As a newborn photographer in Edmonton, I sometimes receive inquiries like: “I want to book a newborn photoshoot as soon as possible. My baby is already 20 days old.” Sometimes parents also ask if they can wait until their baby is 30 days old. In this blog, I’m going to explain the myth and the reasons behind newborn photoshoot timing.
Why Do Photographers Recommend 5–14 Days?
Most newborn photographers prefer to photograph newborns within the baby’s first two weeks. Some photographers refuse to photograph newborns after 14 days, while others, like me, will photograph babies up to 30 days old. Some photographers might even take older babies.
If your newborn is born on time, between 37–40 weeks of pregnancy, you will notice that babies follow a sleep–eat–sleep cycle during the first two weeks. From the third week, your baby’s cycle will likely become sleep–eat–awake–sleep.
As their body starts to adapt to the outside world and becomes more used to food, air, and sound, their alert time becomes longer and longer.
In studio newborn photography, babies need to be fully relaxed during posing. Newborns have newborn reflexes. These are automatic movements that babies cannot control， according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. These reflexes are normal responses controlled by a baby’s nervous system. Older newborns tend to wake up more easily and have more difficulty falling asleep. As long as they are awake, it is almost impossible for them to stay relaxed because of these reflexes.
Also, a newborn’s eyesight is not as developed as an adult’s. Their eyes can sometimes look unfocused, and their facial expressions are not fully under their control. An alert baby will not give us the chance to capture a beautifully relaxed newborn.
From my experience photographing many 30-day-old babies, it is very hard to pose them in certain poses that parents love. In order to keep the whole process enjoyable and safe for the baby, we tend to swaddle the baby more. As a baby-led photographer, the baby’s comfort always comes before everything else. In that case, many posing possibilities are gone.
What Is It Like to Photograph an Older Newborn?
From real-world experience in my Edmonton studio, a 1-month-old is still technically a newborn. But as a newborn photographer, I can certainly say that babies around three weeks old are much harder to photograph.
In our studio, we include almost everything you could think of in a newborn session: three sets plus sibling and family photos. In a regular process, the entire session is about 3–4 hours long. We usually include outfit poses, naked poses, and swaddled poses all in the same session. Because of that, you may find our sessions are a bit longer than other newborn photographers, but they include more variety.
However, when the baby is more than 20 days old, I have never been able to finish a session in less than four hours. 4.5 hours is usually the average time to photograph an older newborn through the whole process. The extra time is usually spent soothing the baby.
In terms of the results, you will notice that the baby in the photos looks more like a baby instead of a newborn. Their natural curled-up pose is gone, and their body stretches more. It is still precious, but it just no longer has the same newborn look.
Is 14 Days a Golden Rule for Newborn Photography?
As long as your newborn is not premature, 14 days is almost a golden rule for most babies.
I have photographed more than 150 newborn babies, including some older newborns. The oldest baby I photographed was 31 days old. Only a few sessions, which I can count on my fingers, were very smooth to photograph.
Many parents notice that babies become fussier around 2–3 weeks as their sleep patterns begin to change, accroding to KellyMom. From my experience, almost every baby after 14 days tends to be fussier between sleep cycles and harder to pose. Of course, they also cry more.
When I say older babies are harder to photograph, that doesn’t mean it is impossible. That is why I accept babies up to 30 days old for newborn photography. As long as your baby is under 30 days old, we can still complete the whole process and provide you with more than enough photos to choose from.
Newborn Photography Is Not Only for Beautiful Photos
Newborn photography is not only about beautiful photos. It is also a chance for parents to relax and enjoy watching their baby without worrying about diapers or feeding.
It is a chance for parents to slow down, be present, watch their precious baby, and even relax for a moment. Sometimes parents even fall asleep in my studio.
I would love for parents to feel a sense of control and peace of mind during the chaotic first few weeks after their newborn arrives. However, a fussier baby may not give parents the same chance to relax.
I always tell my clients that if you decide to do the session when the baby is older than 14 days, we just need to set the right expectations for the whole process.
When Should You Book Your Newborn Photoshoot?
When I decided to become a newborn photographer, I was also starting a business. For any business, a consistent workflow is important. It not only protects the reputation of the business but also ensures that every client is treated fairly.
I cannot simplify my process just because someone’s baby is older.
As a photographer, I completely understand that not all parents know in advance that they want to preserve these memories for their baby. Sometimes the idea only comes after the baby arrives.
As a parent, you want to give your baby the best things in the world. Even with something as small as photos, you don’t want to choose between the sets you like—you want them all. That is why I designed my process this way.
It may be much harder for an older baby, but I still believe it is worth it.
Final Answer: How Old Is Too Old for Newborn Photos?
If a parent asks me:
“My newborn is already XX days old. Can we still do newborn photos?”
My answer is yes.
But let’s book a time to talk and discuss what the process will be like and what we can realistically expect from your baby.
Samantha, the visionary behind Little One Photography, is a passionate photographer with a special gift for capturing the essence of newborns and families. As an awarded newborn photographer, she has honed her craft to create timeless, emotive portraits that families cherish for generations. Samantha’s warm personality and patient approach put even the tiniest clients at ease, allowing her to capture genuine moments of connection and love.
