When to Take Newborn Photos?
Newborn photography is a beautiful way to document a special moment in a family’s life. A new person (or people) are coming into the world and changing the course of a family’s journey. This is a time when families what to capture all the emotions, memories and details of what is happening with the arrival of a newborn. This is where photography comes into play. Newborn photography lets a family document this momentous occasion so they can look back on the memories for years to come!
As a Maryland Newborn Photographer, a question I get asked a lot is “when should I get my newborn photos done.” The simple answer to that question is between 7 to 12 days, but the more thorough answer is, “it depends.” The truth is, it depends on what kind of photographs you want. There are a number of questions you can ask yourself.
Do you want photos of your baby while you are still in the hospital (or your birth place)?
Do you want photographs of your newborn that are more posed and taken in a studio, with props and controlled lighting?
Do you want photographs of your newborn that are more natural and the baby is photographed at home, in positions that they get into, mostly unaided?
It’s important to choose the type of photography that you want and that best reflects you. You should never feel pressured to choose one type of photography over another. These are your memories that you want to capture, and it should be done in a way that works best for you. There are several types of photography to choose from, and each type has its own time-frame.
Fresh 48 Session (Within 48 Hours)
Your first option is a Fresh 48 Session. You may be asking yourself, what in the world is a Fresh 48 session? A Fresh 48 session is a photography session that is done within the first 48 hours of birth. These sessions are done at the hospital (or your birth place). If you deliver your baby at a hospital, the Fresh 48 can either be done by a hospital photographer or a photographer that you hire in advance and is on-call around your delivery date. In most cases, the photographer will make sure that they are in town around your due date (or have a back-up plan if they have to leave town). You would then let them know when you’ve gone into labor and then finally, when baby has arrived. This way, they can make it to the hospital before you are discharged. If you have an uncomplicated delivery, most hospitals will release you within about 48 to 72 hours. This means that if you are not using the hospital photographer, you have to book a session with your photographer in advance. Depending on the photographer, this could mean making the reservation several months in advance. A Fresh 48 session documents details of the newborn, but it also documents the parents, family and the hospital setting. A Fresh 48 session has the narrowest time frame, so you should book your photographer well in advance, if this is the session that you want.
Traditional/Posed Newborn Session (5 to 14 Days)
When most people think about newborn photography, they think about traditional posed newborn photography. This style of photography includes images of babies (usually asleep) in various poses on blankets and props. This style of photography may also include studio lighting and backdrops. This type of session usually takes place in a studio where the photographer has full control of lighting and backdrops, and offers different wraps, blankets and baby clothes. Parents and siblings may or may not participate in the session, depending on what the package includes. The photographer may also use various props during the session. Your newborn may also be placed into a number of stylized poses which are easiest done when the baby is most flexible during the first few weeks of life. It is important to hire someone who is experienced with these type of poses, to make sure that the baby is safe throughout the session. This type of session is best done between 5 and 14 days. Posed newborn photography is easiest done when the baby is sleeping. During the first 14 days, babies are at their sleepiest. The timing is also really important because of the posing. A baby is more flexible during the first 14 days and it’s easiest to position them in these poses when they are more flexible. Even though the window for a posed newborn session is longer than a Fresh 48, as with most newborn photography, its best to book your session well in advance.
Lifestyle Newborn Session (5 days to several months)
A third option is a lifestyle newborn photography session. With lifestyle newborn photography, the baby is photographed in his or her natural surroundings, at home with their family. The baby is also photographed in poses that they move into unaided. In most cases natural light is used for this type of photography. Given I am a lifestyle photographer, I am a little biased towards this type of photography. One of the reasons that I love this type of photography is because I get to document the baby and family, how they are, where they are most comfortable…at home. The other reason I love this type of photography is that the age of the baby is less of an issue. There is more flexibility with timing for a lifestyle newborn session because the baby doesn’t have to be asleep during the session and they don’t have to be as flexible to get them into poses, which are more easily done when a baby is younger. I have done lifestyle newborn session as early as three days old, all the way up to almost 8 months old. Now technically speaking, the newborn period only lasts for a few weeks. At that point, your newborn moves up to infant status until about three months, where they graduate to baby status until they are one. However, because of the flexibility of the lifestyle photography, you can still have a session when a baby is older. That being said, I always recommend that a lifestyle newborn session be done before eight weeks, to capture a baby when they are at their smallest. However, if you miss that window, you can still have a newborn-style lifestyle session with your baby. Some families find that images from a lifestyle session are more meaningful because they tell the family’s unique story. Parents and families are also more relaxed because the session is taking place at home. If you want to book a lifestyle newborn session, even with the timing flexibility, you should still schedule it in advance to make sure the photographer you want is available.
Schedule a session for when it works best for your family
You have several options to consider, all with different timelines. Think through all the questions around what exactly you want to get from your photography session to make your decision. With any type of newborn photography, plan for your session early so you have the flexibility to book the type of session you want, with the photographer you want. At the end of the day what’s important is to schedule your newborn photography session at a time that works best for you and your family.
If you decide that a lifestyle newborn session is right from you, I would love to work with you to document such a special time. If you are interested in booking a lifestyle newborn session, contact me today!