Congratulations! If you are reading this, I assume you are planning a newborn session to celebrate the birth of a precious baby in your life. In this post, I will attempt to address a few of the most basic FAQs about planning your newborn session, as well as some “insider” tips I have gained over the years (both as a photographer, and as a mom of 3). There are many important factors I will not address here, such as premature birth, birth complications, multiples, foster babies, and adopted babies. Please always let your photographer know about extenuating circumstances so that she can better serve you and care for your baby in the safest, kindest way possible.
Fresh 48
A Fresh 48 session deserves it’s own future blog post, but essentially, this is a portrait session at the hospital/birthing center within the first 2 days (48 hours) of baby’s arrival. These are typically very relaxed, documentary-type of photos that capture your life just after giving birth. There is minimal posing and no “formal” portraits of your baby.
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This is a very sweet opportunity to document your baby, and the new phase of your family, at its newest and freshest. If you aren’t great with remembering to take photos, or you know your husband isn’t going to capture the shots you want in the hospital, a Fresh 48 might be perfect for you.
How old should baby be for newborn photos?
This will depend on your photographer, and the style of photos you want to take. I have seen a wide range of ages recommended, and I have personally taken photos of babies a variety of ages. The sweet spot for me is within the first 2 - 3 weeks after baby is born, so I usually recommend to my expecting mamas that they schedule a session for 7 - 10 days after their scheduled due date or C-section. If baby arrives early (or late), or the birth goes differently than you thought, or you need longer than you planned to adjust to mom life, we can always shift your session a few days or weeks. I want your session to be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
There are pros and cons to each age, but ultimately, I hope you do not stress too much about it. As your child grows up, you will treasure those baby photos, no matter how old he or she was when you took them. The difference of a few days, weeks, or even months will not seem as important as it might right now.
What are the benefits of baby being young?
The younger the baby, the more squishy and “fresh” he is. Babies who are only a few days old still have the “womb curl” - they still tend to be in the same position they were in the womb. The longer a baby is out in the world, the more he learns to straighten out and stretch his arms and legs. So, if you are looking for extremely traditionally posed newborn photos, where baby is curled up and asleep and his head resting on his hands, you want to aim for younger than 14 days old (your photographer might even require baby be younger than that).
My newborn portraits are more lifestyle, and less posed. I usually recommend that newborn photos take place within the first 2 - 3 weeks simply because your baby will change SO FAST (like, you won’t believe it), and I want to capture all those sweet details before they fade away. I want to capture the womb curl and weird-looking belly button and the flakey skin because (believe it or not) you will think back on those things fondly.
What are the benefits of baby being older?
The reason many mamas wait (and the reason I personally waited with my first two children) is that the first few weeks with a new baby are complete chaos. It was difficult for me to imagine getting dressed up and feeling like myself in photos with my hormones still completely out of whack from giving birth, adjusting to breastfeeding, little (or no) sleep, and just the general anarchy of life with a newborn. If you are wanting “lifestyle” portraits of your baby and your family, then you do not need to stress about a few days or weeks. Plan your newborn session for a time that will work best for everyone in your family.
If your session is scheduled for 10 days after your baby is born, and you need to move it back a few days or weeks, just let me know, and we can adjust as needed.
How old is too old?
The first three months of baby’s life are often called “The Fourth Trimester” - your baby is still primarily eating and sleeping, with very little awake/play/interaction time. For many babies, once they pass the three-month marker, they become a lot more alert and interactive. I would say that for squishy, fresh, new-to-the-world newborn photos, I would aim to take them at least before your child turns 3 months old.
That being said, a portrait session with your little one is a great idea at any age. Did you skip a newborn session? No worries! Let’s grab some shots of your little one learning to push up during tummy time, smiling, trying to crawl, sitting, walking, laughing, and any other precious milestone during that first year. Milestone sessions are special in their own ways - instead of the shell-shocked bewilderment of the newborn season, we get to capture the interaction between you and your baby. He is looking at you now, he is smiling, maybe even laughing. Your relationship is growing and it’s really beautiful to see in photos.
Skin tone, peeling, and baby acne
Newborn babies are adjusting to the world in every way, including skin contact with the air. Because their little bodies are still figuring everything out, they may get blotchy skin tone, blemishes, and peeling skin all over. There is no good way to predict exactly when this may happen, or how noticeable it will be. If you are taking photos with a second baby (or beyond), you might try to remember if and when these things happened with your first baby, and then plan around that. Otherwise, trust that your photographer is a professional, and will make sure your baby looks amazing, even he has some skin issues. Professional newborn photographers know how to balance out uneven newborn skin (their feet are always purple!), edit out baby acne without making skin look plastic, and minimize the appearance of peeling skin. Personally, I love to capture and deliver detail shots of some of these “imperfections” because I think you’ll actually look back at them fondly once your baby gets older.
I hope this blog post was helpful as you plan your newborn portrait session. Is there anything I missed? Anything you’d like covered in a future blog post? I’d love to hear from you.
And remember, you’re doing a great job! Motherhood is not for the faint of heart, but you’re strong and we’re all in this together.
*One quick note on hiring a newborn photographer. I am all about giving an opportunity to a new photographer who is just starting out - she gets experience and practice, you get a discount, everyone wins! I was in this position once myself, so I totally get it. However, I do not recommend hiring a friend or amateur photographer for newborn photographs. These photos are often taken indoors, not in a studio environment, with less-than-ideal lighting. You want to hire a photographer who knows how to use the available lighting in the best ways, and (most importantly) knows how to safely handle your baby. It’s worth spending a little extra for the pro in this situation, I promise. Your baby will never be this little again, so there’s no do-over. It’s worth the investment to hire a professional for your newborn portraits.