If you're expecting a baby, you've probably come across lots of different advice about when newborn photos should be taken.
Some photographers recommend the first week.
Others suggest two weeks.
And then there are parents wondering if they've missed the opportunity altogether because their baby is already a month old.
The truth?
There isn't one perfect age for newborn photos.
Every stage has something beautiful to offer.
That said, there is a reason most newborn photographers recommend scheduling your session within the first two weeks after birth.
Why Are Newborn Photos Usually Taken Within The First Two Weeks?
The first days of your baby's life are unlike any other. During this time, newborns tend to:
- Sleep more deeply
- Curl naturally into womb-like positions
- Settle more easily between poses
- Have fewer periods of alertness
- Retain many of those tiny newborn characteristics that change so quickly
This is the stage many people picture when they think of newborn photography. Tiny fingers wrapped around yours. Sleepy stretches. Curled-up poses.
Those impossibly small details you'll struggle to believe were ever quite so little.
For this reason, many newborn sessions take place between 5 and 14 days after birth.
What If My Baby Is Older Than Two Weeks?
First of all - don't panic.
One of the biggest misconceptions about newborn photography is that you've somehow missed your chance if your baby is older than two weeks.
You haven't. While older babies may be more alert and less interested in being curled into traditional newborn poses, they often bring something equally special to a session.
Beautiful eye contact.
Curious expressions.
Growing personalities.
Tiny smiles beginning to emerge.
Some of my favourite images have been created with babies well beyond the typical newborn window.
The photographs may look slightly different, but they are no less meaningful.
What If My Baby Arrives Early Or Needs Extra Time?
Not every family follows the same path after birth.
Sometimes babies arrive early.
Sometimes extra medical care is needed.
Sometimes parents simply need a little more time to settle into life with a newborn.
And that's completely okay.
The most important thing isn't achieving a specific pose or fitting into an exact timeline. It's preserving this chapter before it slips away.
Whether your baby is one week old or six weeks old, there is still beauty worth documenting.
What Age Do You Recommend?
For families wanting the classic sleepy newborn portraits often seen in newborn photography galleries, I generally recommend scheduling your session within the first two weeks after birth.
However, if life has been busy, unexpected or overwhelming, don't let that stop you from reaching out.
Every stage of your baby's first weeks tells part of the story. And every stage deserves to be remembered.
Looking For A Newborn Photographer In Nelson?
Whether your baby has just arrived or you're still counting down the weeks until your due date, I'd love to help you preserve this fleeting season through timeless newborn photography.