Newborn sessions... how old is 'too old'?

The general rule of thumb is that newborn sessions should be held somewhere between day 6 – 14 after birth.  Why?  A lot of people ask this when calling to book.  Well, typically babies still in this stage will sleep better and not startle and wake as easily while we’re working on put them in those adorable bowls and baskets.  Newborn babies at this point will still, once deeply asleep, allow us to place hands, heads and feet into what ever position we’d like. They are more flexible.  

Once our little ones get a bit older, they tend to be more aware of their environment and more sensitive to manipulation.  So, as a baby moves past 14 days the newborn poses that you are hoping for; sleeping, naked and curled up in a basket get harder to do.  Older newborns are more likely going to be wrapped up for their session and nudies won’t be an option. But we get the joy of capturing those beautiful, innocent wide eyes (which for sleepy babies isn’t an option). 

THAT SAID… every baby is different and as long as the photographer (that’s me) can get a sense of what our baby likes and doesn’t like and can keep them calm those adorable poses are still possible.

Look at this session from last week.  Thomas came to me at 10lbs and five weeks old. OH BOY!

He arrived wide awake and very large (for a newborn).  But he was a dream. Calm and content, I was able to work with him just like a newborn – as long as he was swaddled.   For our family portraits he even allowed us to pose him nudie. I had to work fast because those little arms and legs wanted to move – a lot- but he was kind enough to let us get a few great images for mom and dad to have to mark the start of their family of three. 

It just goes to show you that anything is possible with a little patience and time and experience.  That’s why people choose Spector Photography. I have 14 years of experience working with ALL ages.  I do make sure to let everyone know that after two weeks it’s unclear what we’ll get at the session but promise that we will always end up with beautiful moments that you will have to cherish and look back on as your baby and your family grow.