The Maternity and Newborn Photography Bundle: What to Know Before You Book

My Year of Life Collection bundles your maternity and newborn photography sessions into one booking. You get 30 images per session and a 10×10 lay-flat album that doubles as a baby book. You get a little bit of a discount compared to booking the same thing separately, and it gets you on my calendar early.

I didn’t get a maternity session with my first pregnancy, and I still regret it a little. Looking back, I’d love to have one baby book with just my husband and me before our first son arrived, with his newborn photos all together in the same book. With our second, I did book maternity and newborn sessions, and I love those photos, but I never made an album. It’s something I regret too.

I’m telling you this because it’s the reason I walk every family through the bundle before they decide. If you’re somewhere between “I absolutely want photos of this season” and “I have no idea when to book, how it works, or what it costs,” you’re in the right place. This post walks you through what’s included, what it costs, and how to lock in your date before baby arrives.

What Do You Actually Get in a Maternity and Newborn Bundle?

A bundle just means booking more than one session at the same time. Mine is called the Year of Life Collection: two to four sessions over 18 months, chosen from pregnancy announcement, maternity, newborn, and milestone sessions. The most popular pairing, by far, is maternity plus newborn. It’s one of the most common things families ask me about, and it’s the reason I started offering the Collection in the first place.

Here’s what’s included with a two-session Collection:

• Two in-home sessions (maternity and newborn)
• 30 images per session
• A 10×10 lay-flat heirloom album, which I always describe as an easy, beautiful way to make a baby book
• Wardrobe assistance, so what you wear feels like you

Gallery delivery is about 2 weeks after each session.

Parents sometimes assume a bundle is just a discount. It’s really about convenience and continuity: one photographer, one consistent look, and one connected story from bump to baby, with something physical to hold at the end. If you’re wondering what to wear, I’ll cover that in its own post: What to Wear for Maternity and Newborn Photos, and you can shop some of my favorite outfit ideas here.

Why Booking Both Sessions Together Just Makes Sense

The practical wins are real. You have one photographer who already knows your family, one look across both sets, and one less thing to research while you’re sleep-deprived.

But the part that surprises parents is how much smoother the newborn session goes when we’ve already met. It feels like I’m walking into a session with friends instead of meeting you for the first time in person that day. When you’ve just had a baby, that matters a lot. You’re in a vulnerable time with a tiny baby you want to protect, and feeling like you’re already friends with the person coming into your home makes everything easier.

The thing most people get wrong: Many families inquire about newborn photos after baby is already born. It’s much more helpful to reach out in your second trimester so we can get you on the calendar. I’ve had people reach out for a newborn session when my calendar was already full several weeks in advance. Once, I couldn’t fit a family in at all, so we decided to do a 3-month session instead. Those photos are still beautiful (and I’m so glad we did that instead of the family walking away with no photos at all!) but it’s a different vibe from a newborn session. If you really want newborn photos, reach out before baby arrives.

How Much Should You Expect to Invest?

The Year of Life Collection starts at $2,100 for two sessions. That includes planning for both sessions, 30 images per session, and the album.

You pay a 20% retainer to get started, and the rest is split in two and paid over time. For a Maternity and Newborn Collection, that usually means half at your maternity session and half at your newborn session. If you’d rather make smaller payments, I can set up a monthly plan or break it into smaller payments however works best for you.

Here’s how it compares to booking separately. A single session has a session fee to secure your date and the minimum investment gets you 15 digital images. With the Collection, you get 30 images for the price of 15. Compared to booking separately you get a $700 savings.

I’ll be honest that $2,100 looks like a big number. One family I worked with wasn’t sure they wanted the album, booked the Collection anyway, and got the album because it was included. When the album was delivered they loved it so much they carried it around in their car for several weeks everywhere they went, so they could show all of their family and friends. Another family booked a single newborn session, and as soon as they received their gallery, the mom texted me: “The only thing I regret is not booking the Year of Life Collection.” She wanted more of their year captured together, and she wanted the album.

How Does the Booking Process Actually Work?

Here’s how it goes:

1. You reach out, and I send a personal video introduction.
2. If you choose, we have a quick call to make sure our visions line up.
3. You sign the contract and pay the 20% retainer.
4. About 6 weeks before your maternity session, I send a questionnaire about your family’s routines, joys, and wardrobe preferences.
5. You send me a home walkthrough video so I can plan around your light.
6. We have a call to talk through rooms, activities, and wardrobe, and then it’s session day.

Between the two sessions, I deliver your maternity gallery, and we’re usually texting by then. Families often ask about wardrobe or the light in their home, and it’s easy to chat back and forth. Then I wait. I don’t want to give you much to do while you’re busy having a baby. When you’re ready, you reach out after baby arrives, and we set the newborn date from there. When to schedule your newborn photos.

What Happens During Each Part of Your Bundle?

Maternity is usually the more casual of the two, especially if you have kids. It’s a lot of playing and capturing your family just before everything changes. If it’s just the two of you it can feel a little more formal, but it doesn’t have to. My favorite images to capture are full of laughter and joy. I aim to schedule maternity sessions around 28 to 32 weeks, and sessions typically run 45 to 60 minutes.

Newborn sessions are about 90 minutes. Some of that time is spent on baby, and big siblings are free to run around and play. Sometimes newborn sessions can feel a bit more formal, but they’re not really. They’re a lot of fun. For the full breakdown, see: How Long Does a Newborn Photography Session Take and Newborn Posing and Safety.

How Do You Find a Photographer You Truly Trust?

It’s not about red flags. It’s about what you prioritize. Lots of photographers in our area take beautiful photos, but many look very similar: posed, with a white backdrop, and not especially unique to each family. If that’s the style you love, it’s a great choice to book with another photographer.

My clients tell me they chose me because I capture real moments. I don’t offer a client closet. Instead, I offer wardrobe assistance, so what you wear is unique and comfortable for you and isn’t the same thing every other mom is wearing. Your home is your backdrop, so all we need is beautiful light, and we stay where it’s best. I lean on a questionnaire to get to know you, so your personality, your joy, and your laughs show up in your photos. I do direct you and we’ll do some poses, but they’re built around who you are.

The best way to know if I’m the right fit is to read what past clients say, look closely at whether you feel like you can see yourself in my photos, and reach out. A quick call will tell you a lot.

Booking Maternity and Newborn Photography With Confidence

To recap: the Year of Life Collection includes two sessions, 30 images per session, and an album. It saves you $700 over booking separately, and is easy to pay for over time. The biggest thing I’d want you to remember is that this season moves fast, and the bundle is how you hold onto it. If you still have questions, you can learn more about your Louisville Family Photographer here.

When I think about my own family, I wish I’d had two baby books. One would be focusing on our little family of three and my first son, and the other would be our family as we are now with our second. If I could redo it, I’d book two Year of Life Collections for myself. Now that my boys are a little older, those photos would be something I’d treasure and pass down to each of them.

If you’re still on the fence, reach out early. I take no more than two sessions a week and cap the number of clients I take each month, so the earlier you contact me, the better. Second trimester is ideal for both your maternity and newborn sessions.

Where are you in your journey? Still pregnant, newly postpartum, or just starting to plan? Tell me in the comments. And if you’re ready, check availability here. There’s no bad time to reach out.

Frequently Asked Questions