Everything You Need to Know Before Booking a Maternity Session at Imagine That Photography

Your complete guide to a seamless, beautiful, and unforgettable maternity photography experience in Long Island, NY.

Pregnancy is one of the most extraordinary chapters of your life — and it moves fast. Before you know it, those breathtaking curves, that radiant glow, and the quiet anticipation of waiting to meet your baby will be a memory. A maternity session with Imagine That Photography is your chance to slow down time and preserve this season in images that are genuinely stunning, heirloom-worthy, and unmistakably you.

My name is Tatiana Bogdan, and I've had the privilege of photographing expecting mamas across Long Island — from Dix Hills and Huntington to Melville, Syosset, and beyond. If you've been dreaming about a maternity shoot but find yourself full of questions, you're in exactly the right place. I've put together this complete guide to answer every question my clients ask before their session. Each question below links to its own in-depth post — so whether you want the quick answer now or the full picture later, it's all here for you.

The Questions Every Expecting Mama Asks

Here's everything we cover in this guide.

1. When is the best time to book a maternity session?

2. What should I wear for my maternity session?

3. Do I need professional hair and makeup done?

4. How do I prepare for my session?

5. How long does a maternity session take?

6. Can my partner or children be in the photos?

7. What can I expect at a studio session?

8. What if I'm nervous about being photographed?

9. How much does a maternity session cost?

10. What poses will we do?

11. How will I receive my images?

12. Why does a maternity session matter?

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1. When Is the Best Time to Book a Maternity Session?

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The sweet spot for maternity photography is between 28 and 36 weeks — your third trimester. At this stage, your bump is beautifully round and pronounced, you still have the energy to move and pose comfortably, and your skin has that signature pregnancy luminance.

But here's what surprises most first-time mamas: you should book your date by week 20, even though your session won't happen until much later. Sessions at Imagine That fill up fast, and the best dates go early. Waiting until the third trimester to start reaching out often means limited options — or worse, missing the window entirely.

If you're expecting multiples or have a high-risk pregnancy, the ideal session window shifts earlier — around 24–30 weeks — and it's worth discussing timing with your care team before booking.

Learn More

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2. What Should I Wear for My Maternity Session?

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Wardrobe is one of the most exciting parts of planning your session — and one of the questions I get asked most. The good news: you don't have to figure this out alone.

When you book with Imagine That Photography, you get access to a stunning collection of designer couture maternity gowns, silk draping, crop tops, bodysuits, and accessories. During our design consultation, we'll carefully choose every ensemble together to showcase your beauty and your baby bump. Most clients wear two to three looks during their session.

If you'd like to bring pieces of your own, the general guidance is: body-hugging fabrics, rich solid tones like ivory, blush, sage, burgundy, or navy, and nothing with loud patterns or logos. For partners and older children joining the session, aim for coordinating tones rather than identical outfits.

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3. Do I Need Professional Hair and Makeup Done?

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The honest answer is: whatever makes you feel the most beautiful and like yourself is absolutely the right choice.

Some clients arrive fully glam with professionally styled hair and a full beat — and they feel like a million dollars. Others prefer a natural, barely-there look they've done themselves at home — and they are just as radiant in every single image. This session is about you, and how you show up should feel authentic to who you are.

That said, if you've ever wanted an excuse to be pampered, this is it. I work with an incredible hair and makeup artists who specialize in maternity styling and has a gift for enhancing your natural pregnancy glow in a way that feels effortless, not overdone. I'm happy to connect you with them if you'd like to explore that option. And if you prefer to do your own makeup? Come in feeling like you — a little extra mascara, your favorite lipstick, whatever makes you feel special. That energy shows up in every frame far more than any product does.

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4. How Do I Prepare for My Session?

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A little intentional preparation in the days leading up to your session makes a noticeable difference in how you look and feel on the day.

The week before: stay hydrated, moisturize your bump daily, get a manicure if your hands will be featured in close-up shots, and avoid spray tans the day before (they can look uneven under studio lighting). Browse the Imagine That maternity gallery and Pinterest to identify the mood, tones, and styles that resonate with you — and feel free to share your ideas at your design consultation.

The day of: eat a proper meal before you arrive, wear loose comfortable clothing to the studio so there are no fabric imprints on your skin, and if at all possible — rest beforehand.

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5. How Long Does a Maternity Session Take?

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Every Imagine That maternity experience begins with a design consultation — either in person at our Dix Hills studio or over Zoom — where we plan your vision, select your wardrobe looks, and preview our fine art product collections. This happens before your session day, so you arrive already prepared and excited.

On session day, plan for 2 to 3 hours — a relaxed welcome, multiple wardrobe changes, a variety of artistic lighting setups and backgrounds, and partner or family portraits if applicable. A few days after your session, we'll meet again for your ordering appointment, where you'll see your images for the first time and choose your collection and wall art.

