Bringing home your newborn is a blur of pure joy, sheer exhaustion, and a whole lot of love! Those first few weeks pass in a blink, and before you know it, your tiny newborn has already grown and changed so much. One of the most common questions I get asked as a lifestyle newborn photographer in Boston is: When is the best time to schedule in-home newborn photos? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, I usually recommend planning your session to take place within the first 10 days after your baby is born. Here is why that timeframe works best, plus what to expect if you wait a little longer, or if you want to add a Fresh 48 session into the mix!
The First 10 Days: The Best Time to Schedule Newborn Photos
The first 10 days of your baby’s life is the best time to schedule in-home newborn photos. During this time, babies tend to be sleepier, more snuggly, and more likely to stay curled up in those adorable womb-like positions. Your newborn will change so fast – here are some things to consider and why planning your session early is ideal.
- Sleepy, Snuggly Babies: In those early days, newborns tend to be extra sleepy, making it easier to capture those peaceful, dreamy images.
- Curled-Up Poses: Babies are still adjusting to life outside the womb, so they naturally curl up in sweet, squishy positions.
- Fewer Skin Imperfections: Many babies start developing baby acne or flaky skin after the first couple of weeks. Photographing them early can help avoid that phase.
- Easier Transitions: Since newborns sleep so much in the first week or so, it is usually easier to move them around and have different people holding them without too much disruption.
- Capturing Tiny Details: Newborns change in the blink of an eye! Their chicken legs, tiny toes, and the soft newborn fuzz sadly does not last long. Photographing them in the first weeks helps you hold onto those sweet details before they start to disappear.
What If You Wait? The Benefits of an “Older Newborn” Session
Sometimes those first 10 days fly by before you have had a chance to schedule photos, or you didn’t think about scheduling photos before the little one arrived, or you simply want to protect that time in the “newborn bubble”. That is totally okay!! Beautiful in-home newborn photos can still be captured beyond the first few weeks and well into the first few months.
Older newborns tend to be more awake and expressive. While you might not get as many of those sleepy, super snuggly photos, we will be able to capture sweet eye contact, emerging little personalities, and even some early smiles. Plus, at this stage, babies often start filling out with those adorable chubby cheeks and thigh rolls!
An “older newborn” session gives you a mix of sleepy and awake moments, creating a well-rounded gallery of images that truly reflect those early weeks of parenthood. A Fresh 48 session alongside an in-home newborn session gives you a complete story of your baby’s first days.
Fresh 48 Sessions: Capturing the Very First Moments
For families who want to document their baby’s very first days of life, a Fresh 48 session is the perfect addition to an in-home newborn session. Fresh 48 sessions take place within the first 48 hours after birth, typically in the hospital, birthing center, or even at home for those who have home births.
These sessions are all about the real, raw, unscripted moments and emotions. They capture:
- First yawns, tiny stretches, and sleepy snuggles
- Parents soaking in every little detail of their brand-new baby
- The tiny hospital bracelet, wrinkly newborn skin, and all those fresh, fleeting details
Since Fresh 48 sessions focus on the very first interactions and emotions, they pair beautifully with an in-home newborn session, which offers a more relaxed and polished look at life once you have settled in at home. Together, they create a complete story of your baby’s earliest days.
Scheduling Your In-Home Newborn Photos
If you are expecting, the best time to book your newborn photography session is before your baby even arrives. I recommend reaching out during your second trimester to secure a spot on my calendar. Because babies arrive on their own schedules, I only book a limited number of newborns per month to make sure I am available when the time comes! I pencil in your due date and once your baby arrives we plan from there.
For families in the Boston area looking for a lifestyle newborn photographer, my sessions are relaxed, natural, and baby-led. I focus on capturing genuine moments between you and your baby in the comfort of your home. That means no stiff poses, just real moments of you snuggling, feeding, and soaking up those first weeks together at home.
The first days and weeks of your baby’s life are precious and fly by so fast. Whether you choose to schedule your in-home newborn photos within the first 10 days, wait a little longer for an older newborn session, or add a Fresh 48 session to document those earliest moments, what matters most is preserving these memories in a way that feels right for your family. No matter when you choose to schedule, you will never regret having these moments captured!
