The Best Time for Newborn Baby Photos
A lot of people ask me, “When should I schedule a newborn photography session?” The short answer is, scheduling one is all that matters. Most of my clients choose to schedule within the first 12 days of life, but you have other options as well. Keep reading for considerations on when to schedule a newborn photography session.
Fresh 48
What is a Fresh 48 session? Fresh 48 photography captures the first few hours of a newborn’s life. Held within the first 24-48 hours, these lifestyle sessions document your baby’s new life. I’ll photograph feedings, diaper changes, swaddling, cuddling, belly buttons, little feet and little fingers.
These sessions occur at the hospital or at your home. They last 60-90 minutes.
The best way to schedule these is to contact me with your interest and due date before delivery. That way we can loosely schedule and navigate any special rules your hospital has. Of course, we can also try to book last minute–contact me or even text me at 970.344.9877 for a faster response.
The session fee for a Fresh 48 is the same as all my other session fees–$299. Collections that include a number of digital prints as well as a print credit are purchased after you view your photos. Collections start at $700.
First 12 Days
Most of my clients opt to schedule a newborn photography session within the first 12 days of life. This gives everyone some time to get adjusted to life with a new baby in the home.
These newborn photography sessions are held in the comfort and safety of your home. I’ll photograph you snuggling/cuddling the baby. I’ll also take photos of just the baby (most likely on a bed) as well as document some of the routines of having a newborn (changing diapers, nursing/feeding, dressing).
Newborn photograph sessions last 60-90 minutes.
Scheduling is a bit easier than a Fresh 48 due to the wider window of time. I still recommend reaching out to me while you are pregnant to choose a ballpark session date. We can fine tune after you’ve delivered.
Or, if you haven’t pre-planned, just contact me and I will do my best to get you on the calendar. Since sessions typically occur on weekday mornings, I can usually squeeze in newborn sessions.
After the First Two Weeks
Too overwhelmed at the thought of a photographer in your home shortly after giving birth? You can always schedule a photo session anytime.
Babies show off more and more personality as they grow, and all babies are still so tiny compared to a two-year-old! There’s no “too late” here — just different, and still worth capturing.
If your baby is getting closer to 6 months, I do suggest holding out until they can sit up. This broadens the posing options a lot, and by 6 months mom or dad can usually get more smiles and giggles out of their little one too.
I recommend photographing smaller babies at home, but once they’re sitting up, your yard, a local playground, or a park all become fun, viable options.
Sitting Up Session (Around 6 Months)
This is one of my favorite ages to photograph. Your baby can sit up on their own now, which opens up a whole different kind of session — more personality, more interaction, more eye contact with the camera. Sessions take place in your home/yard or wherever you want, and we work at your baby’s pace (with plenty of time for a snack break or a fussy moment).
If you booked a newborn session with me, this is a natural next step — many families come back around six months to capture just how much has changed. It’s also a great starting point on its own if you didn’t do a newborn session but want to start documenting this first year. And if you’re already planning to book more than one session this year, your session fee drops after your first — so capturing multiple stages doesn’t mean paying full price each time.
First Birthday / Milestone Session (Around 12 Months)
By this point, your baby is probably standing, maybe even walking, and has a whole personality on display that’s worth capturing before it changes again. These sessions have a lot of energy — chasing, exploring, real laughs instead of posed smiles. As mentioned earlier in this post, if you’re booking more than one session this year, your session fee drops after the first, so this is a natural stage to add on if you started with a newborn or sitting-up session.
Additional Newborn Photography Session Information
Six Tips for a Newborn Photography Session
How to Prepare Your Home for an In Home (or Newborn) Photography Session
