The Best Time to Book Your Baby’s Newborn Photography Session

The Best Time to Book Your Baby’s Newborn Photography Session

I’m guessing you are here because you are either expecting a child or just received that sweet smelling angel. Congratulations!!

Alison Therese Photography offers two different newborn packages. An ‘In-Home Lifestyle Session’ and a ‘Studio Session’. Check out my What’s Better a Lifestyle or Posed Newborn Session for my Baby Blog to see which works best for you.

WHEN IS IT BEST TO SHOOT?

In order to tell you when to book we need to step back and go more in-depth about when newborns are happiest being photographed. The answer to this is between days 5-14 of their sweet little lives. The reason is 2 fold.

First, the first two weeks of life are when newborns are the sleepiest. Sleeping babies are much more cooperative with posing. Also, older babies are much more responsive to touch. Even just trying to perfect the position of their little fingers may wake a baby older than two weeks.

Second, the first two weeks is when they have the “newborn curl”. That’s the curly position like they had in the womb that makes newborn photography so beautiful.

WHEN TO BOOK?

When the stick is positive. Just kidding! Although I have had a few people call me before they called their OB. Especially if it’s their second kid.

During the first trimester search for the newborn photographer that is the best fit for you. Look at their work, ask friends for recommendations, contact them, and ask any questions you may have.

During the second Trimester, when you are happily telling everyone about your upcoming bundle, is when you should book. The reasons for this are that babies are unpredictable. I only schedule 3 newborn sessions a month to make sure I can schedule all my sessions during the optimal age of 5-14 days. During fall I limit it to 2 a month as I take on extra family sessions and want to make sure my focus is there for everyone.

Another very important reason to schedule during your Second Trimester is to get it off your To-Do list. And if you’re like most moms-to-be it’s a long list. Stocking the nursery, organizing the nursery, painting the nursery, furnishing the nursery, decorating the nursery, finding cute little window decals for the nursery, until it’s the nicest room in the house. Is there any greater feeling than finally accomplishing something that has been on your mind?

DURING THE THIR…OH NO! MY BABY IS HERE!

Not to worry! Maybe you didn’t know any of the above information because as with all things newborn, how were you supposed to know? I could write a book on the things that I didn’t know when having my first. Heck even the second.

And maybe you planned on hospital photos but then learned while there that because of the pandemic they aren’t allowing them.

Or, maybe you didn’t see the need, but now that you see how fast that sweet face is changing, (sighing emoji), you really want to document it. Whatever the reason, you are not out of luck.

Please contact me to see if I have any last minute availability. Like I said, babies are unpredictable and maybe I had a few early babies and now there is room in my schedule.

At the least I can reach out to some of my photographer friends and see if they have anything available to capture those sweet little fingers and toes.

If your baby is older than 2 weeks and you have your heart set on a newborn posed session we can always give it a go. I have had luck with 4 week old babies before and am willing to give it a shot if you are.

We could also think about doing an in-home lifestyle newborn session without the baby being quite so young. There’s lots of sweetness to capture by documenting the connection between you and your baby.

READY TO BOOK?

Check out my calendar and pick a date closest to your due date. Choose the In-Home or Studio session package, sign the contract, send in the retainer, pat yourself on the back for getting it off that to-do list, then please go put your feet up.

“Alison, I hear what you are saying, and appreciate all you insights and suggestions, but you said babies are unpredictable. How can I know if my baby will even be the right age on the date I picked?” Good question. Once you book or contact me to book, I will ask you your due date and schedule the shoot on that date as a place holder. Within 48 hours after your baby arrives, contact me and we will work together to make sure that we get your baby’s session all set up.

BEFORE YOUR SESSION

In the time before your due date you will receive a Welcome and Prep Guide so that I can take you through every part of the session and what you need to have and do to have our session go swimmingly. We will also talk about what you envision for the session, your favorite colors, the prop you want, and so on.