Best Age for Newborn Portraits: When Should You Schedule Your Session?
If you're expecting a baby, you may already be wondering when you should schedule newborn photos. And if your baby has already arrived, you may be wondering something else: Did I wait too long?
For my newborn sessions, I prefer to photograph babies when they are about 7 to 15 days old. During those first couple of weeks, babies are often sleepier and still naturally curl into many of the poses we associate with newborn portraits. That can make it easier for me to move between different setups, wraps and outfits without waking baby each time.
But 7 to 15 days is my preferred window—not an expiration date.
Babies don't always follow the schedule we had planned for them. Some arrive early, some arrive late, and some need to spend time in the NICU before they're ready to come home.
I've photographed newborns as old as six weeks, so if those first two weeks have already passed, please don't assume you've missed your opportunity for newborn portraits.
The session may simply look a little different.
Why 7–15 Days Is My Preferred Age for Newborn Portraits
One of the biggest advantages of photographing a baby during the first couple of weeks is sleep. A sleepy newborn usually allows me to move through poses and setups more easily without having to stop and resettle them as often.
This doesn't mean every 10-day-old baby will sleep through their entire session. Every baby is different. I've had newborns who stayed sound asleep while I changed their outfit several times, and I've had others who woke up with nearly every change.
As babies get older, they generally spend more time awake and become less willing to curl into some of the classic newborn poses. That doesn't mean we can't create beautiful portraits. It means I adjust the session to what your baby is comfortable doing rather than trying to force a pose simply because we could have done it when they were younger.
Older newborns can also give us something we don't always get from a very sleepy baby—those beautiful open eyes and little expressions as they begin taking in the world around them.
So when a parent asks me for the best age for newborn portraits, my answer is usually 7 to 15 days old. That's the window I prefer when we have a choice. But if life—or your baby—had other plans, we'll work with the baby you bring me rather than worrying about a date on the calendar.
What If My Baby Is Older Than Two Weeks?
If your baby is already two or three weeks old, please don't assume it's too late to schedule newborn portraits. I've photographed newborns as old as six weeks, and we can still create beautiful images. We just need to adjust our expectations based on your baby's age and what they are comfortable doing.
As babies get older, they tend to spend more time awake and may not settle as deeply into sleep. They also begin stretching out more, which means some of the curled newborn poses that are easier during the first couple of weeks may no longer be comfortable or appropriate.
That's okay.
I would much rather adjust a pose or move on to something else than try to make a baby do something they aren't comfortable doing. We can use wraps, different setups and poses that work better for an older newborn, and those extra awake periods can sometimes give us beautiful open-eyed portraits that aren't as easy to capture with a very sleepy one-week-old.
An older newborn session may also take a little more time. If baby wakes when we change an outfit or move to another setup, we may need to stop for feeding, soothing or simply give them time to settle back to sleep before continuing.
What About Babies Who Spend Time in the NICU?
There are also circumstances where photographing a baby during those first two weeks simply isn't possible.
If your baby needs to spend time in the NICU, your newborn portraits are not something I want you worrying about while you're waiting to bring your baby home. We'll work around when your baby is ready for their session.
The same applies when mom needs additional recovery time or something unexpected changes your original plans. The 7–15 day window is what I prefer when circumstances allow it, but it isn't more important than the needs of baby and mom.
Your session may happen later, and we may need to approach some poses differently, but that doesn't make those photographs any less meaningful.
Is Six Weeks Too Old for Newborn Photos?
Six weeks is about the oldest I've personally photographed a baby as a newborn. At that age, I wouldn't promise every pose or setup that you might see in a gallery of younger newborns. Baby is likely to be more alert, may take longer to settle and may have definite opinions about how they want to be positioned.
But I also wouldn't tell a parent, “You missed it.”
If you've already passed that ideal newborn window, reach out. We can talk about your baby's age and what we can realistically create. And if we've reached the point where a newborn-style session no longer makes the most sense, there are other beautiful stages during baby's first year that we can plan for.
How I Schedule Newborn Sessions Before Baby Arrives
One of the questions parents often have is how they're supposed to schedule newborn portraits before their baby is born. After all, due dates are estimates, and babies have a way of arriving on their own schedule.
