When Do I Book My Newborn Session?

I get asked this question all the time:

When do I book my newborn session?

Do I wait until after the baby is born? Should I book early? What happens if my baby comes early? What if I don’t know exactly when my baby will arrive?

These are all great questions, and honestly, newborn session booking doesn’t have to be complicated!

When Should I Book My Newborn Session?

The best time to book your newborn photography session is during your second trimester.

You don’t need to know your baby’s exact birth date. When you book with me, we use your due date to reserve a spot around the month your baby is expected to arrive.

There is no complicated process or crazy commitment. I simply require a small retainer when you book. That retainer is not an extra fee. It goes directly toward your newborn package total.

Once your retainer is paid, your due date is added to my calendar.

Then, once your baby arrives, we choose your actual session date based on baby’s arrival and how things are going for your family.

What If My Baby Comes Early or Late?

This is one of the biggest reasons I recommend booking ahead!

Babies obviously don’t follow calendars. They can come early, late, or right on time, and I completely understand that.

I intentionally only book a certain number of newborn sessions each month so that I have some wiggle room for babies who arrive earlier or later than expected.

I also leave some flexibility for families who did not pre-book their newborn session.

That means you aren’t locked into a specific day months in advance. Your due date simply gives me a general idea of when to expect you, and we figure out the actual session date once your baby arrives.

What If My Baby Is Already Born?

If your baby has already arrived and you haven’t booked a newborn session yet, reach out as soon as possible!

I do my best to accommodate last-minute newborn sessions when I have availability. However, I cannot guarantee that I’ll have an open spot.

Think about it this way. If four other families also decide to wait until after their babies are born to book, those families may take the wiggle room spots I intentionally leave open.

And suddenly, there aren’t any spots left.

I don’t like telling families, “I’m sorry, I’m completely booked,” which is another reason I encourage expecting parents to reserve their spot ahead of time.

How Old Can My Baby Be for Newborn Photos?

I typically photograph newborns up to about five weeks old.

Every baby is different, though, so I don’t believe in putting a hard expiration date on newborn photography.

Some babies sleep beautifully through their entire session. Some babies want to be awake for everything. Some babies need more soothing, feeding, cuddling, and breaks.

And that’s completely okay.

Your baby does not have to sleep for a beautiful newborn session with me.

I’ve been photographing newborns for 16 years, and over the years I’ve learned how to work with all kinds of babies and personalities.

A sleepy baby is wonderful, but an awake baby can give us some pretty amazing images too. My goal isn’t to force your baby into a perfect pose. It’s to create beautiful images while keeping your baby comfortable and safe.

How Far in Advance Should I Book?

If you’re currently pregnant, I recommend reaching out during your second trimester.

Right now, I’m booking newborn sessions into March 2027. I currently have two due date spots left for January and one due date spot left for February.

This is exactly why I encourage families to reach out early.

I don’t want you to wait until your baby is born only to discover that there isn’t a spot available.

I intentionally limit the number of newborn sessions I photograph each month. I typically photograph 20 to 25 newborns a month, and that is my maximum.

There is a reason for that.

I still need time to carefully edit your images, prepare the studio, spend time with my own family, and, yes, be a mama and a wife outside of my photography business.

I would rather serve a limited number of families well than overbook myself and sacrifice the experience I want every family to have.

So, When Should You Book Your Newborn Session?

If you’re expecting, the second trimester is the perfect time to reach out.

Booking early gives you the best chance of securing a spot around your due date while still allowing plenty of flexibility once your baby actually arrives.

And if your baby is already here, don’t panic! Just reach out as soon as you can. I may still have a spot available, even though last-minute availability is more limited.

My goal is to make booking your newborn session as simple and stress-free as possible.

You don’t have to know exactly when your baby will arrive.

You don’t have to worry about whether your baby will sleep.

And you definitely don’t have to have everything figured out before you reach out.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?? MESSAGE ME HERE!

You just need to reserve your spot, and we’ll take it from there.