It’s a question clients ask all the time: When is the best time to schedule newborn photos? The short answer is, it depends! While there are some general guidelines and ideal time windows, it’s actually never too late to capture these precious early moments.
The Sweet Spot: 5-10 Days Old
In my experience, the “sweet spot” to schedule newborn photos is between 5 and 10 days old. During this period, newborns are typically still very sleepy and enjoy sleeping for longer periods of time. This makes them more aggreeable to being curled up into those adorable poses that we all love!
So, if you’re really after posed newborn photos, then you’ll want to aim to schedule your photos within the first 2 weeks after baby is born.
In addition, they’re also less likely to be fussy or have gas pains, which can make the photo session go a bit smoother.
It’s Never Too Late!
That said, it’s never too late for newborn photos. Even if your baby is older than 10 days, there are still so many beautiful and unique shots we can capture. As your baby grows, they’ll start to develop their own personality and become more alert. This can lead to some truly charming and expressive photos.
And at anytime during the newborn stage, we can do lifestyle shots (i.e., less posed, more natural-looking, and candid type shots). Actually, over the past few years, I’ve been transitioning to more of lifestyle approach to my newborn sessions.
This is primarily because I am obsessed with the feelings I get when I look at these newborn photos! I can tangibly feel the connection, the excitement, the warmth, and oh so much love!
Photos should make you FEEL something! They should draw you in to the story, the moment, the emotions!
Case in Point: Baby JJ
Here’s a recent example. In the photos below, Baby JJ was already 5 weeks old (!) for his newborn session and guess what, they were literal perfection! We got some awake shots, sleepy shots, and some of the funniest most adorable faces ever as well!
My favorites are the family shots! The photos of a baby in their parents’ arms give me all the feels all the time. (I was just telling Brian this morning that how much I miss having a baby in our family! How is our youngest 3 years old and in preschool already!)
I’m so grateful that Ali and Nick gave me the honor of capturing these first moments for their sweet family! These will be photos they treasure forever.
And a big thank you to Magnolia Content Studios in downtown Greensboro for allowing me to photograph this session in their space! As you know, I am on the hunt for a new studio, but Dana’s space was just perfect for this newborn session.
So, when should you schedule your newborn photo session? The best time is the time that works best for you and your family and for the kind of photos that you really want. But whether your baby is 5 days old or 5 weeks old, I’m here to help you create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
If you’re interested in booking a newborn session in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point or surrounding Triad area, let me know! I’ll be happy to discuss what how I might be able to help.
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