Sacramento Summer Maternity Sessions: How to beat the heat!

We all know it gets really uncomfortably hot in the Sacramento area in the summer. The high heat is doubly uncomfortable if you are pregnant, which can be very inconvenient if you are due in July, August or September. But don’t despair! You can absolutely have a successful and beautiful Sacramento Summer Maternity Photosession, and this guide will give you some tips to make that happen. If you are looking for a Sacramento maternity photographer, make sure you reach out to book a session with me. Your comfort and safety are my number one priority! But even if you choose to go with a different photographer or even have your husband or partner take some photos of you, these tips will set you up for success!

Tip 1: Book a Morning Session

I do all of my Summer maternity sessions in the early mornings instead of during sunset (which is when I generally have all Fall-Spring sessions) because it is just that much cooler, more comfortable and safer. The photo above was taken on a 115F degree day! But we met at 8am for our session and were fine. It still got plenty hot, but now at a bearable level. Morning sessions are best held as early as possible for the best light. 7am is best, but the latest start time I recommend is 8am. The higher the sun rises the worse the light gets and the higher the temperatures. You can still get absolutely beautiful photos at this time of day.

Tip 2: Get Near or IN the Water

I always recommend one of my many Sacramento area photo locations that are near water. Whether parks with lakes such as Coyote Pond Park or North Natomas Regional Park, or parks with rivers like the Feather or America river, these spots are not only scenic but MUCH cooler! Temperatures can literally be 20 degrees cooler next to the water and of course much cooler still if you are willing to get into the water as well. Seeking out water is one of my favorite hot weather tips for maternity sessions.

Tip 3: Consider a Second Trimester Photoshoot in May or June

When I get Mamas-to-be contacting me with a July or August due date, I often suggest moving their session a bit earlier than traditionally done and having the session in June or May. Maternity sessions are traditionally done anywhere between 28-34 weeks, but can be done as early as 24 weeks pregnant and still get absolutely beautiful photos. If having your maternity photos taken between 24-30 weeks puts you in a cooler month, I strongly recommend this. Not only will the temperatures be a lot better in May and June, but you yourself will also be a lot more comfortable moving around for photos at this gestational age.

Tip 4: Find Deep Shade for Photos

It’s not just about finding shade, it’s about finding shade that has been shade for a while. If a spot is newly shaded it will not be nearly as cool as a spot that hasn’t seen the sun yet since the previous day or has been shaded for hours. WPA Rock Garden, Davis Arboretum and Feather River Parkway are all locations I especially recommend for a Summer Sacramento maternity photoshoot because they have big mature trees with lots of shade that stays shade for longer. We will all be much more comfortable in this type of shade and it can be 10-20 degrees cooler in these areas!

Tip 5: Drink lots of water and take breaks

One of the reasons I take summer heat extremely seriously for maternity sessions and refuse to do a maternity session in triple digit temperatures is that dehydration is one of the leading causes of preterm birth. Safety will always always come first! Make sure to drink at least a full glass of water before your session and plan to bring some along (I also often carry an extra for just this reason) to drink throughout the session. If you are doing a session with me, I will always encourage some sitting breaks (sometimes this can also be accomplished with sitting photos), but if you are doing sessions elsewhere, make sure to advocate for yourself if you are finding yourself getting hot. It is always better to speak up early and ask for a break, even if it means going back to the car for some AC than to push through feeling too hot while pregnant.

Miscellaneous Extra Tips:

Those were my top 5 tips for keeping comfortable in Sacramento in the summer during your maternity photo session. But here are a few rapid fire additional tips:

6. Consider the fabric material of your dress. There are definitely cooler and hotter fabrics. Find something that breathes. Showing a little skin is never a requirement, but if you feel comfortable certainly helps in keeping cooler.

7. Bring a Cooling Aid. Wet cloths, ice packs, water spray bottles, portable fans are all things you could bring along to a photo session to help stay cooler.

8. Apply Sunscreen Before

9. Bring a hat. Hats can be a great accessory to make photos more interesting or create variety, but in the summer they also help you stay cool!

10. Skip to an indoor location. I also offer In-Home photography sessions which can be a great option on those hot days, especially if you are concerned about how young children are going to handle the heat.

Ready to Book?

If you live in the Greater Sacramento Area and are wanting to book a Maternity Session, check out my Maternity Page for packages and pricing!