Have you ever wondered why most newborn baby photographers prefer to photograph babies within two weeks of birth? Read on to find out!
Before we jump right in, I want to clarify that the “two week rule” is mostly applicable to posed newborn photography. When I am talking about posed newborn photography, I mean those newborn baby photos where the baby is all curled up into adorable little poses. There are different styles of newborn photography – lifestyle and posed. The lifestyle photography concentrates on capturing what is already there while posed newborn photography involves setting up a shot. Here is an example of a posed newborn baby:
This is an important distinction because while lifestyle photography is more in-the-moment, posed newborn photography requires that the baby is completely relaxed during the shoot. That’s where the two week rule comes in.
Newborn babies are very different than even an older newborn such as a 2 month old. Their bones haven’t begun to fuse together and they are used to being in the “womb” positions. When you’re looking at posed newborn photography, you’ll notice that a lot of the poses that are reflected are “womb-like.”
While every baby is different, most newborn babies under two weeks old are not yet easily wakeful. This is important for posed newborn photography since it requires that the baby is asleep or extremely relaxed.
If you’ve heard of colic (where babies cry a lot for no apparent reason), it is also believed that babies don’t get colic until after the two week mark.
Last, but certainly not least, newborn baby features change significantly after the first couple of weeks. It’s crazy how quickly they grow and there is something about capturing the brand new baby.
So when do I need to book a newborn baby photographer?
Ideally, you want to book your newborn photographer while you are still expecting. Usually I recommend looking for a newborn photographer somewhere around 12 weeks and choosing one to book around 20 weeks.
If you wait too long to book your newborn photographer, their schedules may fill up.
Most newborn photographers will book a few months in advance. Reserving your spot early on will assure that the photographer has flexibility since babies arrive unpredictably.
What happens if I missed the “ideal” time frame for newborn baby photography?
If you missed the “ideal” window of first two weeks after your baby is born, don’t stress it. Reach out to your photographer of choice and see if there is any flexibility in their schedule. Many newborn photographers will work with older newborns. While not every pose is possible with an older newborn, there are still many wonderful ways to capture your new baby.
Spend a few minutes talking with the photographer to make sure that everyone is on the same page with expectations.
Now that you’ve learned a little more about why newborn babies are photographed within the first two weeks of birth, check out this gorgeous recent session.
Makai was 10 days old during his ct newborn photography session. He is actually the THIRD baby that I’ve photographed for this family. I love that I’ve been there to capture all the moments as this family grows.
Catherine King Photography is an on-location, natural light, portrait photographer with a studio in Madison, CT. Catherine’s studio is stocked with a variety of headbands, hats, props and wardrobe options for your portrait and newborn photography session. Click here to receive more information on booking or pricing.
If you are looking for a: Newborn Photography in Connecticut, Madison CT Newborn photographer, Best Newborn Photographer in CT, CT Newborn Photography. CT Baby Photographer, CT Maternity Photographer, CT Maternity Photography. CT Pregnancy Photographer, Baby Photography in Connecticut, Baby Photographer in Connecticut. New Haven CT Newborn Photographer, Middlesex county CT Newborn Photographer, New Haven County CT Newborn Photographer, New London County CT Newborn Photographer, Essex CT Newborn Photographer, Killingworth CT Newborn Photographer, CT Family Photographer, New Haven County Family Photographer, or CT Photographer, reach out to Catherine.
Maternity portraits are usually booked when you are 12-20 weeks along and scheduled around 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. Newborn portraits are usually booked to hold your “delivery month” when you are 12-20 weeks pregnant and scheduled once the baby arrives. The “ideal” time for newborn baby photography is between 5-15 days of age, but please do not hesitate to reach out if you’ve missed that window.
