Many families choose to book multiple photo sessions during their baby’s first year. It’s a time of rapid growth, with noticeable changes happening almost every week—making it well worth documenting. To offer families an affordable way to capture each stage, we offer Edmonton baby milestone photography services.
But after the newborn stage, a common question is: Which month is the best time for a baby photo shoot?
2 months — not ideal
I don’t usually recommend scheduling a photoshoot at 2 months old, as babies at this age are in between the newborn and baby stages. It’s past the ideal window for newborn photography (5–14 days), but still a bit early for your baby to stay awake and alert long enough to enjoy a full session.
3 months — Ok
At 3 months old, many parents want to celebrate their baby’s 100th day with a photoshoot. Ideally, your baby should be able to do mini push-ups or hold their head steady during tummy time. However, I’ve found that many families haven’t had enough tummy time practice at home. If that’s the case for your baby, I highly recommend waiting until around 4 months. That said, if you’re set on capturing this special milestone and don’t mind skipping the push-up poses, 100 days is still a lovely age. Babies often smile and laugh easily at this stage, making for beautiful portraits..
4 months — Perfect
The beginning of the 4 months old is a perfect time if you would prefer to have a baby portrait before they can sit. At this age, they should be able to hold their head still and laugh well. Additionally, they are not dealing with the pain of growing teeth or anxiety from seeing strangers.
5 months — Ok
It really depends on the reason behind your baby photoshoot. If you’re looking to document a specific stage as part of a milestone series, then 5 months old can be a great time. However, if this will be your only photoshoot during the first year, I highly recommend waiting until your baby is around 6 months old. Once your baby can sit up independently, you’ll have more variety in poses and expressions—giving you a wider selection of beautiful photos to choose from.
6-7 months — perfect
The ages of 6-7 months are perfect for taking baby milestone photos. Babies can sit and start to explore the world with their hands and mouth. If you would like to have a family portrait, this is also an ideal time.
8-10 months — good
At the age of 8-10 months old, it can be difficult to get babies to smile or laugh when you are not sitting around them because most babies start to experience separation anxiety. Sitting by themselves in an unfamiliar setup can make them nervous and not willing to show their cute smile. However, if you missed the 6-7 month window or the baby was not able to sit well at that age, 8 months is still adorable, and we can help them relax. Additionally, babies typically have two teeth at this age, which is very cute.
11 -12 months — perfect
The ages of 11-12 months are perfect for milestone or cake smash photos because the baby is just turning one year old. This is a great time for capturing a variety of facial expressions. Additionally, they can stand up by holding onto furniture. In my opinion, the most remarkable times for baby photography are newborn photography and one-year-old photography.
In summary, if you’re not sure what to do after newborn photography, I recommend 1 year old, 6-7 months old, and then 4 months old, in order of preference.
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.
