Old Salem, Winston Salem, NC


When should I schedule my maternity photos?


Annie Lievens Photography

 

Celebrating the beauty of motherhood, just as you are.


There is something especially beautiful about the season of waiting. The anticipation of meeting someone you already love so deeply, the quiet moments spent imagining who they will become, and the extraordinary ways your body is making room for a new life.


Whether you are preparing to welcome your first baby or soaking in the final months of your last pregnancy, this chapter deserves to be remembered.


One of the questions I am most often asked by expectant mothers is, “When is the best time to schedule maternity photos?”


My recommendation is to plan your maternity photography session between 25 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. This window allows us to celebrate your growing baby bump while prioritizing something that matters even more to me: that you feel comfortable, confident, and completely yourself.

Pregnant woman in a white sweater dress cradles her belly as her partner in a gray sweater embraces her on a sunlit historic brick street.

Why I Recommend Maternity Photos Between 25 and 35 Weeks




Every pregnancy is different, and there is certainly no one-size-fits-all approach to motherhood. However, I have found that the weeks between 25 and 35 often offer a beautiful balance.


By this point, your growing belly is typically beautifully visible, and you are beginning to see the physical transformation that makes this season so remarkable.


For many mothers, this is also a time when they still have the energy to enjoy a relaxed photography experience. As pregnancy progresses, the physical demands of carrying your little one can become more noticeable. Scheduling your session before those final weeks often means you can move comfortably, feel more rested, and simply enjoy being present.


There is another important reason I encourage families not to wait until the very end of pregnancy: babies have a way of arriving on their own schedules.


Planning your maternity portraits a little earlier gives us the opportunity to document this meaningful milestone without worrying quite so much about an unexpectedly early arrival.


Above all, I want your maternity session to feel like a celebration, never another obligation on your growing to-do list.

Smiling pregnant woman in a cream sweater dress cradles her baby bump while her partner in a gray sweater embraces her on a sunny street.
Smiling pregnant woman with long wavy blonde hair in a cream turtleneck sweater gently cradles her baby bump outdoors on a sunny day.
Pregnant woman in a cream knit dress gently cradling her baby bump with both hands outdoors, wearing rings and bracelets.
Expecting couple standing forehead to forehead on a cobblestone street beside a white historic building during a maternity photo session.
Smiling pregnant woman in a cream turtleneck dress cradles her baby bump on a sunlit cobblestone street lined with historic buildings.
Smiling pregnant woman in a cream knit sweater cradles her baby bump while standing on a brick path near trees and a historic building.
Pregnant woman in a cream knit sweater dress cradling her baby bump with both hands, wearing rings and silver bracelets.
Couple walking arm in arm down a sunlit dirt path lined with tall trees and green grass, with a red brick building in the background.
Smiling pregnant woman in a cream knit turtleneck dress cradles her belly on a sunlit brick path lined with autumn trees.
Smiling expectant couple embracing on a tree-lined park path during a sunny outdoor maternity photo session.

A Beautiful Fall Maternity Session in Old Salem, Winston-Salem


Recently, I had the joy of photographing a sweet couple awaiting the arrival of their baby in historic Old Salem, one of my favorite locations for maternity photography in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.


With the leaves beginning to turn golden, the warmth of the autumn sunshine, and the timeless architecture surrounding us, the setting could not have been more lovely.


Old Salem offers such a beautiful combination of historic brick buildings, quiet pathways, mature trees, and charming architectural details. In the fall, the changing foliage brings an added layer of warmth and romance to an already picturesque setting.


But what I loved most about this particular maternity session was not simply the scenery.


It was the way these two looked at one another. The gentle hands resting on a growing belly. The laughter shared while walking together. The quiet anticipation of everything still to come.


These are the moments I hope you will remember long after your baby is in your arms.




Your Maternity Session Should Feel Like You


While I recommend the 25–35 week window, I also believe wholeheartedly that you know your body best.


Some mothers feel their most radiant at 26 weeks. Others feel wonderful well into their final month of pregnancy. If you are carrying multiples, navigating a more physically demanding pregnancy, or simply feeling ready to document this season a little earlier, we can thoughtfully plan around your needs.


Your comfort will always be more important to me than following a particular timeline.


I want you to feel beautiful in the clothing you choose, at ease in front of my camera, and confident in the remarkable role you are stepping into.


There is no expectation to look or feel a certain way during pregnancy. You do not need to wait until you feel perfectly put together, or until every detail of your baby's nursery is complete.


You are already doing something extraordinary.


And that is worthy of being celebrated.




When Should You Book Your Maternity Photographer?


Although your maternity portraits will typically take place between 25 and 35 weeks, I encourage you to reserve your session as early as your first or second trimester.


My calendar often fills several months in advance, particularly during the beautiful spring and fall seasons here in Winston-Salem.


Booking early allows us to thoughtfully plan your session around your due date, select a location that feels meaningful to you, and begin discussing wardrobe and styling details without feeling rushed.


For families who choose my Motherhood Collection, maternity and newborn portraits are planned together, creating a beautifully cohesive way to remember both the anticipation of your baby's arrival and those tender first days together.


There is something especially meaningful about seeing these two chapters side by side: the little one you carried so lovingly, and the baby you finally get to hold.




A Season Worth Remembering


Pregnancy has a remarkable way of feeling both endless and fleeting.


One day you are dreaming of who your baby might become, and before you know it, those tiny fingers are wrapped around yours.


Whether this is the very beginning of your motherhood journey or the final time you will carry a baby beneath your heart, I hope you give yourself permission to celebrate it.


Not because every moment of pregnancy is easy, but because every chapter of your story matters.


Years from now, I hope these photographs remind you not only of what you looked like while expecting, but of what it felt like to be standing on the edge of such a beautiful new beginning.


If you are expecting a little one in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, I would be honored to document this season for you. From thoughtful wardrobe guidance to selecting the perfect location, my hope is to create an experience where you feel cared for, celebrated, and completely at ease.


Inquire about maternity photography and the Motherhood Collection with Annie Lievens Photography.

I cannot wait to hear about the little one you are waiting to meet.

A smiling couple holds hands while walking through fall leaves past a historic brick building, she in a cream dress and boots.
Couple embracing outdoors as a man kisses a blonde woman's forehead in front of a brick building with white columns in autumn.
Woman in a cream knit sweater and skirt cradling her baby bump, wearing rings and a silver watch, with a partner's hand resting on top.
Smiling expectant couple in cozy sweaters gently cradling the woman's baby bump outdoors beneath golden autumn trees.
Smiling couple sits together on stone steps outside a historic red brick building with a green door, the woman in a cream dress and boots.
Smiling couple in casual attire sit together on stone steps beside a red brick building, the woman cradling her baby bump.
A smiling couple embraces outdoors on a sunny autumn day, the man kissing the woman's forehead near a brick building and golden fall leaves.

 

Thank you for spending time here!

Annie Lievens Photography is a fine art portrait photographer based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, serving Forsyth County and the surrounding areas of North Carolina. I specialize in timeless, heirloom-quality images that celebrate motherhood, family, and life’s most meaningful moments. From maternity and newborn sessions to milestone and family portraits, I offer a calm, guided experience designed to be as stress-free as possible. If you're looking for a Winston-Salem photographer who blends soft, natural light with intentional storytelling, I would be honored to serve you and your family.