How Soon After Birth Should Newborn Photos Be Taken?

The ideal time for newborn photos is within the first 5 to 14 days after birth. Alabaster Photos is an APNPI Safety-Certified newborn photographer in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

For a studio newborn session, the sweet spot is 5 to 14 days after birth.

Why this window specifically? During those first two weeks, babies are still naturally sleepy and tend to curl into those classic tucked, cozy newborn poses more easily. It’s simply easier and more comfortable for baby to settle into wraps and gentle poses during this stage.

That said, babies don’t always arrive or schedule themselves around a calendar, and that’s completely fine. If your baby is a few weeks old by the time you reach out, sessions can absolutely still happen — they’ll just look a little different. Older babies tend to be more alert and less likely to curl as tightly, so the session leans more toward awake, expressive portraits rather than the sleepy, posed images typically associated with newborn photography. Both are beautiful in their own way.

The most important thing is not to stress about hitting an exact day. If you’re unsure whether your baby’s age is a good fit, reach out and we’ll figure out the best approach together.

Contact me here to check availability, or learn more about what a studio newborn session looks like.

Planning a newborn session in New Richmond or the St. Croix Valley? I would love to hear from you — get in touch here.