they feel authentic.

Two Looks? Absolutely.

Some clients love incorporating two outfit looks into their session — for example:

• One more flowing, elevated dress

• One relaxed, everyday look (jeans and a cozy top)

I’m more than happy to accommodate this if it feels right for you. We’ll plan the timing and transitions so it stays relaxed and never rushed.

If you’re considering two looks, feel free to mention it in your questionnaire or reach out — I’m always happy to help you decide what will work best.

Lean Into What Feels Like You

More than anything, I want your photos to feel honest.

If you never wear dresses, you don’t need to start now.
If you love soft, flowing pieces, lean into that.
If something makes you feel restricted or self-conscious, it probably won’t photograph the way you want it to.

Choose pieces you can move, breathe, and connect in — that’s where the magic happens.

What to expect during our session

During our session, I will give you prompts, movements, and poses to help create natural images that celebrate this time in your life. I want you to feel grounded, powerful, and celebrated during our session. Your body is doing something INCREDIBLE right now and you deserve ALL of the hype!

Length of the session

I do not place any hard time restrictions on my portrait sessions, but you can generally expect our session to last around 45 minutes to an hour.

Please do your best to arrive on time

This is especially important if you have booked an evening photo session during golden hour. I want to make sure we have plenty of time with that gorgeous lighting before the sun dips below the horizon.

I can't wait to capture this special time in your life!  Do not hesitate to ask me any questions you have.  See you soon!