I get asked this all the time by moms who are still pregnant and already planning ahead (I love that, by the way): what’s the best time to schedule a newborn photography session?
The Golden Window: 7 to 21 Days
Short answer: 7 to 21 days old. That’s the sweet spot, and it’s not a rule I made up for fun.
Newborns this age are supposed to sleep a ton. Some stick to the plan, some have their own agenda going on, but this is still the window that gives us the best shot at those curled up, deeply asleep poses. Newborn photography isn’t a science though. I’ve had babies right in the window fight me the whole time, and I’ve had 25 day olds sleep like rocks and let me do everything I planned and then some. We’re playing the odds, not guaranteeing an outcome.
They’re also still holding onto their womb position naturally in those first couple weeks, so all that curl and flexibility is just there. I’m working with their body, not against it.
And practically speaking, most babies haven’t hit newborn acne or other skin stuff yet at this age, so their skin looks its calmest in photos too.
One thing worth saying: you’ll find photographers out there who insist early is the ONLY option. It’s not. It’s the best odds, not the only shot.
Setting Your Session Up for Success
A few things actually make a bigger difference than the exact day you book.
If you’re nursing, pay attention to what you’re eating beforehand, since certain foods can upset a baby’s stomach and that’s the last thing you want mid session. Don’t schedule too late in the day either. A warm bath right before tends to relax babies right into sleep mode, and feeding your baby right before we start (or as close to it as you can) helps too. A full belly is a sleepy belly.
Book While You’re Still Pregnant
Here’s the part that surprises people: you book a newborn session during pregnancy, not after the baby shows up. Ideally sometime in your second trimester or early third.
Here’s why that matters beyond just landing in the best scheduling window.
A lot of parents fully intend to book newborn photos, then the baby actually arrives, life gets overwhelming, and suddenly it’s day 20 and nobody’s called a photographer. That’s the panic moment.
There’s also a practical piece nobody thinks about until it’s too late: availability. If you haven’t booked before the baby arrives, you might have a hard time finding a photographer with an open calendar at all. The good ones tend to book out months in advance. I’ll always do my best to get you in, but it might mean going further outside the window than you’d like.
Booking early also gives us a buffer. Someone gets sick, an emergency comes up, you need to push the date, and having that room in the window means we can actually make a backup plan instead of scrambling.
If you haven’t booked your maternity session yet, now is a great time to plan that too — the sweet spot for maternity photos is 28–32 weeks, so the two sessions often line up naturally.
And once you’re booked, I don’t disappear until your due date. I check in the week before to see how you’re feeling, and again if your due date passes, just to see if your little one has made their appearance yet. Having someone else keeping track of the timeline is one less thing you have to hold in your head.
What If You Miss the best time to schedule your newborn photography session?
Totally normal, and it happens more than you’d think. Life with a newborn is chaos in the best way, and sometimes a month goes by before anyone remembers to call a photographer.
First thing I’ll tell you: don’t panic. You can’t go back in time, so let’s just plan for where we are now. There is no bad time to get beautiful photos of your baby.
Past about three weeks we adapt the workflow a bit, since a more alert baby calls for a different approach than a sleepy curled up newborn. I always take my cues from the baby, not the calendar.
If your baby arrived early, we adjust for that too. A baby born at 34 weeks isn’t at the same stage as one born at 40, so we work off adjusted age, not birth date.
And if you’re just not feeling up to it right after birth, that’s reason enough to wait too. Recovery is real, this is a long day, and I want you comfortable enough to actually enjoy your session. Scheduling at 18 days instead of 7 because you need the extra time is a completely valid reason.
A Few Tips when You’re Planning Ahead
- Tell me your priorities upfront. If Grandma’s ring or the family dog needs to be in a shot, say so early.
- Siblings are always welcome, but I recommend they only come in for their portion of the session. These sessions can run up to 4 hours, and no toddler wants to sit around that long. Schedule their part around their nap and feeding times too. Two cranky kids at once is not the goal.
- Build in extra time overall. Feeding, soothing, and the occasional diaper blowout are part of the process, not an interruption to it.
- Book with someone who does this often. Posing a newborn safely takes real practice, so a newborn specialist and a general family photographer aren’t interchangeable.
At the end of the day, the best time to schedule a newborn photography session is whenever works for your family, but if you want the best odds, aim for that 7 to 21 day window and book early.
Ready to book your newborn session?
At REL Portraits, I specialize in newborn, maternity, and family sessions, and I do everything I can to make the process easy and stress free for you and your baby. I service families throughout Chicago and the North Shore.
If you’re interested in finding out more about newborn photography, or you’re ready to book, schedule a call and let’s find the right time for your baby’s session.
