Somewhere between 28 and 36 weeks. Far enough along for a defined bump, early enough to still be comfortable standing and moving for an hour.
Book earlier than feels necessary
The comfortable window closes faster than most people expect, and third trimesters rarely run to plan. Expecting twins, or advised to take it easy? Come earlier — around 26 to 30 weeks tends to work better.
You do not need to buy anything
We keep a wardrobe of maternity gowns and drapes in a range of sizes, included at no extra cost. Bring your own things too if you have something you love; some of the best frames come from a mix of both.
Flowing single-tone fabrics photograph best. Pattern competes with the shape you are there to photograph.
Studio or outdoors
Both work and they produce different pictures. Studio gives complete control of light and set, which suits dramatic, styled portraits. Outdoors — the coast, a park — gives golden-hour light and a sense of place.
Outdoor slots are early morning or the hour before sunset. Chennai light at midday is unusable for this, and the heat makes it unpleasant besides.
Nobody knows what to do with their hands
This is the single most common worry and it is entirely normal. You are directed continuously through the session — where to stand, where to look, what to do with your hands. Nobody is left in front of a camera working it out for themselves. The first twenty minutes always feel awkward, and then people forget the camera is there, which is when the good frames happen.
Say what you want, plainly
Some people want the bump as the entire subject. Others want a portrait that happens to include it. Both are completely reasonable and we would much rather know before the shoot than guess during it.
The same goes for editing. As standard we remove transient things — a blemish, a strap mark — and leave everything else alone. We do not reshape bodies by default. If there is something specific you would like handled, ask.