When is the Best Age for Newborn Photography?
One of the most common questions we’re always asked by expectant and new parents, is “When is the best age for newborn photography?” Here’s what our experience has shown us (and why)…
To capture those classic, curled-up, sleepy newborn portraits, the ideal window is between 7 and 10 days old.
During these first two weeks, babies spend most of their time sleeping and retain the natural flexibility they had in the womb. This allows for safe, comfortable positioning in those beautiful, womb-like poses, and the absolute best chance of your baby sleeping soundly throughout your newborn session.
But what if my baby is already born?
Well… this isn’t absolutely ideal, but firstly be sure to check our current availability – we may have a session over the next day or two!
Don’t worry too much if you missed the two-week window. An experienced professional photographer should still be able to capture stunning images for you at any stage. Just be aware that your images may be a little simpler than those of a true week-old newborn photoshoot…
- Weeks 3 to 6: Whilst babies are more alert and may stretch out more, we can still capture beautiful, awake portraits and wrapped setups. This may include more images with eyes open, and the images may be simpler, since a wakey baby is more inclined to be a little more restless – but we can still get a set of beautiful newborn portraits for you.
- Beyond 6 Weeks: This transitions into older baby photography, where we focus on emerging personalities, eye contact, and those first deliberate smiles. Reaslistically, we can produce beautiful images – but the true ‘curly newborn’ poses are largely gone by this stage.
So, when should you book your session?
We recommend booking your newborn photography session soon after your 12-week scan.
Because newborn sessions are highly time-sensitive, most established UK photographers limit the number of bookings they accept each month around due dates (we only accept a maximum of 10 newborn session in any given month). Booking during your second trimester guarantees your slot in the studio diary.
Expert Tip: Never wait until the baby is born to start looking for a photographer unless you absolutely have to. Quality studios are often fully booked months in advance.
How does booking work with an unpredictable due date?
That’s a great questions: newborns rarely arrive on schedule! In fact, only around 4% of babies are born on their actual due date.
When you book with Baby Shoots, your selected date acts as a placeholder – just to guarantee we set aside the time for your newborn session. Then when your baby arrives, you’ll be able to simply amend the final session date to ensure this still falls within that ideal 7-10 day window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my baby arrives early or spends time in hospital?
This really isn’t so unusual. For example, this is often the case with twins. First and foremost, your baby’s health and safety are our absolute priority – so, we won’t photograph any babies before they’re completely ready. If your baby arrives prematurely or requires a hospital stay, the session date is adjusted accordingly.
The “ideal window” then shifts to account for their corrected age, ensuring they are thriving and ready before they enter the studio. This may still coincide with the date you previously booked anyway, but we treat each baby on a case-by-case basis – so if you have a baby who arrived earlier than expected, feel free to get in touch to discuss this with us directly for more detailed information.
What should I look for regarding safety?
Newborn photography is completely unregulated in the UK. When researching photographers, look for experienced professionals who explicitly demonstrate training in safe newborn posing, temperature control, and sanitisation protocols.
Planning Your Session: Next Steps
- Check Availability: Contact a specialist photographer during your second trimester.
- Secure Your Due Date Slot: Pay the booking fee to secure a place around your estimated due date.
- Stay in Touch: Keep your photographer updated if your due date changes significantly.
Ready to secure your session or have questions about how we keep your baby safe and comfortable? Click here to check availability and see full details about our newborn photography at Baby Shoots Photography
