Back when I was pregnant with my son (five and a half years ago, gulp), I went looking for a photographer in Richmond who could offer both newborn and maternity photography as one package. I wanted both, but I didn’t want to spend all of my time (or my photography collateral with my husband) on a maternity session; I wanted to spend my budget and time on newborn photos but also document my pregnancy with professional images. I never actually found said RVA photographer in 2017, and that made me actually create the newborn + maternity package I was looking for myself.

So, while I offer hour-long maternity sessions, most people who reach out to me are looking for newborn photos with a side helping of maternity photos. I offer that side helping as a secondary 30-minute session. 30-minute sessions, being half the time of 60-minute sessions (that’s what we call easy math), are still long enough to get terrific photos, but some locations are better than others for that 30 minute time.

I say all of that to say that these maternity photo locations can all be walked, relatively comfortably, in 30 minutes.

A couple of other notes about maternity photos: I encourage clients to schedule maternity photos between 28-34 weeks, because the bump is usually easy to see but your ankles aren’t swollen yet, and you might still be feeling pretty good. Your experience may vary, particularly if you’re carrying multiples, or if you have a high-risk pregnancy. Please reach out with questions!

Also, it’s good practice and super important that you speak up and advocate for yourself if you’re uncomfortable at any point. Either before the session as you’re getting ready, or during the session itself. If you’re in labor, that’s great! Just tell me, and we’ll adjust according to your needs.

Pump House Park

I chose this for myself in 2017, and it was as good then as it was in 2022 when this couple chose it. I love this space in the fall especially, because of the changing leaves. This one is great for couples or moms-to-be who are being photographed alone, or with kids who are a little older. I’ve mentioned before, it’s a little scary to bring toddlers here because of the lack of handrails.

Forest Hill Park

There are so many different places to go in Forest Hill Park. You can start at the top and come down the big hill, or start at the bottom and avoid the big hill altogether. You can park on a side street and enter the park through a little-used path straight into the woods, if that’s more your thing. It has space for everyone.

Deep Run Park

I just talked about Deep Run on my blog recently, both for its family and maternity opportunities. This one is really great if you enjoy level paths and a choose-your-own-adventure feel for your maternity photos.

Harry Daniel Park

This one is kind of cheating, because it’s the one I chose for myself. I wanted something super easy in 2019 (still hadn’t found that perfect maternity photographer). It was summer, I was working full time at VCU while also trying to be a mom to a 1 year old and run a photography business, and I needed somewhere flat, safe, and without a lot of distraction where we could play together for a few minutes.

Your House / Yard

I list this last but I really should list it first. There are few places where your family is more comfortable than they are at home. What’s more perfect than documenting your life, either in the last few quiet days before your firstborn arrives, or in the chaos that older children bring and will fold the new baby into? I love when clients choose “home” as the location for their photos, no matter the occasion.

Now for a bonus: here are two places I won’t take you for a 30 minute session:

Belle Isle - unless you want to meet on the island; and Maymont’s Japanese Garden - too many stairs. Both of these locations are gorgeous, but it really is a lot of walking to get to the actual location. And in Maymont’s case, it’s a whole lot of stairs and steep uphill to come back up. One might go into labor on their way up the stairs and have a hard time right at the end of the session.

Want to know more about how to combine a newborn session with a short maternity session?