I firmly believe anytime you choose to photograph your family is the right time. In the newborn industry, there is an age old belief that newborns must be photographed in the 5-14 day window. I find that to be nearly impossible at times. Early deliveries, sibling adjustments and recovery from birth should be considered. With unexpected things that come with a newborn baby, I want your photography session to be a time you look forward to. Not stress over. I am often asked my clients when to book a newborn session, so hopefully this post will help you find a time that works for your family.
A Good Place to Start.
A good guideline for a newborn session is around the two week mark. Newborns are still very sleepy, working hard to get back to their birth weight. As a parent, you are more than likely extremely exhausted! Two weeks is a nice buffer from your delivery date.
Can you change your session date?
Yes! Absolutely. I like to leave a little wiggle room around newborn sessions to accommodate early and late delivery dates. We also want to take into consideration time needed to transition to a new family dynamic. Sometime older siblings get sick, or work meetings get moved. Though we want to stay on schedule as much as possible, you are not locked in to the date you have selected.
Did I miss the newborn window?
You didn’t miss anything!! If you delivered your baby weeks ago and are now just considering getting newborn photos done, do not panic. There are details to capture every stage. Aesthetically, images will have a different feel with a week old baby vs 12 weeks. As a matter of fact, your gallery will be just as stunning and warm. Here is a session with a 12 week old baby boy.
How long are your sessions?
For newborn sessions, I ask my clients to leave a 2-3 hour window. This does not mean we are photographing the entire time! But by leaving such a large window we can be sure to take our time, allow for feedings, burpings, diaper changes, etc. Your photography session should be intimate and enjoyable. Think of it as a moment to pause and take it all in.
If you are still having questions about when to book a newborn session, let’s hop on a call and help you find the right time.
This family had their first baby photographed at home when she was nearly 12 weeks old.
Hello. Thank you for visiting.
I am Steph, owner of Steph Kines Photo, specializing in working with young families, expecting women and growing babies in the Philadelphia area. I hope you found my When to book a Newborn Session blog feature helpful and inspiring. If you are interested in booking a photography session and would like to talk more about how we will spend our time together, let’s connect here. Finding your photographer can take time, so if you would like to follow along and see more behind the scenes, follow me on Instagram.
Steph is Philadelphia’s Natural Newborn Photographer, specializing in finding light and connection in your own space. She offers maternity, family, milestone and newborn photography in a warm, natural and unexpected way. Her clients love that her sessions are child-led which means giving space and guidance to young children to be themselves in their own environment. This leads to more true reflection of your family at this time in your life. All clients receive a collection of prints and the rights to fully edited digital files. Steph can design custom, heirloom albums and assist with wall galleries to display in your home. I invite you to learn more about the quality and feel of my offered products and art with this blog post.
Steph serves Philadelphia, Bucks County and The Main Line including:
Bryn Mawr | Media | Main Line | Gladwyne | Villanova | Radnor | Narberth | Wynwood | Ardmore | Malvern | Strafford | Chestnut Hill | Haverford | Merion | Penn Valley | Doylestown | New Hope | North Wales | Lansdale | Harleysville | Newtown Square | Collegeville
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