I’m Cass, a maternity and family photographer based in San Anselmo, Marin County. I’ve been photographing maternity sessions across the Bay Area since 2019 (at Baker Beach with the Golden Gate in the background, on the golden ridgelines of Tennessee Valley, in the moody coastal light of Rodeo Beach, and in the quiet intimacy of clients’ homes).
This is everything I wish someone had told my clients before they booked their maternity session: when to go, where to go, and what to wear.
When Should You Schedule Maternity Photos?
The most common answer is 28–36 weeks, and that’s good advice. But here’s the nuance behind it.
28–30 weeks: Your bump is visible and beautiful, but there’s still some physical comfort. You can walk easily, stand comfortably for longer periods, and get down to the ground and back up without too much effort. If you’re planning an active outdoor session (hiking to a scenic viewpoint, walking along a beach), this window gives you the most mobility.
32–34 weeks: This is what most photographers consider the sweet spot. The bump is full and round, you’re unmistakably pregnant, and the photos will be timeless. Most clients say this is when they feel most beautiful, too. The early discomforts of pregnancy are often behind you, and the final-stretch exhaustion hasn’t fully set in.
36–38 weeks: Still beautiful, and some clients prefer this for the “almost here” quality of the images. But plan for more frequent breaks, a shorter session if needed, and know that there’s a small chance of early arrival. I always hold a backup date for clients booking this late.
The short answer: Book sometime in your second trimester (ideally around 20–28 weeks pregnant), and plan the actual session for 28–34 weeks. Early booking secures your date. I’ll adjust the exact timing once you know how you’re feeling.
For context on how maternity sessions differ from newborn sessions, see the newborn photography timing guide.
The Best Maternity Photography Locations in Marin County
The Bay Area is an extraordinary place for maternity photography. Here are the locations I return to most often.
Tennessee Valley Trail, Mill Valley
My most-booked location for maternity sessions. The trail opens onto sweeping golden hills with dramatic sky (the kind of backdrop that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of something vast and alive). In late spring, it’s green and lush. In summer and fall, the hills turn honey-gold. The light in the hour before sunset is extraordinary.
There’s a 15-minute walk to the best spots, which is comfortable at 28–34 weeks for most clients.
Rodeo Beach, Marin Headlands
For clients who want something more dramatic and editorial (dark sand, rugged cliffs, moody coastal light). Rodeo Beach photographs beautifully year-round and has a quality that’s unlike anywhere else in the Bay Area. Deep, saturated colors and flowing fabrics work especially well here.
Baker Beach, San Francisco
The Golden Gate Bridge backdrop is iconic, and Baker Beach offers something unique: the combination of a sandy beach and a world-famous architectural landmark. Best in the late afternoon when the fog burns off (in summer) or when it stays (for a softer, more cinematic look). For details on planning and what to wear, see the Baker Beach session guide.
Ring Mountain, Tiburon
A hilltop open space with Bay views and, in spring, fields of native wildflowers. Ring Mountain has a sense of altitude and expansiveness that’s hard to find elsewhere. It involves more of a walk (about 20 minutes), so I typically recommend it at 28–32 weeks.
In Your Home
An in-home maternity session is something different entirely (quieter, more intimate, and sometimes more powerful than any outdoor location). There’s something about being photographed in the space where you actually live, preparing for a new person to arrive, that produces images you can’t get anywhere else. You don’t need a perfectly decorated home. Your real home, as it is, is exactly right.
For a full guide to all Marin County photography locations, see the locations roundup.
What to Wear for Maternity Photos
The goal is to feel like yourself, amplified. You shouldn’t be wearing something so different from your everyday style that you feel like a stranger in your own photos.
Flowy, draped fabrics photograph beautifully for maternity. They suggest movement, softness, and the organic quality of pregnancy. Maxi dresses, wrap styles, and linen fabrics are perennial favorites.
Form-fitting silhouettes also work well, especially for bump close-up shots or black-and-white portraits where you want the form to be the focus.
Colors to lean toward: Earthy neutrals (cream, ivory, camel), warm tones (terracotta, burnt orange), deep saturated colors (navy, forest green, burgundy). These photograph well in both sunny and overcast Bay Area conditions.
Bring layers. Even in summer, Marin County and San Francisco are often cool, especially near the coast. A flowing cardigan or wrap can look beautiful in photos and keeps you warm between shots.
If your partner or other children are joining the session, see the full family outfit coordination guide.
What Does a Maternity Session Actually Look Like?
Sessions are relaxed. I’m not there to direct you into a series of poses. I’m there to photograph what’s already beautiful about this time in your life.
We might start with some portraits, move to walking shots, find a spot with good light for some quieter close-up images. If your partner is there, I’ll capture you together. If there are older kids joining, I’ll capture them with you too.
Maternity sessions at Marin Mini Sessions are private mini sessions: 45–60 minutes, at a location we choose together, including 30+ edited digital images. Pricing ranges from $550 to $700 depending on the session type and length.
How to Book
Reach out during your second trimester, ideally around 20–28 weeks. I’ll hold a tentative date range around your ideal window, and we’ll confirm the exact date and location as your due date approaches.
Get in touch here to check availability, book directly here, or see full session details and pricing.
For more on mini session formats and pricing, see the complete mini sessions guide.