When to Take Newborn Photos: A Parent’s Guide
The newborn stage is such an incredible and unique part of life. You’re getting to know your new baby, establishing a schedule of feedings and naps, and beginning a truly lifelong journey with your child. Newborn photography is a wonderful way to save a piece of this experience forever, but there’s one question so many parents ask: when is the right time for newborn photos?
Whether you want to know when to take newborn photos or when to schedule them, I have the answers you need.
WHEN SHOULD NEWBORN PHOTOS BE TAKEN?
Newborn photography is all about capturing memories of your tiny new baby at its littlest, so it’s designed for early in your baby’s life. Generally, you want to take newborn photos when your baby is between 5 days and 21 days old.
This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, though. There are cases when we need to take newborn photos after 21 days, such as for babies who need time in the NICU after birth. We’ll make it work! My FAVORITE time, if I can help it is between 2-4 weeks. This allows time for the family + baby to bond, the baby to figure out how to eat to keep themselves satisfied and the baby is still sleepy and bendy enough to capture those adorable squishy photos!
WHEN TO BOOK NEWBORN PHOTOS
Scheduling newborn photos can seem tricky because you don’t know exactly when your baby will be born. Don’t worry, newborn photographers plan for this! It’s best to book your newborn photographer 2-3 months before your baby is due. This will let me reserve space for you in my schedule. After your baby is born, you’ll contact me and we’ll then set a specific date for your newborn portraits.
If you’re reading this and you’re less than two months from welcoming your baby (or if your baby has already arrived), don’t worry! You never know when I may have a cancellation or a new opening in my schedule, so please reach out anyway. I would love to help you celebrate your new baby if I can.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOOKING LIFESTYLE NEWBORN PHOTOS AND STUDIO NEWBORN PHOTOS?
You might know that there are different types of newborn photography. Studio newborn photos are the traditional newborn portraits you see with cozy backgrounds and adorable poses of the baby solo. Lifestyle newborn photos are usually taken in your home or my lifestyle area in the studio and focus on capturing the interactions between you and your baby - think of them more as a slice of life compared to posed newborn photos.
As far as scheduling goes, the time frame is the same - you should book your photographer 2-3 months before your due date and then we’ll set a date after your baby is born. peek below for some favorite 'studio lifestyle'
BOOKING YOUR BABY’S FIRST PHOTOS
Professional photography can honor life’s most meaningful moments and give you personal heirlooms you and your family will treasure for generations. If you have a baby on the way, I would be thrilled to help you preserve these precious experiences. Contact Janelle McDonnell Photography today for your Corpus Christi-area newborn portraits.