One of the things I hear often, especially for first time parents is I didn’t realize I had to book newborn photos before baby was born. More often, this comment comes from families who message me when baby is already a week or two old and I’m looking at a full calendar for my upcoming week or month. While this is generally true, it really is best to book your session while you are still pregnant – ideally in your second trimester, it’s not a hard rule. Babies don’t always have to be photographed in the first two weeks, unless those sleepy posed images are must for your family. There are a few different options that are great for babies older than two weeks of age, just contact me and ask. I will send you lots of info and links to examples of babies aged the same age as yours. But let’s talk to families who do want to capture their baby when they are in that fresh, newborn stage. In this case, it is best to book early so that you have the most options available to you. Say you start looking around the internet for local newborn photographers in the Burlington and Oakville area, you’re probably going to find one you love fairly quickly. One with a style that matches just how you’d like your baby captured. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s not me. But once you see their portfolio you’ll probably have your heart set on this one particular photographer and it would really be upsetting if you contacted them and they are booked for months.
For studio newborn photos – where baby is curled up, sleeping on a backdrop, like you see below, the ideal time to capture this is in the first two weeks. Babies at this age tend to be really easy going, sleepy and curly. These womb-like poses are easy for baby to settle into because that’s how they spent the last nine months! When baby is in those first couple sleepy weeks of life photographers are able to move them from pose to pose without them waking up or fussing. When they get a bit older, they start to stretch out more, are less curly and startle awake quicker. Even a moving baby’s fingers a small amount might cause them to pop their eyes open wide and wonder what’s going on. When baby is sleepy and still it’s also a great time to get those close up detail images of their eyelashes, lips, hands and feet.
But what if you didn’t book while still pregnant? What if you already have a baby over two weeks old? Let me tell you, it’s ok. This little beauty was 13 days old when she came into the studio. Mama emailed me after baby was born and thankfully I had an open spot within that magical two week window. Newborns arrive early or late all the time so that does create some gaps in my calendar. Just ask. I have also had successful sessions between weeks 2 and 3. Some of them have been just as sleepy and calm, or we capture darling awake images that are always parent favourites. You just never know how baby will be.
Follow me:
Learn more about my newborn photo sessions!
