Maternity Photo Shoot question

roziek · August 2015

Any ftm's moms planning on getting pictures taken or any moms been through a photo shoot in the past? Question is, I started looking around in the Tampa area and prices range from $200 dollars to over $1000 for and hour or two! How much did you end up spending or plan on? I just don't know what's reasonable... Also, being that my due date is 1/11, is it too early to get pics done first wk of December? I hear that the last month is very tiring and I want to be able to enjoy getting pics taken. Any advice...? Thanks

Mamabeagle · August 2015

I think we will be taking pictures around 7 or 8 months before I get very big and maybe feel less attractive. Professional photographers will charge for their services and skill, and I don't see $200 as excessive. You can always have a friend who is a hobby photographer take them and buy them lunch as a thank you after if the price is too much to swallow.

Cejiml · August 2015

That's a good price. Every photographer differs. I chose one who offered a cd release so I wouldn't have to buy prints. Most will charge a sitting fee and a print fee. I also got mine down at 31 weeks( I was big enough lol) just be I still felt good and i could move around pretty well. It's definitely something you will want to research. Some offer deals too where you can do the maternity and book a newborn session for a special price.

maddisonwallace · August 2015

My mom is a photographer, and I will say more often than not, you pay for what you get. If your photographer is cheap, your pictures will look cheap. My suggestion to you is to look on their website at ALL their work and find a comfortable budget and then choose someone who is within that price range and you enjoy their work. Not that you would do this, but bartering is a no no. I wouldn't call up Da Vinci and ask him to give me a discounted rate on his paintings just because I wanted a deal.

Leah6120 · August 2015

I purchased a maternity/newborn package through our photographer and did 50% retainer which was $200. I feel comfortable spending $400 for both and the cost will be a bit spread around. Everyone is different but this was something very important to me. We are doing them around 32 weeks.

anightintunisia · August 2015

I live on base with my husband so there are plenty of great photographers who give military wives great prices for photos. Sometimes for free. You can look for someone who wants to build their portfolio

A college would be a great place to look! But 200$ doesn't seem like excessive. Like someone said you get what you pay for! What are some of your ideas ladies? And where are you looking to buy your maternity photo gowns?

roziek · August 2015

Good advice from you ladies, I really appreciate it! I was thinking that around $500 would be a good price but I'll def look into getting some type of deal with a newborn session! I'll be 20 weeks tomorrow and I've only gained about 7lbs so I wanna make sure I def have a belly for my pics!

Mommyduclos · August 2015

I'm a maternity/ baby photographer. I shoot for around 36 weeks for maternity photos, some photographers do like it a little earlier though it'll really depend on who you work with. Pricing varies a lot based on where you live and the quality of the photographer you are hiring- usually more money= better quality, though we all know that isn't always the case! Please know that a high quality professional will spend more like 5-10 hours on your "1-2 hour session"- including consultation, pre session location scouting, drive time, and post session editing time, product design etc which doesn't even touch on the time they spend doing general business things like advertising, book keeping, website, blogging, etc, I know this time doesn't matter much to you specifically but true professionals have to factor all that in when making prices. They should also have expenses like education, equipment maintenance/ upgrades, liability insurance, props, plus other necessary business expenses that they have to factor into their pricing. You may feel like you are forking out a lot of money, but the photographer likely isn't making as much as you think they are- especially on an "hourly basis" I just wanted to explain all that cause before I really got into photography I thought woah! They make $200/ hr, but I've learned that's not even close to true.

roziek · August 2015

@Mommyduclos Thanks so much for your input...good to know from a professional! What are the chances you know someone in the Tampa area to take my pics

RunnerMeg · August 2015

@roziek - I live in Orlando, but my good friend lives in the Tampa area and has had all her maternity and newborn sessions done with https://www.facebook.com/AlisonWinterrothPhotography. Her photos are gorgeous. I agree with the other ladies, you generally get what you pay for. We are paying $600-$700 for maternity and newborn. I am die January 25th and doing ours the first week of December. With our son, I did our maternity session around 6-7 weeks before my due date and my belly was plenty big lol.

MommaB16 · August 2015

I have a one year anniversary shoot in September that was a part of my wedding package and I'm going to have her take gender reveal photos too during this shoot. I will be 20 weeks when those are done. I haven't decided if I'll get more photos taken when I'm further along or just the weekly photo I've been taking at home?

BarrettJ89 · August 2015

When I was pregnant with my son, I found an incredible photographer (and deal) who took our maternity photos (end of October) and newborn pictures (mid-December) for a total of $200. She worked with our entire family, met at a park for maternity shoot, allowed us to use her studio for newborn, and gave us a complete disc of all photos with permission to print and post online.
This time around she is doing my son's 1 year pictures (nice shots as well as cake smash), our maternity photos, and newborn/family pictures for a total of $275.

roziek · August 2015

Thanks ladies for all your advice, it helps me a lot! @RunnerMeg Thanks for the link, I will def check her out...I appreciate it

nickicb7 · August 2015

i would definately seek referrals from friends and family, we have a few great photographers we have used but they are all in our area. Your best bet is always a referal.

Sovvy · August 2015

You definitely get what you pay for. I'm a photographer, and I'm doing maternity, birth and newborn photos. Pictures are important, y'all.

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