When Should You Schedule Your Newborn Photography Session?

June 6, 2025

Why earlier is ideal — but why it’s absolutely OK to photograph your baby up to 6 weeks with the right preparation

One of the most common questions I get is:
“How old should my baby be for newborn photos?”

You may hear many photographers say: “Only in the first two weeks — after that, it’s too late.”

Not with me.

Yes — I love photographing babies between 7 and 14 days, because at this stage they are very sleepy and naturally curl into those sweet newborn poses. But life doesn’t always go according to plan — and sometimes families need a little more time to settle in at home.

This is why I proudly offer newborn sessions for babies up to 6 weeks old.

With my experience and preparation guidance, you can still have a beautiful session — no matter if your baby is 10 days, 3 weeks, or even 6 weeks old. I’ve photographed many older newborns, and the results are absolutely stunning. In this post, I’ll share what to expect and how to prepare.

I will also include some images of older newborns in this post, so you can see for yourself how beautiful these sessions can be.

Why the First 2 Weeks Are Still Ideal

First, let’s talk about why photographers (myself included) usually recommend doing the session early:

Babies are sleepier. They spend more time in deep sleep and are less sensitive to being moved or posed.
They naturally curl up. In the first 2 weeks, they still love the fetal position and naturally settle into those adorable curled-up poses.
Their newborn “look” is most evident. Their facial features, skin tone, and proportions are still that classic tiny newborn stage.

If you know you want posed newborn images like the ones you see on my site, earlier is always better. That said…

Why I Photograph Babies Up to 6 Weeks

Not every photographer does this. Many will turn away clients with babies older than 2 or 3 weeks — but not me.

Why?
Because I’ve spent years perfecting how to photograph older newborns — and because I know that life with a newborn is unpredictable.

Babies up to 6 weeks old can absolutely have beautiful sessions — and in fact, sometimes families are even more relaxed when they’ve had a few extra weeks to adjust to life with a new baby.

What changes with older babies?

Poses will be more natural and baby-led. Some curled poses may not be comfortable for a 4–6 week old, but I know how to gently adapt each pose to what your baby enjoys.
Baby may be awake for part of the session. This is completely fine — and awake images can be absolutely beautiful. I’ll capture their gorgeous eyes and sweet expressions.
Sleep is still possible! With the preparation I will guide you through, older babies can sleep wonderfully for photos — I’ve done it many times. The key is following my tips carefully (more on that below).
Bigger babies photograph beautifully. Parents are often surprised at how stunning older newborn photos can be. In fact, many of my clients say their older baby’s session turned out even better than they imagined.

What is different about older newborn sessions?

Babies may be more awake: You will often get a mix of sleepy images and wide-eyed portraits. I love those awake shots — they capture so much expression and curiosity.
Babies have filled out: The sweet rolls and curves of older newborns are irresistible! Those cheeks, fingers, toes, bellies — they are a joy to photograph.
Movements may be more sensitive: Older babies are more aware of wrapping and posing, so the session takes a gentle, patient approach. With experience (which I have!) this is absolutely doable.

Why choose an at-home session for older babies?

Older newborns tend to be more sensitive to transitions — and this is why I recommend at-home sessions for this age.

A long car ride to a studio can easily unsettle an older newborn. They may fall asleep in the car, then wake up when we arrive and be harder to soothe again.
At home, your baby stays in a familiar, comforting environment — which makes the session smoother and more relaxed.
I bring everything to you — props, wraps, backdrops, and more. You don’t need to prepare anything except your baby and your space (see my preparation guide for tips).

The Key to Success: Preparation

If your baby is already a few weeks old — or if you are booking in advance and thinking, “What if we can’t do the session right away?” — don’t worry.

The most important thing is preparation.

I will give you a detailed prep guide and text you before your session with personalized instructions. Here are a few of my key tips:

1. Keep Baby Awake Before the Session

I usually ask families to keep baby awake for at least 30–45 minutes before I arrive. If your session is scheduled at 11 AM, try to keep your baby awake from about 10:00 or 10:30 AM onward.
This helps baby be ready for a big feed and then deep sleep during our session.

2. Feed Baby Right Before We Begin

When I arrive, I spend 15–20 minutes setting up my studio at your home. During this time, you will give your baby a big, full feed — more than usual if possible.
A full tummy + tired baby = the magic formula for sleepy, calm newborn images, even with an older baby.

3. Trust Me With Skin and Editing

Many parents worry about skin blemishes or baby acne — please don’t!
Every newborn’s skin is carefully retouched to look perfect in your final images. Please do not delay your session because of skin concerns — I handle it all in editing.
One tip: don’t apply lotion to baby’s face or body on the morning of the session. It makes skin editing more difficult. Evening lotion is fine; just skip it before I arrive.

4. What You Need to Prepare

Nothing! You don’t need to provide outfits or props — I bring everything I need. If you have a special item (heirloom blanket, toy, etc.), let me know in advance so I can plan to incorporate it.
One must-have: a pacifier. Even if your baby doesn’t usually use one, please have it available — sometimes it helps settle baby during posing.
A bottle of milk or formula is also very helpful, even if you are breastfeeding. This allows us to quickly top off baby if needed without disrupting the flow of the session.

5. Preparing Your Space

I typically photograph in the room with the most light and space — often the living room or a bedroom with a big window.
Please declutter this space as best you can (I know this is hard with a newborn — just clear what you can!).
If we do lifestyle photos in your bedroom, try to have white or light-colored bedding, wrinkle-free if possible. It makes for timeless, clean images.

Real Results: Older Newborn Sessions

In this post, I will include examples of beautiful older newborn sessions so you can see for yourself what is possible.

Babies at 4, 5, even 6 weeks old can still have absolutely gorgeous galleries.

Yes — the session will flow differently than with a 7-day-old. But with my experience and your preparation, you will receive images that capture your baby perfectly — sleepy or awake, tiny or a bit bigger, brand new or already starting to show their little personality.