When is the Best Time to Photograph a Newborn Baby?
One of the first questions we are asked by expectant parents is when to bring their newborn baby into the studio.
The best time to photograph newborn babies is USUALLY within the first 7 to 14 days of life, as this is when they are USUALLY at their sleepiest, so they are usually at their easiest to pose.
However, the reason we stress USUALLY is that, as we all know, every baby child is different and often their aim in life is to prove us all wrong! So, with this in mind, please don’t worry if everything doesn’t go as you expect; we allow extra time between shoots for new babies to make sure you are never rushed.
Ideally, we ask that you book your session during the second trimester (around the 20-week mark) to secure a spot. If your baby is born prematurely or is hanging on to make an appearance a little past his/her due date, that’s not a problem; we can easily reschedule the session accordingly.
Although we do recommend that you try to come into the studio during the first couple of weeks, we realise this isn’t always possible if you have had to stay longer in hospital or don’t feel great yourself those first 2 weeks can simply slip away. So if you do miss the first two weeks, a session is still possible, but it may result in more awake photos rather than sleepy, posed ones, still a lovely reminder of these first few weeks, as you will soon forget how small they ever were.
Most babies seem to be at their best in the Morning or early afternoon, so we suggest 11 am or 1 pm which also avoids the fussier late-afternoon “witching hour”, but still gives you a little time to prepare for the shoot, as we also realise that getting out of the house on time at this stage is a big effort.
Our studio is large and airy, so a very calming space. We keep it warm and comfortable to encourage the baby to stay asleep if possible. Our aim is for you all to feel welcome, relaxed and stress-free. Here is what some recent new parents said about their shoot:
“Thank you for an amazing newborn photoshoot for our baby boy. The session was very relaxed, with plenty of time for feeding and changing, which made the whole experience stress-free. Both Stan and Jane made us feel very welcome, and the photos are absolutely beautiful. We’re over the moon with the results and would highly recommend the experience!”
Stan will take lots of photos, capturing the peacefulness of a newborn and getting up close to all those adorable little details that make each baby so individual. Even though you might not feel your best, we always encourage that you both have a few photos with the baby. This is such a precious time, and Stan will pose you subtly so you have some family photos to mark this very first photography milestone. In years to come, your little one will love looking at photos of him/herself as a baby with Mummy and Daddy.
We always ask you to bring baby shoot ready as changing a sleepy baby once you arrive at the studio is a sure way to unsettle them if they are already asleep. So ideally bring them ready changed, you can always pop a bib on or use a muslin to protect their perfect photo shoot outfit.
We’d love to create something really special for your baby — simple, natural photographs that gently capture these early days. It’s all led by your baby, no pressure, no rush, we just want to keep them safe and comfortable.
- Jane Miller, Stan Seaton Photography, Darlington