Over the last two years, I have been asked, “Is my baby too old for newborn photos?” more than ever before. It’s a great question and honestly, there is no right or wrong answer. I would much rather you come to my studio with a slightly older baby than not at all!

Typically, “traditional” newborn photos take place within the first two weeks. You can read more about why we recommend this and the advantages of an early newborn session here. However, there are a lot of reasons that may not work out- preemie, rough delivery, didn’t think of newborn pictures until later, pandemic concerns, etc..Truth be told, I have also photographed “newborn” sessions for babies up to ten weeks old with good results.

Newborn Session for “Older” Babies

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to timing your newborn session. Older babies will be more alert, so we may have more awake photos. They also aren’t quite as curly and like to stretch out more. And because they tend to move more and be a little more awake, it make take a little longer to soothe them.

That said, there are also some really sweet aspects of photographing newborn sessions with a slightly older baby. Because they are more awake, you can sometimes document them looking at you, smiles may come a little more freely, and you may be a little more settled.

Regardless of age, I cannot express how important it is to book your newborn session as early as possible. While we can occasionally help with last-minute inquiries, we usually book several months in advance. Of course, if your baby needs NICU time or Mom needs more time to recover, you will still have a spot on our calendar once you’re ready.

Baby Girl Newborn Session at Six Weeks

This baby girl could not have been any sweeter for her newborn session. At six weeks old, she started off awake, showed off her personality, soaked up some sweet moments with her two big brothers, and then fell asleep. It was truly the best mix of sleepy and awake photos and most importantly, we were still able to document the newborn stage!

Considering a session in our Houston newborn studio? Curious when the best time to book your session or if your baby is too old for a newborn session? Contact us– our team is ready to chat!