The right time for your newborn photoshoot includes a few different things. It's not just the time of day you want your photoshoot to happen, but also how soon after your baby is born.
When it comes to
scheduling your newborn photoshoot in the Bay Area, you want to choose correctly. If you wait too long, your baby will be a bit older and if you choose the wrong time of day, your baby could be a bit fussier.
It's also important to consider the comfort of your baby with the location. While you can certainly do an outdoor newborn photoshoot, if you prefer, it might be better if you do it in your own home or on your own property.
Let's look at a few factors to consider when scheduling your newborn photoshoot.
How Soon After Your Baby is Born
For posed studio sessions, it's best to have your newborn photoshoot down before your baby is two weeks old. It's not the end of the word if you wait until three weeks or even four weeks, but the sooner, the better. The beauty of lifestyle photography is that you have more time. I recommend newborn sessions up to 8 weeks after birth.
Scheduling earlier will ensure that your newborn will look like a newborn baby. This can wear off rather quickly as babies do grow fast and change regularly. Two, when you schedule your newborn photoshoot in the first two weeks of the baby's life, they are usually a bit more chill and sleepy.
Waiting a few weeks though can yield you some of the newborn's first smiles. Older babies are more awake and interactive. Also, it's important for mom to be recovered and feeling her best for the session, and waiting a few weeks ensures this.
What Time of the Day is the Best?
Along with choosing how old the baby is for a newborn photoshoot, the time of day should be considered. It's recommended to have your in-home newborn session around 10 am. This is the time of day when newborns tend to be less fussy and indoor lighting is the best.
If you plan to do your photoshoot outdoors, you might want to aim for the golden hour. This is the time when the outdoor lighting is as good as it gets. However, you might be dealing with a bit of a fussy baby, depending on the baby's schedule.
It's possible, after a week or two with your newborn, you've figured out what time of day they are calm and happy. If this is the case, you might want to speak with your photographer and let them know when this time of day is. A fussy baby can be a bit harder to get good pictures of, while a calm baby can be just amazing to work with.
Consider a Fresh 48 Photoshoot
While a
newborn photoshoot is great anytime in the first two weeks, if you want to really remember what your baby was like when it was first born, a Fresh 48 Photoshoot is a great option.
This type of photo session is not just about the baby, either. While there will be plenty of pictures of the baby, the focus is a bit more about welcoming a new baby into your life. It can be a very powerful moment in your life and one you will likely want to remember.
Actually Booking your Photoshoot
While the timing is very important, it's also important to book your newborn photo session early. Good newborn photographers tend to book up fast. When you know the due date, speak with your photographer and book your newborn session to ensure you'll be on the schedule.
