WHEN SHOULD YOU BOOK A NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?

Short answer: the earlier the better!

The newborn stage is incredibly fleeting- after just a 3 or 4 weeks, babies no longer have that tiny, brand- new “newborn” look.  So to ensure that you can actually capture baby’s brand-new-ness, it’s best to book your newborn’s session as soon as possible- ideally by your second trimester.  If you wait too long to decide to capture those only-once-in-a-lifetime photos, it’s very possible the photographer you choose may be fully booked. (Yes, sadly it’s happened many times.) 

I myself only book a limited number of newborn sessions per month to ensure that I can accomodate varying arrivals and give each and every one of my families the best possible service and turnaround.  For me, this means no more than 8 newborns each month. (That’s not very many slots!)  Especially in a huge area like San Antonio. This time in your child’s life literally only lasts a few weeks, so don’t miss out on capturing it. You can’t get the time back. Book early if you can!

Last-minute sessions…

However, if circumstances left you unable to book a session while you were still expecting, and baby has finally arrived- please don’t hesitate to reach out. There have been many times where my schedule has allowed me to fit in a last-minute newborn session, and I’m thrilled when I can help serve parents that way!  But planning a newborn session typically takes days (with planning, styling, washing, sanitizing, set-up, take-down, etc.) so it’s not always the case that I can make those accommodations. But it never hurts to inquire!

In fact, my most recent addition to the newborn session lineup is the Simply Wrapped Mini Session. It’s a short and sweet session designed so that I can easily set-up, shoot, and edit far quicker than full newborn sessions, and (fingers crossed) be able to fit it in at the last minute. It includes a small gallery of 10 beautiful images. And it’s a perfect answer to moms and dads who are worried they may miss that “newborn” window! So, if you’re a “last-minute” mom or dad, just get in touch and we may be able to squeeze in a Simply Wrapped Mini Session!

How do we book a newborn session?

Parents can easily book their newborn’s session with a $200 retainer and signed session agreement. That’s all! The retainer is applied toward the session fee, with the remainder due 3 days prior to shooting. Just get in touch and we’ll get the ball rolling! The paid retainer and session agreement guarantee you a spot on my calendar. I block off my calendar with individual due dates (for planning/scheduling purposes) and then finalize an exact date after baby arrives. And because I book no more than 8 newborns each month, this allows me wiggle room for early or late arrivals.

When baby finally makes his or her appearance, just  let me know, and we’ll choose a morning (roughly a week later) that works best for you! Newborn sessions are held on Monday through Friday mornings, around 10am.  I have everything here in my studio that you’ll need (well, except your diaper bag!) To see what to expect during your newborn session, check out this blog post!

When does a newborn session take place?

Photographing newborns when they’re roughly 1-2 weeks old seems to be the “sweet spot”- where they’re still extra sleepy, and before they’ve developed common (but not-so-cute) things like baby acne and hair loss. So, I usually try to schedule baby’s session during that timeframe! Baby should be at least 5 days old (to ensure that they’ve established a good feeding pattern), but anywhere up to 3 weeks old is still a great time for photos.

However, I have photographed MANY newborns that are a month old, or even 6-8 weeks old! Should anything happen that makes it difficult for you to come a week or two after birth- don’t worry! I believe ANY baby can be photographed- regardless of their age. For “older” newborns, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will still allow me to make beautiful portraits. 😉

What kind of newborn sessions do you offer? 

I currently offer 4 types of newborn photography sessions– The Signature Newborn Session (the most popular), the Petite Newborn Session, the Simply Wrapped Mini Session, and the Fresh 48 Session.

For more details on all the SLP Newborn Sessions, have a look at our Newborn Sessions Page!