Did I Wait Too Long for Newborn Photos?
Every parent can agree that the newborn stage is so precious yet so fleeting. From day one, your baby is growing and changing before your eyes, and even in the midst of those sleepless nights and constant feedings, you’ll be shocked by how soon these newborn days are just a memory. That’s why newborn photography is such an incredible gift you can give to your future self!
Traditional newborn photography has a rather specific timeframe, though, so how do you know if you’ve waited too long for newborn portraits? Is there a point when it’s no longer an option? As a newborn photographer in the Seattle area, I’m happy to explain.
The Typical Timeframe for Newborn Photos
Each photographer may have different policies and guidelines, but in general, newborn photos should be taken in your baby’s first two weeks of life. In these first two weeks, your baby is still at their littlest and they sleep for much of the day. This not only allows us to capture portraits when they’re adorably tiny but it makes the session so much easier because they spend most of it asleep.
Can I Still Take Newborn Photos After Two Weeks?
Every photographer’s policies are different, but at my Mercer Island photo studio, I can absolutely take newborn photos if your baby is more than two weeks old! In fact, I recently had a newborn photo shoot with a baby who’s one month old. But it’s important to keep in mind that there might be some limitations to your session after that two-week mark.
First, your baby will probably be more awake and active than they would be in their first two weeks. This means we might have to take more breaks during the session for you to soothe your baby to sleep, and it might mean that we won’t get as many sleepy portraits as you would during an earlier newborn session.
Second, after two weeks your baby might be more…opinionated about what poses they are and aren’t comfortable in. In every newborn photo session, no matter how little your baby is, I take cues from your baby about where they’re comfortable and I won’t force them into a pose that they don’t like. This is for your precious baby’s safety and for the sake of a smoother and more successful photo shoot. That’s the case at any age, but if your baby is older than two weeks, there might be fewer poses they’re comfortable in and they might not be content for as long in those poses.
With that said, I truly believe that every family should have professional portraits of their newborn, so I’m happy to do what I can for babies who are past that two week mark!
The Key: Planning in Advance
Ultimately, the best way to make sure you have your newborn photos within the ideal two-week window is to plan ahead. I recommend booking a newborn photographer around the beginning of your third trimester of pregnancy. When a client reaches out to me while they’re pregnant, I reserve space in my schedule for them and when their baby is born, we set a specific date for their photo shoot. But if your baby is already two weeks old, contact me anyway and I’ll be thrilled to capture these memories for your family.
