When Is the Best Time to Take Newborn Photos?

If you've been looking into newborn photography, you've probably come across the same advice more than once: book your session within the first two weeks.

There's a reason photographers recommend that window. But it isn't a deadline, and it certainly doesn't mean you've missed your chance if your baby is already a month old.

The best time for newborn photos depends on the kind of photographs you want, how your baby is doing, and how you're feeling yourself.

There Are No Rules About When to Photograph Your Baby

You can begin before your baby is born, with maternity photographs, or even have the birth itself documented.

Then there's Fresh 48 photography, usually within the first 48 hours after birth. These sessions capture some of your earliest moments together, often in the hospital or wherever you've given birth. The first cuddles, meeting siblings, tiny hospital bracelets and all the little details that change so quickly.

After that, there's no set schedule you need to follow. You might want those sleepy first-week portraits, prefer to wait until your baby starts making eye contact and smiling, or decide to document several stages throughout the first year.

It's not about fitting your baby into a photography timetable. It's about deciding which moments you'd most like to remember.

Birth photography and Fresh 48 sessions generally require arrangements before your baby arrives, but for newborn and milestone photography, there's much more flexibility.

Why Do Photographers Recommend the First Two Weeks?

During those early days, many newborns sleep for longer stretches and naturally curl into positions similar to how they were tucked up before birth.

If you want those very sleepy, carefully posed newborn photographs, those first 5 to 14 days are often the best time to arrange your session.

Some of the more elaborate newborn poses involve specialized equipment, careful positioning and considerable preparation. The familiar froggy pose, for example, isn't something a baby should ever be expected to hold independently. It requires hands-on support and is typically created by combining photographs during editing.

These photographs can be beautiful, and there are many talented photographers who specialize in this style. If we talk and discover that's more what you're looking for, I'm happy to recommend photographers whose work and approach I know and trust.

My approach is a little different.

What Does a Newborn Session With Me Look Like?

I do pose newborns, and I use simple wraps, soft textures and occasionally a little basket or other prop. I love a beautifully settled, sleeping baby as much as anyone.

But the more elaborate, highly constructed poses don't particularly reflect my style.

I prefer simpler, more natural poses, with plenty of room for photographs of your family together.

Your baby tucked against your chest. A tiny hand wrapped around Dad's finger. An older sibling having a closer look at the newest family member. The family dog or cat coming over to investigate what all the fuss is about.

And sometimes, a baby who has absolutely no intention of going to sleep.

These photographs don't depend on your baby being a particular number of days old.

What Happens During a Newborn Photography Session?

Newborn sessions aren't something I like to rush. We leave plenty of time for feeding, changing, cuddling and settling your baby as needed.

For in-home sessions, I can come in the morning or afternoon, whatever works best for you and your family.

And please don't feel you need to clean your house or prepare anything for my arrival. I'm not there to be looked after, and you certainly don't need to entertain me.

You'd be surprised how quickly I can move a few things around and create what we need within the frame. The rest of your home can look exactly like a home with a new baby in it.

You don't both need to be involved in every photograph, either. While I'm taking individual portraits of your baby, one parent can stay nearby while the other takes a little time for themselves. Have a shower, grab something to eat or simply enjoy a few quiet minutes. We can work around whatever your family needs.

We'll make time for photographs of your baby on their own, with parents and with siblings, without worrying about keeping to a rigid schedule.

Newborn sessions are reserved for your immediate family so we can give everyone the time and attention they need. If you are looking for photographs with grandparents or extended family, we can arrange a separate family session for those.

Can You Photograph an Older Newborn After Two Weeks?

Absolutely. 

Older newborn photography can be just as beautiful, and you haven't missed your opportunity simply because your baby is three, four or even eight weeks old.

At three or four weeks, your baby may be spending more time awake, stretching out and looking around. You can still have sleeping portraits, wrapped poses and beautiful images of your baby on their own.

We simply work with the baby in front of us.

