One of the questions I hear quite often from new moms is:
“Is my baby already too old for newborn photos?”
The first few weeks with a new baby can disappear so quickly. Between recovering after birth, feeding, sleepless nights, appointments and simply adjusting to having a new little person in your family, booking a newborn photoshoot can easily get pushed aside.
Then suddenly your baby is three or four weeks old and you realise you never booked those newborn photos.
The good news is that this does not necessarily mean you have missed your chance.
Baby Anaiah came to my studio for her newborn photoshoot when she was already around a month old, and her session is a beautiful example of what can still be created with a slightly older newborn.
Do Newborn Photos Have to Be Taken in the First Two Weeks?
The first 4 to 14 days are generally considered an ideal time for newborn photography because babies are often very sleepy and naturally curl into those tiny newborn positions.
But ideal does not mean compulsory.
Every baby is different.
Some babies are still incredibly sleepy at three or four weeks old, while others are more alert and interested in what is happening around them. Older newborns may need a little more time for feeding, cuddling and settling, and the poses we use may sometimes be adjusted to suit the baby.
That is completely okay.
My approach is always to work with the baby who arrives at my studio rather than trying to force every baby into exactly the same poses.
Baby Anaiah’s Newborn Photoshoot
Anaiah was already approximately a month old when she came into the Jenna D Photography studio.
She was such a lovely little baby to photograph, and her session gave us a beautiful variety of images.
This is one of the reasons I love sharing complete newborn sessions rather than only one or two photographs. Parents often wonder what they can expect from a newborn gallery, and seeing more of a session gives you a much better idea of the variety we can create.
We were able to capture different setups, beautiful baby portraits, close-up details and those little expressions that parents never want to forget.
Those tiny fingers.
Those little lips.
The sleepy expressions.
The way their hands naturally curl next to their face.
These details change far more quickly than you expect.
A photograph freezes them exactly as they are right now.
What Happens if My Baby Is Already a Month Old?
If your baby is already three weeks, four weeks or even a little older, please do not automatically assume that it is too late.
Contact me and let me know your baby’s age.
Slightly older newborn sessions may look a little different from sessions with very young babies, but beautiful photographs are absolutely still possible.
Some older babies prefer being wrapped.
Some sleep beautifully once they are warm and comfortable.
Others give us gorgeous open-eye photographs and little expressions that you may not get during a very sleepy newborn session.
There is no need to panic because you missed an exact date on the calendar.
A Calm, Baby-Led Studio Experience
Newborn sessions take place in my studio in Waverley, Pretoria.
The studio has a dedicated newborn room, and I have a large selection of wraps, outfits, blankets and props available.
You do not need to arrive with bags full of newborn accessories.
Most of what we need for your session is already here.
The studio is kept warm and comfortable for baby, and we allow time for feeding, changing, settling and cuddles when needed.
Newborn photography should never feel like a race.
Babies run the session.
If baby needs milk, we stop.
If baby needs a cuddle, we stop.
If we need a little more time to settle, that is simply part of photographing newborns.
“But What if My Baby Doesn’t Sleep?”
This is another question I hear all the time.
Please do not worry.
You do not need to somehow train your newborn to sleep before arriving at the studio!
Some babies sleep through most of their photoshoot.
Some wake up regularly.
Some decide that the photography studio is far too interesting and want to see everything.
We work around it.
Beautiful newborn photography is not dependent on having a perfectly sleeping baby for the entire session.
Sometimes those little open eyes and expressions become some of the parents’ favourite photographs.
When Should I Book My Newborn Photoshoot?
If you are currently pregnant, I always recommend booking your newborn session before your baby arrives.
This means your booking is already secured and there is one less thing to organise during those busy first days after birth.
I generally recommend photographing newborn babies as early as possible, with the first couple of weeks being ideal.
But Anaiah’s session is the perfect reminder that life does not always go according to a schedule.
If baby has already arrived and you suddenly realise that you never booked newborn photographs, please still ask.
You may not have missed your opportunity at all.
Your Baby Will Never Be This Small Again
It sounds like something people say all the time, but it really is true.
The newborn stage is incredibly short.
In just a few weeks, their face changes.
They start filling out.
Their tiny newborn curl disappears.
They begin watching you more closely, smiling and becoming their own little person.
Every stage that follows is wonderful, but there is only one newborn stage.
That is why these photographs become more valuable as time passes.
Baby Anaiah may have been a little older than the traditional newborn photography window, but her gallery is a beautiful reminder that it is still worth capturing the stage you are in right now.
Looking for a Newborn Photographer in Pretoria?
Jenna D Photography is a studio-based newborn photographer in Waverley, Pretoria.
I photograph newborn babies from Pretoria, Pretoria East, Centurion, Midrand, Midstream and surrounding areas.
If you are expecting a baby, you are welcome to secure your newborn session before your little one arrives.
And if your baby is already here and you think you may have left it too late, please get in touch anyway.
We can chat about your baby’s age and the type of session that would work best.
Jenna D Photography
Newborn Photographer | Waverley, Pretoria
Email: jenna@jennadphotography.com
