The Perfect Age for Newborn Photography: What Every Parent Should Know

Why Newborn Sessions Happen Within the First Two Weeks

My studio is fully set up and ready for you—there’s nothing you need to do except show up with your baby and maybe a little extra milk.

So, why do we aim to photograph newborns when they’re 5 to 12 days old? Let me explain!

1. The magic of the relaxin hormone

Newborns still have relaxin in their system from birth, which helps them stay flexible and cozy for those adorable poses. This special phase makes it easier to capture those classic curled-up shots.

2. Sleepy babies = dreamy photos

In the first two weeks, babies spend a lot of time sleeping deeply. After that, they tend to wake up more and become a bit fussier, which can make posing and soothing more challenging.

3. The "wake up" window

Around 9-12 days old, many babies start to “wake up” to the world. They become more opinionated about how they like to be positioned and what they’re comfortable with—adorable, but a little trickier for those sleepy poses.

4. No baby acne just yet

Baby acne usually shows up after the first 10 days. Photographing your baby earlier helps ensure smooth, blemish-free skin in their portraits.

5. Colic-free moments

If colic develops, it often happens between 2-3 weeks old. Scheduling your session earlier helps avoid those extra fussy spells.

6. They’ll never be this tiny again

Your baby is at their smallest in those first two weeks, and they’ll likely be back to their birth weight by day 14. Capturing this fleeting stage is such a gift for you to look back on.

That said, I always incorporate a mix of awake and asleep photos during my sessions. Many of my clients love having both! My sessions typically run about three hours, which allows plenty of time for soothing, feeding, and those tiny moments of baby awake time.

If you’re in the greater Seattle area, I’d love to welcome you to my Redmond or Seattle studio to document this special time in your family’s life.