When to Book Your Newborn Photos (And Why Your Third Trimester Self Will Thank You)

Right now you might be focused on nursery décor, baby registries, and figuring out which car seat actually fits in your backseat. Booking a newborn photographer? That feels like something future-you can handle after the baby arrives. But here’s the thing: future-you is going to be sleep-deprived, covered in spit-up, and trying to remember which day of the week it is. Present-you, on the other hand, has the time and mental bandwidth to secure those dreamy newborn photos without the stress.

One of the most common questions I get from expecting parents is: when should I book newborn photos? Let me give you the honest answer based on over 20 years of photographing Boise families.

Trust me on this one. I’ve been photographing Boise families for over 20 years, and I’ve seen it all. From perfectly planned sessions booked months in advance to those panicked “my baby is five days old and I just realized…” messages. Let me walk you through exactly when to book and why it matters so much.

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That Magical Sleepy Window (And the Truth Behind It)

Let’s talk about what makes those first couple weeks so special for newborn photography, and let’s debunk a few myths while we’re at it.

The Truth About Perfect Timing for Newborn Photos

There’s this idea floating around about the “perfect sleepy baby,” and honestly? It’s kind of a myth. There really isn’t any such thing as a perfect sleepy baby when it comes to a newborn session, because all babies are different. Their ages, the time of day they were born, their growth spurts, and the feeding schedules they’re becoming adjusted to all make a difference in what happens during a session.

That said, I did have what I guess could be called the perfect sleepy newborn once. That baby’s session was an hour and a half long: basically unheard of. Not because babies are uncooperative, but because we typically take as much time as baby needs for soothing, feeding, or cuddles to make sure the baby’s comfortable during the session.

But this particular baby? His parents followed the pre-session instructions to an absolute T. When they got to the studio, baby ate, and then we got right into the session. He didn’t need any burping or diaper changes. We went through all of his newborn-only photos and then transitioned right into family photos. Mom and baby, dad and baby, mom and dad with baby together. Done in an hour and a half. Absolutely unheard of.

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When to Book Newborn Photos: The Ideal Age Window

Now, here’s what I’ve learned after photographing hundreds of newborns: I don’t think that magical sleepy window is only the first 14 days. Honestly, I prefer to see babies come in at a minimum of 7 days old. I don’t like babies younger than that because a lot of times they’re still transitioning to being out of the womb. They haven’t necessarily figured out nursing if mom is breastfeeding, or mom’s milk hasn’t fully come in yet. It’s harder to get that baby into a milk-drunk state that makes for those peaceful, curled-up poses.

I love babies that are 7 to 14 days old. I find that 10-day mark is really ideal.

A lot of photographers will say they don’t want babies older than 2 weeks because babies have a growth spurt at 2 weeks, and that can cause baby to be more wakeful, uncomfortable, or harder to soothe during the session. That said, I’ve had amazing sessions with babies that are 3 weeks old or even 4 weeks old. A lot of that comes down to preparation, patience on the part of the photographer, and patience on the part of the parents too.

Parents should know in advance that if their baby is a bit older, baby might be awake and happy and alert during the session. We’ll get some photos with baby’s eyes open (not necessarily smiles because babies don’t smile on command that young), but we’ll still capture beautiful moments. Baby will most likely be wrapped for comfort, and we’ll work with what baby gives us.

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The bottom line? Yes, there’s an ideal window, but it’s not as rigid as you might think. What matters most is having a photographer who understands baby’s rhythms and can adapt.

When to Book Newborn Photos: The Sweet Spot for Expecting Parents

So when should you actually reach out to book newborn photos? The best time is definitely when you’re in the second trimester. Earlier is always better because then we can guarantee you a spot on the calendar by placing your due date into the schedule.

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How Far in Advance Should You Book Newborn Photos?

Here’s how it works: Your actual session date isn’t scheduled into the calendar until baby’s delivered. So I ask parents to either email or text me once baby comes, and from there, we schedule the appointment.

We take into account a few important things:

– When baby’s going to have their follow-up appointment with the pediatrician

– If parents are choosing to circumcise their son, when the circumcision is going to be scheduled

That last one surprises a lot of people, but it’s important. We don’t want a newborn session to happen within a week after a circumcision. Nowadays, doctors suggest waiting a little bit longer to do circumcisions rather than doing them while baby’s still in the hospital after birth, so we need to take that into account in the scheduling.

Knowing that there’s going to be a baby coming most likely in a particular time frame allows me to keep a spot open in the calendar just for you. Now, that said, I do like to keep some space open for babies because a lot of times parents don’t really think about it until baby’s born, and they’re like, “Oh my gosh, I need photos of my newborn baby!” Occasionally, there is space in the calendar where I can add a newborn baby in, but it’s definitely more limited than being booked in advance.

I typically still have spots available if you’re looking at a session during your second trimester. If baby is already born, get in touch anyway—I’ll see what I can do to make it work. But when it comes to when to book newborn photos, earlier is definitely best.

What Happens If Baby Comes Early (Or Fashionably Late)

One of the biggest concerns I hear from expecting parents is: “But what if my baby doesn’t come on their due date?”

Here’s the beautiful thing about how I handle scheduling: I already know based on your early booking that your baby could arrive anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks early to 1 to 2 weeks late. I’ve accounted for that in my scheduling window.

Babies have their own time schedule, and we accommodate them whenever baby decides to arrive. That’s the whole point of booking early—it gives us the flexibility to work with baby’s actual arrival, not some predetermined date on a calendar.

When you let me know baby has arrived (whether that’s at 37 weeks or 41 weeks), we simply schedule based on when baby actually arrives. The flexibility is already built in.