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6. Can My Partner or Children Be in the Photos?

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Absolutely — and I genuinely encourage it. Some of the most meaningful maternity images I've ever created are the ones that capture the love already surrounding a baby before they've arrived.

Your partner is welcome for part or all of the session. For older children, I recommend bringing them toward the end, after we've captured your solo portraits and you've had time to warm up. Children do best in shorter, playful bursts rather than extended periods of being asked to pose — and their natural, unscripted moments are almost always the most beautiful anyway.

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7. What Can I Expect at a Studio Maternity Session?

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Every Imagine That maternity session takes place at our portrait studio in Dix Hills, NY — a fully equipped, private space with a variety of artistic lighting setups and backgrounds designed specifically for portrait work. Studio sessions offer complete control over lighting, temperature, and atmosphere, meaning consistently stunning results regardless of season or weather.

The studio experience is personalized to your unique style and vision — no two sessions look the same. During your design consultation we'll land on the creative direction that feels most like you.

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8. What If I'm Nervous About Being Photographed?

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This is the question I hear more than any other — and my answer is always the same: being nervous is completely normal, and it almost always disappears within the first ten minutes.

Most of my clients arrive telling me they're not photogenic, they don't know how to pose, or they're self-conscious about how they look. And without exception, they leave telling me it was one of the best experiences of their lives. My studio is warm, welcoming, and pressure-free. I guide you through every single pose, tell you exactly what looks beautiful, and we take our time. The images capture you — not a performance.

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9. How Much Does a Maternity Session Cost?

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Imagine That Photography offers a boutique, full-service luxury experience — and our investment is designed around something most photographers don't offer: tangible, heirloom artwork you can actually hold, display, and pass down.

Here's why you won't find a full price list on this page: our pricing is directly tied to the fine art products we create — handcrafted keepsake boxes, acrylic albums, large-format wall portraits, and more. Without seeing and touching those products in person, a number on a screen simply doesn't tell the full story. It would be like pricing a piece of furniture you've never sat in.

That's why every experience begins with a design consultation, where I walk you through the artwork collections in person. You'll see exactly what your images could look like displayed in your home, understand what's included at each level, and make a decision that feels genuinely right for you — not one based on a number divorced from any context.

The session fee is $300, which covers your design consultation, access to our full couture wardrobe collection, your photo session, professional retouching, and your ordering appointment. Collections — which include your fine art products and digital images — start at $990.

There are no hidden fees, no pressure, and no surprises. Everything is transparent and outlined before you commit to anything.

To receive our full investment guide or schedule your consultation, reach out and I'll take care of everything from there.

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10. What Poses Will We Do?

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Every session is completely tailored to you — your personality, your body, your vision for the images. You do not need modeling experience. You do not need to know how to pose. That is entirely my job, and it's one I take seriously.

During your session we'll capture a range of images: solo portraits that showcase your silhouette and your expression, intimate close-ups of hands on the bump, flowing editorial images using our couture gowns and artistic lighting setups, tender couple and family moments, and images that are unique to my signature style as a photographer.

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11. How Will I Receive My Images?

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A few days after your session, we'll meet for your ordering appointment — in person or virtually. This is where you'll see your beautifully retouched images for the first time, choose your collection, and select the fine art pieces for your home. It's the moment most clients tell me they'll never forget.

After your order is placed, please allow up to 6 weeks for your artwork to be completed. Every piece is carefully inspected before pickup at our Dix Hills studio.

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12. Why Does a Maternity Session Matter?

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Every week I speak with a mama who says some version of the same thing: "I wish I had done this sooner." Or — after their session — "I had no idea it would feel like this."

A maternity session isn't about vanity. It isn't about performing or looking a certain way. It's about pausing, in the middle of one of the most profound seasons of your life, and saying: this matters, and I want to remember it.

Your pregnancy is happening right now. These weeks, this bump, this particular quality of anticipation — they will not come back. Photographs are how you honor that.

Ready to Book Your Maternity Session on Long Island?

If you're expecting and thinking about a maternity session, I'd love to hear from you. Whether you're in Dix Hills, Huntington, Melville, Syosset, Plainview, or anywhere across Long Island, I'm here to walk you through every detail and make sure your experience feels as beautiful as the images we'll create together.

Book Your Session → imaginethatpic.com/long-island-portrait-studio

I can't wait to meet you — and that beautiful bump.

Imagine That Photography by Tatiana Bogdan is a luxury maternity, newborn, baby, and family portrait studio located at 5 Etna Ln, Dix Hills, NY 11746.

Proudly serving families across Long Island including Huntington, Melville, Syosset, Plainview, Roslyn, Old Westbury, Cold Spring Harbor, Greenlawn, and surrounding communities.

Call us at (516) 510-9250.