I often get asked what timeframe is best for newborn photography. The answer is what is best for you and your family. No matter what time frame you choose, we can get beautiful photos. So, let's find the perfect window for your newborn photoshoot together.
If you poke around the internet for newborn photography, the images you most commonly see are often done with very young newborns and many photographers will suggest doing the photos as early as possible. While there is nothing wrong with doing photos early on, just know that we can do photos at any point in the baby’s first 3 months of life.
My style is simple and timeless. I don’t do overly posed photos and I do photos whether baby is alseep or awake, as long as they are happy. Because of this, they do not need to be only a few weeks old.
For many families, the few weeks isn’t ideal. Maybe you had a rough delivery, or recovery is taking some time. Perhaps you’re trying to work through some feeding challenges (I know I did), or maybe you just aren’t comfortable leaving the house that early with your baby. After my first baby, my delivery was harder than I expected, and I was not ready to get dressed up and have my photo taken in the early stages. So I embrace the older newborns just as much as the early newborns.
With early newborns, it’s often easier to get them to sleep and they are still very tiny and curled up.
With older newborns, we can still get beautiful photos, and can still get sleepy photos. The flip side is that we can get some shots that are not as easy to get with the younger babies. Babies start to quickly get stronger and more alert with each passing week. BUT as babies get older, there is more of a chance for smiles and other sweet expressions. We can often capture their beautiful eyes if they are content in a wrap but aren’t sleeping. They also start to look more like themselves as they grow into their skin during those few extra weeks and they if they were tiny at birth, they may have plumped up a bit.
So at the end of the day, any time that feels right for you, is the right time for photos. We can do the session as early as 2 weeks or as late as 3 months.
Deciding When to Do Newborn Pictures
Remember, the focus of a newborn photoshoot is not just on getting the perfect shot but also on enjoying the experience and cherishing the special moments with your little one.
Considering baby and mama’s safety and comfort is paramount. These tiny humans like to keep us on our toes, and while you may block out a tentative date for your newborn session, we will always move it if medical conditions or mom’s recovery warrants extra time. I never want to put either of you at risk for photos. We can get them when the time is right.
Ready to book your newborn pictures? You can go ahead and get on the books early in your pregnancy, and we can go from there! I’d love to chat with you.
