When To Take Newborn Photos?
Are you expecting a sweet new addition to the family and wondering when to take newborn photos? Then you’ve found the right post! Newborn photos are such a perfect way to document this exciting season of life. Let’s dive into the factors you need to consider.
Before we get going, let me introduce myself in case we haven’t met before! My name is Kelley Hoagland and I am a family and newborn photographer in Chattanooga, TN. I’m also a wife and mother to three daughters. Believe it or not, I got my start in photography when I failed to schedule newborn photos for my first daughter. Whoops! Hopefully with the tips in this post, you won’t end up in my same predicament. However, several years, a career transition, and many photography sessions later, I can say it all turned out just fine!
When To Take Newborn Photos Depends On Your Photographer
When trying to figure out when to schedule your newborn photography session, it’s important to first consider what style of photography you like. There are a lot of newborn photography styles out there! Some photographers use elaborate studio sets. Some provide only in home newborn sessions. While one newborn photographer incorporates structured posing (i.e. think of those images of a baby positioned like a little bean or resting with his/her head propped on elbows). Another photographer takes an unposed, natural approach. There are photographers who may fall anywhere in between the extremes of the posing and styling spectrum.
The photographer’s style will impact when newborn photos should be taken. Therefore, I recommend that you identify your preferred style of newborn photography as a first step!
Posed Sessions – When To Take Newborn Photos
If elaborate posing is your preferred style, newborn photos will ideally be taken within the first 7-10 days of life. During this time period your newborn will still be sleeping a lot, making him or her generally more tolerant of posing. Newborns generally start to “uncurl” from the fetal position starting around the 2 week mark. Once a baby starts learning to extend his/her limbs and head, structured posing may become more difficult. While a posed session is not impossible or unsafe with a skilled newborn photographer after the 2 week mark, the types of posing utilized may be more limited.
Natural Sessions – When To Take Newborn Photos
If you aren’t tied to the idea of achieving elaborate newborn poses during your newborn session, then you have more flexibility with timing. If you’ve taken a look at my work, you’ve probably noticed that I personally take a more organic, lifestyle approach to newborn posing. As a result, I’m not really tied to a specific timeframe when deciding when to take newborn photos. Your baby can be cradled and snuggled at any age! Technically, your baby is a newborn for the first 28 days. Some experts even apply the term to babies up to 3 months old! In my opinion, we’ve got some time to document this stage!
Other Factors To Consider
Once you’ve decided on the style of newborn photo session you would like pursue, there are still some other scheduling factors to consider. These include growth spurts, baby acne, and your family’s period of adjustment.
Growth Spurts
Newborns hit their first growth spurt around the age of 10 days old. This obviously varies from infant to infant, but this period around the 10-14 day mark can be characterized by extra fussiness, increased feedings, and sleep changes. This may be a more difficult time for newborn photos, but capturing your infant then is not impossible. I say this every newborn session: “You can’t rush a newborn!” We can’t just “power through” with a newborn. If your baby needs to eat, then we will stop and allow him or her to eat. This may simply mean that there is a lot of starting and stopping for feeding and soothing during the newborn session.
Baby Acne
Baby acne often develops at around 2-4 weeks of age. While most cases are mild, some babies can have more severe cases. Catching your newborn before this timeframe means you are more likely to capture their fresh newborn skin.
If you are scheduling a later session and are concerned about how your baby’s skin will look in their newborn photos, it’s a good idea to confirm what skin retouching your photographer will provide as part of your package. Not all photographers retouch skin. Some photographers charge extra for extensive edits while others include it for all newborn sessions. I personally provide skin retouching on all images my clients purchase from their proofing gallery. If your newborn has already developed a severe case of baby acne, consider communicating with your photographer about it. It may be worth postponing your session to a later date to allow your baby’s skin time to clear up.
Time For Adjusting
Whether this is your first baby or your fourth baby, introducing a new member of the family into the mix requires adjustment from every member of the family. When Baby first comes home, there are extra pediatrician appointments, he or she may have trouble learning how to feed, and nobody gets a normal amount of sleep. This is part of the reason why I personally missed the ball with scheduling newborn photos for my oldest within the 7-10 day window. Working in healthcare at the time, I was very focused on the medical side of delivering a baby safely prior to labor. Once we got home, I had major breastfeeding struggles. I was too focused on nursing, then pumping, then supplementing and weight measurements to even think about newborn photos.
It’s impossible to fully predict the future, but take some time to think what you might want or feel like during a phase of big adjustments. How do you think your older children will handle the transition? Would having a photographer come to your home be a welcome distraction and break from the cycle of feeding and changing? Would having someone in your space feel like an extra stressor? Does leaving the house to go to a prepared studio sound less stressful? Or would you rather stay in the comfort of your home where you have everything you need at hand? When will helpful family members be available to assist?
From my experience, when discussing when to take newborn photos with clients who already have a few children, these seasoned mothers often opt for waiting closer to the 3-4 week mark. When older siblings are involved, it can be helpful to give everyone time to somewhat settle into the new normal. I often find this to be a great choice, resulting in a calmer, more settled feeling session.
When To Take Newborn Photos of Your Family
Clearly, when deciding when to take newborn photos, there is no one right answer. You must take time to consider multiple factors. What are your photographer’s style and posing needs? What will feel less stressful for you and your family during this raw period? Does baby acne run in your family and is the look of your baby’s skin a concern for you?
Certainly, scheduling and completing a newborn photography session takes planning and effort. There will may be a little bit of stress involved. Despite your best efforts in choosing the best time to take newborn photos, your new addition may fuss through the entire session. Your toddler may pitch a fit. However, I promise this is nothing a seasoned newborn photographer has not dealt with before. In the end, going through the process of documenting your family during this season of life will be worth it! You and your children will cherish these images for decades to come!
In conclusion:
- Schedule before 10 days old if you want a photographer who uses elaborate posing.
- Schedule before 10 days or after 1+ month old if you are concerned about baby acne.
- Don’t be afraid to schedule at 1+ month of age if you want more time for your whole family to settle in and get through the first growth spurt.
- Schedule the photos! Don’t get overly caught up in timelines. Your more likely to regret not taking the photos vs taking them at a less ideal time. Book with a seasoned newborn photographer who will know just what to do to take care of you!
Want To Take Newborn Photos with Me?
Are you near Chattanooga, TN and looking for a newborn photographer? Let’s chat! I would be happy to help you through the process of planning a personalized newborn photography session to document this special season of life. I’m happy to work you through all the steps! You can learn more about working with me by clicking here! I also offer first year packages.
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