That's exactly why I encourage families to book their newborn session during pregnancy rather than waiting until after baby arrives.
When you book, I typically place your newborn session on my calendar for about seven days after your due date. This gives us a starting point and lets me know to expect your baby around that time, but we aren't locked into that date.
Once your baby is actually born, we can adjust the session date if needed so we're aiming for that 7–15 day window whenever possible.
Why I Only Schedule a Few Newborns Each Week
I normally schedule no more than three newborn sessions per week. Occasionally I may photograph four because a baby arrived earlier or later than expected or another session needed to be moved, but I don't intentionally book my newborn calendar that tightly.
I leave that space for a reason.
Babies don't always arrive when we expect them to. Some come early, some come later, and sometimes circumstances such as a NICU stay mean we need to move the session farther out than originally planned.
By limiting the number of newborns I put on my calendar each week, I have more flexibility to make those adjustments when they're needed.
Weekday vs. Saturday Newborn Sessions
If your schedule allows it, I recommend choosing a weekday for your newborn session.
I have several days during the week when I can photograph a newborn, but I only have one Saturday each week. That means weekday sessions generally give us much more flexibility, especially if we need to adjust your date after baby arrives.
I completely understand that Saturdays may work better when parents or other family members need to be part of the session, and weekend appointments are certainly an option when they're available. They simply tend to fill much faster.
Why I Schedule Newborn Sessions in the Morning
I also schedule newborn sessions in the morning before I photograph other sessions in the afternoon.
A newborn session can take two to three hours, but the baby really determines the pace. I've had very sleepy babies whose sessions were finished in about an hour and a half because I could change outfits and move between setups without waking them.
Other babies wake up after nearly every outfit change. When that happens, we may need to stop, feed, soothe and wait for baby to settle back to sleep before we continue.
Scheduling newborns first gives me plenty of time. I don't want to rush your baby because another session is waiting behind you.
Preparing Your Baby for Their Newborn Session
While every baby is different, there are things you can do before your newborn session that can help everything go a little more smoothly.
One of the biggest things I've learned from photographing newborns is that babies really do seem to pick up on the energy around them. When the studio is quiet and relaxed, babies often settle more easily.
That's one reason I prefer to keep the studio calm with as few people as possible during the baby-only portion of the session. If parents, siblings or other family members are joining us for portraits, we can photograph those images and then give baby a quieter environment while I work through the individual newborn setups.
A well-fed, sleepy baby can also make it much easier to move between outfits, wraps and poses without waking them. Before your session, I recommend going over my Preparing for Your Newborn Session guide, where I share more of the steps you can take to help get baby ready.
Following those suggestions can make a big difference, but they aren't a guarantee—and that's okay.
Some babies simply aren't very sleepy on their session day. They may be going through a growth spurt, want to eat more often or just need a little extra comfort. If your baby wakes up or needs time to settle, we stop and give them what they need.
Newborn photography isn't something I want to rush.
What Comes After the Newborn Stage?
If your baby is past the newborn stage, that doesn't mean you've missed your chance to capture some of the sweetest parts of their first year.
Babies change incredibly quickly during those first 12 months, and each stage gives us something completely different to photograph.
At around 3 to 4 months, babies are beginning to show more personality. We may get better eye contact, smiles and tummy-time images as they gain more head control.
One of my favorite stages comes a little later, when baby can sit independently. This usually happens somewhere around 6 to 9 months, although every baby develops at their own pace. Once baby can sit safely on their own, we have many more options for poses and setups—and this stage often gives us some wonderful expressions and personality.
And, of course, before we know it we're planning the first birthday and cake smash session.
So if your baby has grown beyond what makes sense for a traditional newborn session, don't feel like you've missed your opportunity. We can simply look at where your baby is developmentally and decide which milestone makes the most sense to photograph next.
The goal isn't to photograph your baby at an exact age just because a calendar says it's time. It's to capture the stage they're in before they move on to the next one.
Newborn Safety Always Comes Before the Pose
No matter how old your baby is when they come into the studio, their safety and comfort always come before getting a particular photograph.
I keep the studio—or the area immediately around baby—warm during newborn sessions. This helps keep baby comfortable when they're lightly dressed or wrapped, but I've also found that warmth helps sleepy babies stay settled. I've found that babies tend to wake more easily when they're chilly, while keeping the area comfortably warm often helps them stay settled while we work.
