menuclose

Now Booking April - AUGUST 2024

Newborn Photographer Austin, Texas
Recent Features

What is the best age for newborn photos?

Your baby will change and develop so quickly during their first year. While I’m sure you will have plenty of cellphone photos, a professional photo shoot is a must. Especially when it comes to documenting this precious time of growth and development. You may ask yourself, what is the best age for newborn photos? You will want quality photos where you can see every detail. When you look at your baby pictures, you will remember all of the lovely moments that you and your child shared together. So when is the best age for newborn photos anyway? Here we will discuss that.

what is the best age for newborn photos, Baby Photographer Austin, Texas
Baby Photographer Austin, Texas

So what is the best age for newborn photos anyway?

In this article I’ll share:

  • the ideal times during your baby’s first year to have a newborn photo shoot
  • the type of images you can expect from a photo session at each age, and how to book your session
  • I’ll also give you a few ideas about what to expect from a photography session, depending on your baby’s age.

If you are interested in having an baby photo session with me, please get in touch!

what is the best age for newborn photos, Best Newborn Photographer Austin
Newborn Baby Photographers in Austin, Texas Haley Grant Photography

Many parents wonder when the best time for a photo shoot is during their baby’s first year. The truth is that no matter when you choose have photos during your baby’s first year, the photographs will be incredibly special. Click here to learn more about why hire a professional newborn photographer in Austin.

But, there are certain times that are better than others for a photo shoot. When you’re considering what is the best age for newborn photos, the best times to have your baby photographed are:

  • The newborn stage, when your newborn is between 7-14 days old
  • 6-8 months, when your baby is can sit up unsupported but isn’t yet crawling
  • Around 12 months to mark your baby’s first birthday


Why are these considered the best age for newborn professional photography? Let’s have a look.

Newborn photographer Austin Texas
Newborn Baby Photographers in Austin, Texas Haley Grant Photography

Having your newborn photo shoot

My specialty is in posed newborn photography. The style of my work is very natural, and I pose babies and families for each photograph. Lifestyle photography in contrast does not offer posing and is more of an “as-is” session. My clients love the guidance. They love the ease of having me provide them with what poses look best for them and their baby.

Newborns need to be photographed within the first two weeks. Which means the best time for newborn photos is between 7-14 days old.

There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that your baby will never be this tiny again. They will rapidly change into an infant before you know it, all of the new details have changed.

Capturing the newness is oh so important!

Around the two week mark is when babies begin to acclimate to being outside the womb and go through a major growth spurt. Hello cluster feeding! Their joints and ligaments become more ridged and strong. The skin they developed inside your womb will begin to peel (and may even developed a temporary case of “baby acne”) as they acclimate to this new environment they are now living in.

Also newborns who are less than two weeks old still mimic the curled up fetal position they were used to inside the womb, and this allows me to capture lovely curled up poses, and all of the tiny details that make your baby unique.

After the first two weeks, is when newborns will start to uncurl, stretch out and become more alert. This means that your baby may not be able to manage a newborn session because they are now moving into infant-hood. Once they are past the two week mark, they will spend a larger portion of the shoot awake and may not fit into the props or outfits anymore.

All of these changes happen so quickly, that the best time to have newborn photos taken is within the first two weeks after they are born.

For this reason it’s best to book your newborn photo shoot before your baby is born. When you book, I make a note of your due date, and ask you to let me know when your baby is born. This means we can confirm the exact date of your session after your baby’s birth to ensure it’s within the 14 day window.

The next must photograph age: Baby Milestone Session at 6 to 9 months old

Six Month Baby Photographer Austin
Six Month Baby Photographer Austin

Between 6 and 9 months is a wonderful age to capture. Your baby is learning new skills everyday! Babies can usually sit quite confidently by this age and have the best little personalities developing! This makes for some adorable photos you will cherish forever.

This means that we get lots of expressions while they interact with me at one of my Baby Milestone Sessions.

In contrast to a 3-4 month old session, at the 6-9 month session we will capture a much bigger variety of pictures. This is because at 3-4 months babies are not able to sit up, so the options are all lying down poses. At your 6-9 month session I’ll be able to photograph them sitting, lying down, on their tummy, and perhaps even on all fours if they’re starting to explore how they can move. I use props and furs for studio baby sessions.

Babies are also full of personality at this age, which makes for wonderful pictures – enormous gummy grins, long serious stares, quizzical looks and big belly laughs!

It’s best to book your milestone session at least a 4 months in advance to make sure I have availability, and to organize things like locations, props, and backdrop options.

With happy clients coming back to me, and being in high demand for baby photos in Austin, my calendar books 3-4 months in advance and during my busiest seasons it can book out 5-6 months in advance.

With that said it is best to reach out ASAP if you plan on having your baby photographed.

The next must photograph age: Your Baby’s First Birthday

First Birthday Cake Smash Photographer Austin, Texas
First Birthday Cake Smash Photographer Austin, Texas

All birthdays are special, but your baby’s first birthday is even more so!

Many families choose to have a First Birthday session around the time of their baby’s first birthday to create a record of how they were at this age.

This age is especially popular for families who had a newborn session with me, and come back for a milestone session – their baby has changed so much between the two sessions and it’s wonderful to document this!

First Birthday sessions can take place either at my studio or an outdoor location of your choice. I lovingly refer to these sessions as a two-for-one session. We start with clean portraits, and then add in the cake for the cake smash portion giving you two different looks.

If you would like to have the photographs before your baby’s actual birthday I recommend scheduling it at around 11 months. That way I can send you your digitals in time for you to have them printed however you like to display at their party!

Ready To Plan Your Baby’s Photo Shoot?

I hope that this guide has helped you to decide when you would like to have your baby photographed. If you have any questions about choosing the best time for your shoot please do get in touch here. I’d love to hear from you.

You can learn more about booking a shoot with me here:

Newborn Sessions
Baby Milestone Sessions
First Birthday Cake Smash Sessions

Share to:
0 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared.

    Newborn Photographer Austin, Texas

    Haley Grant Photography is an Austin, TX newborn photographer. She specializes in newborn, maternity, baby, and family photography. She serves parents in Austin, and surrounding areas such as Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock, Georgetown, and Pflugerville.

    Austin, Texas

    On the blog