The ideal window of time for classic newborn photos is shorter than many parents realize. I’ll show you when it begins, when it ends, when you should book, and what exceptions there are
The ideal time for a newborn photoshoot is between the fifth and fourteenth day after birth. During this time, newborns still sleep a lot and are easy to position in typical newborn poses. After the birth, you should give yourselves a few days to adjust to your new family situation. After 14 days, the first growth spurt begins, and the baby will outgrow the newborn stage.
These two weeks come at a time when you’re adjusting to your new family dynamic and have a lot on your mind. That’s why it’s a good idea to schedule your photo shoot while you’re still pregnant.
Here you will find a brief summary of the main content of the article:
- The first few days are for you: You should take the first four days after the birth to settle in as a family. Many mothers are still in the hospital during this time or are recovering from childbirth at home.
- Booking During Pregnancy: It’s best to book your appointment at any time during your pregnancy. Specialized photographers only accept a few newborn photo sessions per month and are often booked up well in advance.
- If the due date changes: After a C-section, in the case of a premature birth, or during a prolonged hospital stay, the due date will be pushed back. The timing will then depend on your baby and on you, not on the calendar.
- Best Time of Day: For most babies, the morning is the calmest time of the day. After their first feeding, they are full, warm, and sleeping soundly.
- The Most Important Points at a Glance: What You Need to Know About Scheduling
- Why are days 5 through 14 the ideal time frame?
- When does the time window shift for you?
- When should you book your newborn photo shoot?
- When is the best time of day for the shoot?
- Missed the window of opportunity: What options are still available?
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Timing of Newborn Photo Shoots
- Are you planning your newborn photoshoot in Munich?
- You can find more tips on newborn photography here
My recommendation for the ideal time frame is based on my experience as a newborn photographer and is grounded in the following practical considerations:
- Authentic Newborn Look: In the first two weeks after birth, newborns still have that innocent look, delicate proportions, and curled-up limbs. Even in those first few weeks, your newborn changes quickly and will soon look like a real baby.
- Plenty of Deep Sleep: During the first two weeks, newborns generally still sleep a lot (16–20 hours a day) and very deeply. They are hardly disturbed by external stimuli such as noise, light, or changes in position. Starting as early as the third week, many babies become significantly more active. During the first two weeks, the photo shoot is easy to plan and goes smoothly for everyone involved.
- Typical Newborn Poses: In the first few weeks, the muscles aren’t yet strong enough to resist the familiar poses from the womb. Babies curl up and assume these newborn poses almost on their own. Swaddling and wrapping also work particularly well during this phase. Babies are still very flexible, which makes it easier to position them in newborn poses.
- Newborn Skin: In the first few days after birth, a newborn’s skin is usually still clear and even. After the first two weeks, baby acne or other skin blemishes may appear temporarily. This is completely normal, but it does make editing the newborn photos a bit more time-consuming. Right after birth, you have the best conditions for beautiful photos.
- Family Time Together: During the first two weeks after birth, the family is often spending time together with the baby. The father is frequently still on vacation or parental leave and can organize his daily schedule as he wishes. This period offers a great window of opportunity for your newborn photo shoot. In the weeks that follow, you’ll have your first doctor’s appointments, visits from family and friends, and a return to work.
How many days after giving birth should you wait?
After the birth, it is advisable to wait a few days before the photo shoot. This will give you time to settle into the new family constellation and recover from the stresses and strains of the birth. You may still spend the first few days in hospital or need a day or two at home to settle in and find your new rhythm.
Whether it’s the fifth, eighth, or some other day is up to you. I’ll come to your home, so you won’t have to go anywhere.
Until when can you do the typical newborn poses?
After the first two weeks, most babies experience their first growth spurt. They are then noticeably more alert and sleep less deeply and for shorter periods. This makes it more difficult to achieve the classic, tightly curled newborn poses.
But you can also take wonderful photos of older babies in the “newborn” style. Instead of sleeping poses, you’ll get photos of them with their eyes half-open, their first reactions to your voice, and lots of closeness with you. As they get older, this becomes more of a baby photo shoot than a classic newborn photoshoot.
Not every situation fits into a standard time slot. In some cases, I’ll schedule the appointment differently in consultation with you. The timing will then depend on your baby and when you feel ready.
After a C-section or a difficult birth, I like to schedule the session for around days 10 through 14. I’ll work with you to find a time that works best. After a C-section, we’ll take special care to accommodate you during the photo shoot.
If you’re staying in the hospital for an extended period, we’ll work together to find a suitable time as soon as you feel ready.
In the case of a premature birth, we’ll schedule an appointment around the estimated due date (EDD), not immediately after the birth.
Newborn jaundice is common and won’t interfere with our photo shoot. As soon as you get home, we’ll work with you to find a date that works for you.
Twins are often born a little earlier than expected. In that case, I recommend scheduling a session around the estimated due date (EDD). If the twins aren’t born early, I recommend the general time frame. I’ve described the specifics of a twin photo shoot in my post on newborn photoshoots with twins.
I recommend that you book a photo shoot while you’re still pregnant and reserve a tentative date for it.
After the birth, you’ll be focused on completely different priorities: learning to breastfeed, coping with sleep deprivation, hosting visitors, and finding your footing as a family. Once the newborn arrives, you’ll be grateful that you took care of your newborn photoshoot ahead of time.
You’re Expecting a Baby: Here’s How to Schedule an Appointment
Since you can’t predict your due date or other circumstances when you book, I always offer flexible scheduling. Here’s how I handle scheduling appointments:
- Tentative Date: When you book, you’re reserving a tentative photo shoot date based on your estimated due date (EDD).
- Birth notification: You inform me as soon as possible, within 24-48 hours after the birth, via WhatsApp
- Final Date: We’ll then work together to set a final date that fits the actual due date and the circumstances
I only accept a limited number of newborn photo shoots during a given time period. This allows me to be flexible and offer you a photo shoot appointment during the first few weeks. In the event of an early or late birth, we’ll reschedule our photo session.
If you’re just starting your search: I’ve summarized what really matters when making your choice in the post ” Finding a Newborn Photographer.”
Your baby has already arrived: Is it too late to book?
No, but you should take care of this as soon as possible. Feel free to reach out if you haven’t booked a newborn photoshoot yet. I’d be happy to try to accommodate your request and offer you an appointment on short notice!
The morning is usually the best time of day for a newborn photo shoot. After their first feeding of the day, most babies are full, warm, and sleeping soundly. In the afternoon and early evening, many newborns are more restless, and gas is more common.
Life with a newborn is fast-paced, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. Complications during childbirth, extended hospital stays, breastfeeding difficulties, or simply the overwhelming emotions of the first few days can cause you to miss the optimal window of opportunity.
The good news for you: You can still take beautiful baby photos even after the first two weeks! Whether you reschedule the newborn photoshoot as soon as possible or, for example, wait until the baby is three months old is something to decide on a case-by-case basis. You can find out what’s possible at each stage in the post “Missed Your Newborn Photoshoot.” And if your baby is already a few weeks old, you’ll find the best times for a baby photo shoot in the first year of life.
As soon as you’ve decided to have a baby photo shoot, you should get in touch with us as soon as possible.