There's no reason to spend an entire session trying to make a wide-awake baby look asleep when those curious little expressions are so completely worth photographing too.

Is One Month Too Old for Newborn Photos?

Not at all.

In medical terms, a newborn is a baby in their first 28 days of life. But newborn photography isn't quite so strictly defined.

In fact, I think the first month can be the perfect time for newborn photography, especially if you're interested in a combination of baby portraits and family photographs.

By then, you may have had a little more time to settle into life together. You might know which position your baby likes, how they prefer to be held, and what usually helps them settle.

Your baby will still be tiny, but those early expressions are beginning to emerge.

And if you're not quite ready at four weeks, we can talk about six or eight weeks instead.

What About Newborn Photos at Six to Eight Weeks?

Around six to eight weeks, something amazing starts happening. Your little one begins looking at your face for longer and may start smiling back when you talk or smile at them.

These are the early social smiles, rather than the little accidental reflex smiles you may have noticed in those first sleepy weeks.

It's a wonderful stage for photographs because we're beginning to capture not just what your baby looks like, but how they're starting to interact with you.

Some babies are already quite expressive. Others are still giving everyone a very serious inspection.

Either way, there's plenty to photograph.

We can focus on your baby's face, their little stretches, the way they respond to your voice and how they fit into your arms. We can still include simple individual portraits, along with photographs of you together.

Your Baby's First Year: What to Expect at Each Stage

There's no single perfect age for baby photographs. The first year brings so many changes, and knowing a little about what to expect can help you decide which stage you'd most like to capture.

What if Your Baby Was Born Prematurely?

If your baby arrived earlier than expected, we can take that into account when planning your photographs.

Premature babies often develop according to their corrected age, which is calculated using their original due date rather than simply counting the weeks since birth.

That means a baby who is eight weeks old may still be at a much earlier developmental stage than another baby of the same age.

There's no reason to rush a session to meet an arbitrary photography deadline. Your baby's health, your recovery and the timing that works for your family come first.

With my background in nursing, I'm comfortable working with babies who have arrived early and understand that their needs and developmental timelines may be different. We'll plan your session around how your baby is doing, taking any guidance from their medical team into account.

And What About Mom?

This is the part I think gets overlooked.

You've just had a baby.

You might be recovering from a straightforward birth, a difficult delivery or a Caesarean section. You may be figuring out feeding, getting very little sleep or simply wanting some time at home before having photographs taken.

And if this is your first baby, you may have no idea what those first couple of weeks will actually feel like.

You don't need to rush into a photography session because the calendar says your baby is fourteen days old.

I would much rather plan a session when you feel comfortable being there, especially if you want to be included in the photographs yourself.

You don't have to feel completely rested or have everything figured out. But you should have some say in when you're ready.

When Should You Book Your Newborn Photography Session?

You don't need to have everything decided before your baby arrives.

Once you know your due date, get in touch. We can start planning your newborn photography session here in Richmond, whether that's at my Steveston Village studio or in your home. We'll talk about the photographs you're drawn to and what you'd like your session to include.

There's no need to commit to an exact session date or decide how you'll feel after giving birth. We'll keep in touch and work out the timing once your baby arrives.

If you want those very sleepy, intricately posed newborn photographs, it's worth arranging a photographer who specializes in them during pregnancy, since those sessions generally work best within the first two weeks.

For the more relaxed newborn portraits I offer, we have much more flexibility.

And if you're considering my First Year Series, this kind of personal planning is part of the experience. We'll work together one-on-one to plan your sessions around your family as your baby grows. You don't need to decide every milestone or session date in advance.

The point is to make room for the photographs you want, without adding another deadline to those first weeks with your baby.

Newborn Photography in Richmond, BC

I photograph newborns and their families in my Steveston Village studio, with in-home sessions available when the space and natural light are a good fit.

Sessions are shaped around your baby, with time for feeding, settling, changing and being held.

You can learn more about my newborn photography sessions and First Year Series, or get in touch to start planning.