Why do babies have to be so young for newborn pictures?
Newborn photography is best when your baby is between five to twenty-one days old. Sometimes, new parents are a little surprised when they learn just how young a baby needs to be during their newborn portraits. In fact, I’d say the average person assumes the newborn stage lasts up to two to three months. However, this just isn’t the case. Think about how they classify baby clothing in stores. You have a newborn size and then a separate size for babies ages 0-3 months. So, using that example you can see how the newborn stage is really only the first few weeks of life.
This means, in some cases, your newborn photography experience is only your first or second trip out of the house since coming home from the hospital. Why so young? Well, the answer is pretty simple. Babies need to be at their sleepiest and most flexible for their newborn portraits. When babies are first born their bones are still soft from being cooped up in the womb and having to undergo labor and delivery. This means they’re as flexible as they’ll ever be and can be safely and comfortably posed into all of those adorable poses you see on my website.
Another reason your newborn session should be scheduled within those first few weeks of life is because around week three, most babies go through their first growth spurt. They start wanting to eat all day long, are more alert, and are fussier during this stage. Week three and beyond can also start to include baby acne and, worse, colic. So, although photoshop can take care of most of that baby acne, it can’t really help with that gas-induced fussiness that colic can cause during a session. So, as you can see, those first two weeks of life are the optimal time for your newborn session because I truly want to capture every little detail of your little one in all of their glory.
Like all rules, however, this one does come with exceptions. Babies born prematurely, which is often the case with twins, can be photographed past the recommended two weeks of life time frame. Preemies are technically still in their last trimester and tend to stay in the sleepy stage longer than full-term babies. Their bellies are still developing and their desire for more milk is less intense in those first few weeks of life. In these cases, we can be much more flexible in terms of scheduling preemie newborn portraits. We would typically want to schedule their session within five days of their actual due date.
When should I book my newborn session?
I recommend booking your newborn session during your second trimester. Of course, at this point you have no idea when your little one will actually arrive, and that’s okay. I will tentatively schedule your newborn session for your baby, or babies, based on your due date. Once your baby arrives, I ask that you notify me within the first 48 hours of birth. After your little bundle of joy has been born, we will then firm up your session date within those first two weeks of life. If you’re interested in more information on a newborn session, or would like to reserve your own session be sure to fill out the contact form below.
Luxury Newborn and Maternity Photographer serving Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, and Senioa
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