what's the best age for newborn portraits

Before two weeks is an ideal time for newborn portraits

What’s the best age for newborn portraits? It’s a question I get asked often and in an ideal world I like to photograph newborns before they’re two weeks old.

The reasons are simple: they’re tiny. Your baby will never be this small again. And they’re just waking up to the world which makes it easy to get the classic sleeping newborn portraits that parents love. It takes time for a baby to stretch themselves out so photographing before two weeks helps ensure I can get portraits of your baby still curled from the womb. Before two weeks baby hair, if your baby has hair, is downy fine, and baby acne (a normal skin response to new elements in your baby’s environment) won’t have started yet. As your baby becomes more proficient at eating they will fill out; photographing soon after birth often means you’ll see those wonderful telltale newborn wrinkles.

I know that before two weeks isn’t always possible

Best laid plans don’t always come to fruition which is why I tell new parents that there’s never a wrong time to have portraits made of their new baby. There’s reasons why coming in before two weeks isn’t always possible, so come when you can. Your portraits will be gorgeous because your baby is gorgeous no matter if they’re two weeks, four weeks, eight or ten weeks.

Your baby doesn’t stop being a newborn overnight

A baby is considered newborn for the first two months so if you aren’t able to get in for portraits right away DON’T WORRY. I’ve photographed newborns as early as five days and I’ve photographed newborns at ten weeks. You know what? The parents were thrilled. And you will be, too.

Any day is a great day for your baby’s portraits

And please be sure to come prepared to be photographed with your newborn. They are portraits you’ll both treasure for years to come.