Newborn photography has exploded in popularity in recent years and for very good reason. Those days are so fleeting. They are still so small and squished up, it all leads to incredibly beautiful, emotive photographs. I do love doing newborn lifestyle sessions in clients home. I believe it leads to a really relaxed atmosphere and my hope is that is is easier for more clients to manage. If this stage is when you really want to have documented I highly recommend getting in touch well in advance of your due date as this needs to be done by 7 – 14 days, maybe 21 days old if baby is born a little early.
However I really believe there is no right or wrong age to have your baby photographed. I hear lots of people say they never had their kids photographed when they were newborns & felt they had missed out. Either did I and I’m obsessed with photographing my kids, but it is a crazy time so whats the next best option? Now! Honestly I have photographed babies at every stage and there is always something precious to capture.
When they are a few weeks/months old you are more likely to have them awake and therefore more likely to get eye contact which is incredible. As they become more expressive you might catch any range of emotions from curiosity, confusion, or of course their amazing first smiles.
Throughout the first year or two there is milestone after milestone to capture, from when they can first lift their heads, eat their toes, sit up, crawling and even those first tentative steps, first birthdays. Then we head into the crazy toddler years and that is just an explosion of energy and fun. Not to mention all the adorable rolls and squidgy features!! It is all incredibly exciting and they always look adorable – honestly always!!!
Of course, some of my favourite images to capture are babies with their parents and loved ones, be it siblings or grandparents. I honestly believe this is incredibly important. Your connection and relationship is precious. You are their world. You may not feel quite yourself, but they will grow up loving any images you are in more than anything. Take it from a mum photographer. My kids are always asking ‘where was I’ why wasn’t I there’ because I am always the one taking the photograph! I can see their eyes light up when I can show them one with me. It means everything to them.
So whenever you choose to have your family photographed be sure to have the whole family involved. Yes we will capture their important milestones and personalities but we will also capture what is incredibly important to them – your relationships and connections as a family.
