Maternity photography

Timing matters twice. Within the pregnancy, most photographers suggest a session somewhere between roughly the 28th and the 34th week, when the bump is clearly visible and moving around is still easy. Within the day, the session runs in the first hour after sunrise or the last hour before sunset, when the sun is low and the sand is cool; the tropical midday is no time to stand on a beach in a long dress. Couples who travel to Brazil for a babymoon should also check their airline’s rules for pregnant passengers and their doctor’s advice before fixing dates, because both can move the trip.

The setting shapes the wardrobe. A long, light dress that moves in the wind photographs well on the dunes of Jericoacoara or a quiet beach near Trancoso, in a colour that stands out against blue sea and pale sand. The cobbled streets of Paraty need flat shoes and a slower pace, and a garden or a pousada veranda keeps the session cool and shaded when the heat or the wind is too much. A wardrobe call beforehand settles all of this, so the 30 minutes go to photographs rather than changing.

The order is usually the same: older children first, while they are still interested, then the partner, then the expecting parent alone, which is the part that needs the calmest few minutes. Families who also want the grandparents and cousins in the frame should book the family session instead, which is built for larger groups. The maternity gallery stays private and is shared only through the link sent to you.