You’re already chasing a toddler around the house and trying to remember whether anyone ate a vegetable today. Now you’re supposed to schedule a photo session too? I get it. Maternity photos can feel like a first-baby thing. The first time around, you probably had time to scroll Pinterest and think through what to wear. The second time, you’re lucky if you get a shower before noon.
If you’ve been going back and forth on booking maternity photos for your second pregnancy, this post is for you. I’m a maternity and newborn photographer in Los Angeles, and I want to walk through why I think a session with your second (or third) baby is worth the effort. It’s usually less work than you’re expecting, too.
The hesitation makes sense
Second-time parents are stretched thin. You’re managing nap schedules and a small person with strong opinions about which shoes to wear. You’re also growing a baby, which is exhausting on its own. A maternity session can feel like one more thing on a list that’s already too long.
It helps to think about what these photos are actually for. They show your family during a stretch of time that moves fast. Once the baby is here, your days fill up in a whole new way, and this in-between season gets hard to remember in any detail.
5 reasons a second maternity session is worth it
1. Your older child can be in your maternity photos
This is the reason I’d put at the top of the list. The first time you were pregnant, it was just you (or you and your partner). This time, your oldest is part of it. They’re asking questions about the baby and maybe trying to figure out where exactly this sibling is going to sleep.
Photos of your oldest with the bump can only happen during these few months. Later on, those photos become something you can share with both kids. Your oldest gets to see that they were there for this, and your youngest gets to see that their big brother or sister was waiting for them.
2. Second kids notice what’s missing
Kids compare everything, right down to who got the bigger cookie. If your first pregnancy has a full session and framed prints on the wall, and your second has a handful of blurry phone pictures, that will probably come up someday.
The session doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be short and simple. What matters is that your second baby has photos from this time too.
3. You’re probably not in many photos right now
Moms tend to be the ones holding the camera. That’s even more true once there’s a toddler to keep up with, because you’re the one documenting all their milestones. Take a minute and scroll back through the last few months on your phone. Count how many photos you’re actually in.
If the answer is “not many,” you’re in good company. This session gets you pictures of yourself pregnant with this baby, taken by someone else, where you can relax and be in the frame for once.
4. It shows your family as it is right now
These are the last photos of your family before it grows. Whether you’re a family of three becoming four, or four becoming five, this version of your family only exists for a little while longer. It’s worth having a record of it.
A maternity session also pairs well with a newborn session. Having both gives you photos from before and after the baby arrives, and it’s a nice way to see how much changed in just a few months. If you’re thinking about photos throughout the baby’s first year, my First Year Collective bundles those sessions together so you don’t have to plan each one separately.
5. It’s easier the second time
The second maternity session is usually simpler than the first. You’ve already been through a pregnancy and probably a photo session or two, so you know what you like and what you don’t. You might already know you’d pick the beach over the studio, or that you feel better in something flowy than something fitted. That means a lot less time spent second-guessing your choices.
The planning is different now too. With your first, there wasn’t a toddler’s schedule to work around. This time, I’ll help you plan the session around your older child’s nap, since a well-rested kid makes everything go more smoothly.
Booking your Los Angeles maternity session
If you’re leaning toward yes, reach out and I’ll help you pick a date that works for your due date and your family’s schedule. I recommend scheduling your session between 30 and 35 weeks, when your bump is defined but you’re still comfortable moving around. You can find current starting prices on my pricing page, and you can see my studio and outdoor options on my maternity locations page.
Every maternity client can borrow from my studio wardrobe, so you don’t need to hunt for a dress you’ll only wear once. For outdoor sessions, I time things for golden hour, about an hour and a half to two hours before sunset, when the light is soft and flattering. If you have questions about what to wear or how to get your older child ready for the session, I’m happy to help.