I also choose and prepare props with the baby's safety in mind. When I use taller props such as buckets or baskets, I place weights in the bottom to help keep them stable. Lower props such as newborn beds and bowls sit close to the floor, and I'm always right in front of the baby while I'm photographing.
Some newborn poses require an extra set of hands. The froggy pose, for example, is one where a parent assists by supporting the baby. I photograph the pose safely with that support in place and then remove the parent's hand in Photoshop afterward. The finished portrait may look effortless, but we don't compromise baby's safety to create it.
I also clean and sanitize everything baby comes into contact with between newborn sessions.
Most importantly, I listen to the baby.
Parents who have been in my studio have probably heard me say, “Baby is telling me they're done,” or that baby is telling us they're hungry or need a diaper change. If a baby doesn't want to settle into a particular pose, we don't force it. We move on, take a break, feed or change the baby, or try something different.
What About Photos With Brothers and Sisters?
Sibling portraits are handled based on the children's ages and what they can safely do.
With younger siblings, I may photograph the children together on the floor with baby safely positioned beside them. An older sibling may be able to sit in a chair with baby in a safely arranged pose with guidance from me.
Every sibling combination is a little different, so I don't approach those photographs with one predetermined pose. We choose something that works safely for the children who are actually in front of my camera.
So, What Is the Best Age for Newborn Portraits?
If you're able to plan ahead, my preferred time to photograph a newborn is between 7 and 15 days old. That's usually when we have the best opportunity for the sleepy, curled poses most parents associate with newborn photography.
But the most important thing I want parents to take away from this guide is that 7 to 15 days is an ideal window, not a deadline.
I've photographed newborns as old as six weeks. Sometimes baby spent time in the NICU. Sometimes recovery took longer than expected. And sometimes life simply got busy during those first few weeks with a new baby.
As your baby gets older, we may need to adjust the poses and allow more time for feeding and settling, but that doesn't mean you've missed your opportunity to have beautiful photographs of this stage.
If you're still expecting, I recommend reserving your newborn session during pregnancy so I can plan for you on my calendar. We'll start with a tentative date based on your due date and adjust it once baby actually arrives.
And if your baby is already here and you're wondering whether they're too old for newborn portraits, reach out anyway. Tell me how old your baby is, and we can talk about what will work best for them.
Ready to Plan Your Newborn Session?
Newborn sessions take place in my private studio in Alamogordo, New Mexico, where I have everything we need to create your baby's session while keeping them comfortable and safe.
You can learn more about my Newborn Photography Sessions , see examples of my work and contact me when you're ready to start planning.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Age for Newborn Portraits
What is the best age for newborn portraits?
If you're able to plan ahead, 7 to 15 days old is my preferred window for newborn portraits. But the most important thing I want parents to take away from this guide is that it's an ideal window—not a deadline.
Is 3 weeks too old for newborn photos?
No. I've photographed many babies beyond the first two weeks. At three weeks, your baby may be more alert and may take a little longer to settle, so we might not be able to do every pose that we could with a younger, sleepier newborn. We simply adjust the session to what your baby is comfortable doing.
Can I still do newborn photos at 6 weeks old?
Yes. Six weeks is about the oldest I've personally photographed a baby as a newborn. At this age, babies are usually more alert, stretch out more and may no longer be comfortable in some of the curled poses or smaller props I use with younger newborns. I won't promise every pose or setup you see in my newborn gallery, but we can still create beautiful portraits—and an older newborn may give us more open eyes and expressions.
How long does a newborn photography session take?
I recommend allowing two to three hours, although some sessions are much shorter. I've finished sessions with very sleepy babies in about an hour and a half, while other babies wake after outfit or setup changes and need additional time to feed or settle. This is why I schedule newborn sessions in the morning and allow plenty of time rather than rushing baby through the session.
When should I book my newborn photography session?
I recommend booking while you're still pregnant. I typically place your session on my calendar for about seven days after your due date, but that date isn't set in stone. Once baby arrives, we can adjust it as needed so we're aiming for the 7–15 day window when possible. I normally schedule only about three newborns each week so I have some flexibility when babies arrive earlier or later than expected.
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