Why Your Favorite Photographers Book Up Fast (And How to Get on Their Calendar)

Let me be honest with you: I don’t have a “fully booked and heartbroken” moment to share because I really try hard to squeeze in any last-minute newborns if I’m able. That’s just how I operate—I know how important these photos are, and I’ll do what I can.

But here’s what I can tell you: when families book early, I get a chance to connect with them better. I get to talk with them, especially if they have other kids, and learn about their family and their family dynamic leading up to the session. And that just makes everything go a lot smoother during the actual session.

I definitely build long-term relationships with my clients. I’ve had children that I’ve photographed as newborns that I’ve also photographed as high school seniors. That’s 18 years of watching a family grow, of being there for the milestones, of becoming part of their story. And it all starts with that first conversation when you’re still pregnant.

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There’s something really special about having time to get to know you before your world gets turned beautifully upside down by your new arrival.

The Consultation That Changes Everything

What happens during that first conversation we have?

We talk about when the session will be scheduled after baby arrives, how long the session typically takes, and what to expect during the session. I let you know that we have dresses available for mom that are flattering if you’d like to wear them. I provide wardrobe assistance and guidance for dad or partner or other children so that we have a cohesive look for your newborn session.

We also talk about what your session goals are. What kind of end product are you looking for? Are we going to build a gallery wall? Are you interested in recording your baby’s entire first year? There are just a lot of questions about who you are, what you’re looking for, and how I can serve you.

Sometimes, these conversations reveal something really important that shapes how I approach the entire session.

The most recent newborn family I photographed has a story that really illustrates this. The parents had two children, and mom had just given birth to their third. But it was their eighth pregnancy. They had suffered multiple miscarriages trying to have each of their children.

This session was a very special moment for them because there had been so much loss and struggle and heartache leading up to it. Mom was in tears of joy throughout the session. It allowed me to connect with the clients and make sure that I was capturing everything they wanted from this session because they had decided this is most likely their last baby.

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If I hadn’t had that conversation with them beforehand, if they had just shown up for a session without us building that relationship first, I wouldn’t have understood the weight of what we were documenting. I wouldn’t have known to take extra care, to slow down even more than usual, to make absolutely certain we captured the reverence of that moment.

That’s what happens when you book early and we have time to really talk before your baby arrives. I get to know your story, and I can photograph your family in a way that honors who you are.

“But What If I’m Already Past That Window?”

Okay, so maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Well, I’m already 35 weeks pregnant and I haven’t booked anyone yet,” or “My baby is already here and I completely forgot about newborn photos.”

First of all, take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay.

Is It Too Late to Book Newborn Photos?

For those families that have the “I just had my baby yesterday and I forgot to book” panic, I can usually manage to get them in somewhere. It’s when they realize 2 or 3 weeks later, “Oh, I just had my baby and I want to capture all this newborn squishiness,” that it’s harder to do because they’re kind of past that ideal super squishy window.

But if I make sure that they know their baby might be more alert, or we might not get those squishy naked baby images, and they understand it may look different than what they were thinking, I can get them in.

If baby is more than 6 weeks old, I usually suggest waiting until baby is pushing up strong on their tummy and doing a session at the 3-4 month mark instead. Those sessions are adorable too. Baby has more personality, we can capture those first real smiles, and there’s still so much sweetness to document.

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The guilt you might feel about not booking earlier? Release it. Seriously. You’re doing the best you can, and there are still beautiful options available to you.

Ready to Chat? Here’s What Reaching Out Looks Like

So you’re convinced: you want to book your newborn session now, while you’re still pregnant and thinking clearly. What happens next?

It’s really simple. When you reach out to me (whether through my contact form, email, or phone), here’s what helpful information to include:

– Your due date

– Whether this is your first baby or not

– Any initial questions you have

I typically respond within 24 hours, and we’ll either exchange a few emails or schedule a quick call to chat about your session.

There’s no pressure or commitment in that first conversation. I just want to get to know you, answer your questions, and make sure we’re a good fit. If we are, we’ll get your due date on my calendar, and you can check that off your ever-growing to-do list.

The best part? You can reach out at any point in your pregnancy. “Too early” doesn’t exist in my world. I’m happy to hear from you whether you just saw those two pink lines or you’re already in your third trimester.

Your Future Self Will Thank You

Here’s what I want you to know: Planning ahead helps a lot for parents because, for one thing, mom brain is real. It takes a lot to give birth to a baby, and then both parents are dealing with lack of sleep.

Knowing in advance that your baby’s newborn session is scheduled, that you know what to expect and how to prepare? You can essentially be fully prepared for your session before baby arrives. And that takes away a big load of stress for you.

When you’re in the thick of those first weeks (when you’re figuring out feeding, when you’re running on two hours of sleep, when you can barely remember if you brushed your teeth that morning), you’ll be so grateful that past-you took care of this. You won’t have to research photographers while bouncing a crying baby. You won’t have to fill out forms or answer a million questions when your brain is mush. You’ll just get a text from me asking when baby arrived, and we’ll set up your session.

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That’s the gift you give yourself when you book during pregnancy. Peace of mind. One less thing to worry about. And the assurance that those fleeting newborn days will be preserved beautifully.

After 20 years of photographing newborns, I’ve learned that the families who plan ahead aren’t just securing a spot on my calendar. They’re giving themselves permission to simply be present with their baby when the time comes, knowing the photos are taken care of.

And honestly? In those precious early days when your baby still smells like heaven and fits perfectly in the crook of your arm, being present is the only thing that really matters.

Ready to secure your spot? 

I’d love to photograph your growing family. Reach out today, and let’s start planning for those sweet newborn photos you’ll treasure forever.

Studio hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm, by appointment only. The portrait photography studio is located at 1524 S. Vista Ave., Ste. 1, Boise, ID 83705.