2. If you prefer the posed newborn photos, most photographers love to work with babies that are 3-10 days old for several reasons. They sleep a LOT which makes for a smooth session. They are extremely flexible, which helps the photographer get the poses you see (although note that some poses are compositions of two separate photos taken then photoshopped together to always make sure baby is safe and secure). Last, they still have that newborn look which is highlighted in this type of photography.
3. If you prefer the latter two options, you have a little more leeway, regarding when to schedule your session. Some photographers will have a specific window in baby’s age where they are willing to book the session, and others will not. So I ask you this: if you prefer lifestyle or documentary photography, how important is it to you to capture your new little one in the sleepy, tiny, frail, no-chubby-cheeks-or-baby-rolls phase? Are you overwhelmed with starting your new normal at home while getting sleep, making it to doctor’s appointments, and more? How much time are you able to spend on your newborn session? When choosing a photographer think about these questions and what they recommend and consider what works best for you.
I love capturing the sweet little newborn phase, but when I work with my families I never push a specific window. I instead recommend we schedule the session within the first two weeks to give moms and dads time to adjust to their new normal and manage all the things that go along with it. I believe the style of newborn photography I create – is clean, organic, simple and shows connection with the siblings and parents.
4. The last important part you will want to consider is how often you are going to schedule a photography session during your baby’s first year of life. Are you interested in capturing him or her growing and reaching those important milestones? Perhaps you’ll leave your cell phone up to that but it’s important to you to invest in a similar high-quality artistic session once per year. There is no wrong answer, and many photographers typically have many options for you, including myself. I offer a Grow with me session which includes three sessions and you can book additional sessions for a discounted rate.
Every photographer has a different philosophy and will have a different recommendation on when to schedule your newborn session, I hope these tips and guidelines above will help you narrow down what you are truly looking for with your newborn session and choosing a photographer. Please email me if you have any questions!
