When Should I Do My Newborn Photoshoot?
The best time to do your newborn photoshoot is usually when your baby is between 6 and 14 days old.
At this age, babies are often still very sleepy, naturally curled and happy to be wrapped, making it a beautiful time to capture those tiny newborn details.
But that is an ideal window, not an expiry date.
I photograph newborns throughout their first four weeks, and beautiful photographs are still possible if your baby is older. Your session may simply look a little different depending on your baby’s age, personality and what they are comfortable doing.
The best age for newborn photos at a glance
6–14 days:
Ideal for the tiny, sleepy and naturally curled newborn look.
2–4 weeks:
Still beautifully newborn, often with a little more alertness and eye contact.
Older than four weeks:
You have definitely not missed your opportunity for meaningful photographs, but the session may feel more like a young baby session than a traditional newborn session.
Best time to book:
Ideally during your second trimester or early in your third trimester, with the actual session date adjusted once your baby arrives.
If your baby is already here, please do reach out as babies are unpredictable and a session date may be available at short notice.
Why are newborn photos usually taken within the first two weeks?
The first two weeks are often recommended because this is when babies are at their newest.
They are still incredibly tiny, tend to sleep for longer stretches and will often settle comfortably into the soft, naturally curled positions they found before birth.
For my style of baby-led newborn photography, photographing your baby at around 6–14 days old gives us the best chance of creating a varied gallery that includes:
- Natural portraits of your baby
- Softly wrapped photographs
- Tiny fingers, toes and newborn details
- Photographs with parents and siblings
- Quiet, connection-filled family moments
Your baby does not need to sleep for the entire session, though.
Some of my favourite photographs are the wide-eyed ones where a newborn looks directly towards their parents or quietly takes in everything happening around them.
Is three weeks too old for newborn photos?
No. Three weeks old is absolutely not too late for newborn photos.
Your baby will still be tiny and unmistakably newborn. They may spend a little more time awake, stretch their arms and legs more often or take longer to settle than they would have during the first week.
None of that is a problem.
Because my newborn sessions are led by your baby rather than a strict list of poses, I adjust the session around what they are happy doing on the day.
We can still photograph your baby wrapped, lying naturally, snuggled into your chest and surrounded by the people who already adore them.
You may also receive more awake photographs and little expressions than you would have captured a week earlier—which can be a beautiful part of photographing this stage.
Is four weeks too old for newborn photos?
Four weeks is not too old for newborn photos either.
I regularly photograph babies throughout their first month. At four weeks, your baby may be more alert, spend less time tightly curled and have stronger opinions about how they would like to be held or positioned.
That does not mean the photographs will be any less meaningful.
It simply means we follow the baby you have in front of us rather than trying to make them look younger than they are.
Your gallery may include more open eyes, stretching, cuddles and interaction with you. You will still have photographs of their tiny features, the way they fit in your arms and what your family looked like during those first few weeks together.
What if my baby is older than four weeks?
Please do not assume you have missed your chance.
Once babies move beyond the first month, the photographs can begin to look a little different from a traditional newborn gallery. They may be awake for longer, less interested in being wrapped and more likely to stretch out rather than curl up.
That can bring something lovely to the session too.
We can concentrate on cuddles, expressions, eye contact, little movements and the way your baby responds to your voice and touch.
Depending on your baby’s age, I may recommend a newborn session or suggest waiting for a baby photography session instead. The best option depends on the photographs you are hoping to create—not an arbitrary cut-off date.
The most important thing is to get in touch rather than deciding on your own that it is too late.
When should I book my newborn photoshoot?
The best time to book your newborn photoshoot is during your second trimester or early in your third trimester.
You do not need to wait until your baby has arrived.
I take only a limited number of newborn bookings each month so I can leave space to accommodate babies who arrive earlier or later than expected. Booking during pregnancy reserves a place around your due date rather than locking you into one immovable session day.
Once your baby arrives, you let me know and we confirm the date that works best.
This gives you the flexibility newborn life requires while making sure there is space available for your family.
How can I choose a date when I do not know when my baby will arrive?
You are not expected to predict your baby’s birthday.
When you book, we use your estimated due date to reserve space in my calendar. Your actual newborn photoshoot date can then be adjusted after your baby is born.
If your baby comes early, arrives late or you need a little more time at home before leaving the house, we work around that.
This is also why booking in advance is helpful. By limiting the number of newborns I photograph each month, I have room to move sessions when babies make their own plans.
Which they very often do.
What if I do not feel ready during the first week?
Then we wait.
The first days after bringing a baby home can be a lot. You may be recovering from birth, learning how feeding works, adjusting to very little sleep and trying to understand your entirely new family rhythm.
You do not need to force yourself into the studio before you feel physically or emotionally ready just because someone told you newborn photos must happen within ten days.
Your wellbeing matters too.
There are benefits to photographing your baby within the first two weeks, but there are also benefits to waiting until you feel more settled. A calm parent and a comfortable baby are far more important to me than reaching one particular number on the calendar.
What if my newborn does not sleep during the photoshoot?
That is completely okay.
Beautiful newborn photography does not depend on having a perfectly sleepy baby.
My sessions are calm, unhurried and baby-led, with plenty of time available for feeding, changing, settling and cuddles. If your baby wants to stay awake, we photograph them awake. If they need to be held, we begin with photographs in your arms.
There is no pressure to make your baby perform or follow a predetermined plan.
I gently guide the session, but your baby sets the pace.
When is the right time for your family?
For most families, I recommend planning newborn photos for approximately 6–14 days after birth and booking your photographer while you are still pregnant.
That offers the best chance of capturing the sleepy, tiny newborn stage many parents imagine when they begin looking for a photographer.
But the right time is also when you and your baby are ready.
At three weeks, your baby is not too old.
At four weeks, your baby is not too old.
And if the first month has already disappeared while you were concentrating on feeding, recovering and keeping a tiny person alive, please do not let a date on the calendar stop you from asking what is still possible.
Your baby will never be exactly this little again.
Newborn photography in Melbourne
I have been photographing newborns and growing families for more than 15 years from my calm, natural-light studio in Altona Meadows.
My newborn sessions are relaxed, safely guided and completely baby-led, with plenty of time for feeds, cuddles and everything else your baby may need.
Parents and siblings are encouraged to be included, because these photographs are not only about how tiny your baby was. They are also about how they fitted into your arms, how their siblings looked at them and what becoming a family-or growing your family-felt like.
If you are expecting or your baby has already arrived, get in touch and tell me your due date or your baby’s current age. I will help you work out the best timing and session option for your family.
