Up to the 27th
The bump barely shows
Before the 28th week, the shape doesn't yet show clearly in photos. If you message now, we'll note the period, and we'll fix the day further ahead.
Little Stories by Zitoli
Pregnancy and maternity photography session
The wait, before they arrive
from the 28th to the 34th weekI'm Alessia Zitoli and I photograph the bump from the 28th to the 34th week, in the studio in Trani or on the shore at sunset. There's no set sequence to follow: I tell you where to position yourselves, then I let you be as you are.
When to have your pregnancy photos taken
The right time is from the 28th to the 34th week. Before that, the bump doesn't yet read clearly in photos, and after the 34th, changing position becomes tiring and standing for long stretches becomes uncomfortable.
If you've already passed that point, message me anyway: I work more with you seated and lengthen the breaks, and the photos still turn out well.
You can book this session and the one with the newborn together, and it's worth it: the second has a very narrow window, the first 10 to 15 days of life.
What it's called: maternity, premaman, bump
Maternity, premaman, bump photos and pregnancy photoshoot are the same thing. Only the word you search it with changes.
"Maternity" is the trade term, the one you'll find written on photographers' websites. "Premaman" comes from clothing shops and has ended up meaning the same service. "Bump photos" and "pregnancy photos" are how you'd type it into Google. If you send me a message saying "I'd like to have premaman photos done", I'll answer with the same weeks.
In the studio or on the beach
The difference between the two is the light. In the studio, I control it, so the date doesn't depend on the weather. On the beach, I work with what I find, and every so often the day shifts.
The set I use most in the studio is warm: a beige backdrop, ivory drapes, a pouf, light curtains, and the large paper daisies you'll see reappear in the photos below. The light is soft and enveloping, and it's forgiving even on days when you don't feel photogenic.
Against a dark backdrop, shadow outlines the bump, and that contrast works well in a large print. With white and light greys, what comes out instead is something light, good for hanging in a bedroom.
On the beach, I take you into the last light, just before the sun touches the sea: backlighting only works at that hour, in the mid afternoon the light is harsh and the water washes out. A few sessions have also ended up in a garden, in front of a bougainvillea in bloom.
The weeks that matter
The good window is from the 28th to the 34th week. Before and after, photos can still be taken, but how changes.
From the 28th to the 34th
The good window
It's the right time: the bump shows clearly and changing position isn't tiring yet. Within these weeks, you're still comfortable standing too.
The day
Studio or last light
In the studio, I control the light, so the date doesn't depend on the weather. On the beach, I take you into the last light, just before the sun touches the sea: in the mid afternoon the light is harsh and the water washes out.
From the 35th
Still possible, seated
If you've already passed that point, message me anyway: I work more with you seated and lengthen the breaks, and the photos still turn out well.
After the birth
The first 10 to 15 days
The second session has a very narrow window. The two are booked together, and it's worth it.
How it worksThese windows come from experience, not fixed rules: if your baby already has a few extra days, write to me anyway and we will see what we can do.
Pregnancy couple photos: dad and siblings
Dad joins in for part of the session, older siblings for another part. In the end, there are also photos of everyone together, which with that particular bump can never be redone.
With small children, I start with them, while their patience lasts. After a while they get tired, and that's normal: you two and I carry on, and they play off to one side.
I ask little of dad: hands on the bump, or a step back while he watches. Anyone who's never posed before does better when they don't have to think about what to do with their arms.
What to wear for a pregnancy photography session
Fitted clothes and solid colours work well. If you don't know what to wear, message me before the session and we'll talk it through.
Fitted, not loose
What matters is seeing the shape of the bump. A long jersey dress or a short top show it, a loose shirt makes it disappear into the fabric.
Solid colours
Solid colours draw the eye to the face and the bump. Small patterns and logos pull it the wrong way, and fine stripes look bad in a large print.
Fabrics that move
Tulle and gauze respond to the air. On the beach it matters: with a long veil I work with the wind and the backlight, and all you need to do is walk back and forth along the shoreline.
Dad and siblings, coordinated
You don't need to dress identically, just make sure the colours go together: two or three shades, no writing on the T shirts. Dark jeans and a solid colour solve it almost every time, and children stay comfortable in them for the whole session.
What to bring besides clothes
The ultrasound scan and the first little shoes, if you already have them: in the gallery below you'll see them reappear in the parents' hands. A soft toy or a pendant you've given each other works well too.
Pregnancy photos
Maternity portraits in the studio, on the shore, and with the rest of the family in the frame. Some of the shots are in black and white.
What the session includes
The session is the time in the studio or on the beach, plus the selection and editing of the shots I deliver to you.
Files, prints and albums are chosen afterwards, looking at the photos, once you already know which ones you want to keep. Message me on WhatsApp and I'll send you the quote, with what's included in the session and what's added on.
If you're thinking of also having the newborn session, tell me when you message: we'll book the two sessions together.
The other sessions: newborn, smash cake, family
Pregnancy is the first stage I photograph. The others arrive quickly, and each has its own window.
Frequently asked questions
At what week are pregnancy photos taken?
From the 28th to the 34th week. By that point the bump is fully there and you're still comfortable standing. Note the period down in advance and leave the day open: within that window things change quickly, and choosing at the last moment lets you come when you feel your best.
How do I ask for a quote for the pregnancy session?
Message me the week you're at and I'll get back to you. Also tell me what you imagine keeping, whether files, a few prints or the album, because the session and the products are two separate items, and the quote keeps them apart.
Can we bring the dog?
Yes, the dog can come, it's already happened more than once, and in those sessions it ended up in the photos, not out of the frame. Tell me when we set the day, so I can prepare the set with that in mind, and come with someone who can hold the dog while I photograph the two of you.
Are the photos in colour or in black and white?
Both. In this page's gallery, some of the shots are in black and white: I use it when the gesture matters more than the colour, for example two hands on the bump or an embrace seen from behind. The rest stays in colour. If you have a strong preference, tell me before the session.
What happens if the baby is born before the session?
The pregnancy session is skipped and we move to the newborn one, which has its own window in the first 10 to 15 days of life. The bump is photographed by the 34th week precisely because after that there's little margin left. Message me as soon as you're home: that second window is short and doesn't wait.
How to book the pregnancy session
Message me the expected due date and I'll tell you which weeks fall within the good window and which days I have free. If you'd rather talk, the studio answers at 0883 588902, and for email there's info@alessiazitoli.it. We're at Via Umberto 230 in Trani: half an hour's drive for those coming from Bari, less from Barletta, Bisceglie and Andria.
Tell me what you need
I answer personally. If you prefer, message me directly on WhatsApp: it is the fastest way.