Making decisions amongst the sleepless fog and all-consuming love bubble of early motherhood is tricky. So we want to emphasise that there is truly no “perfect” time or age to capture. It’s all mesmerising, messy and worth remembering (even the wobbly, teary bits).
Some parents are drawn to capture that fleeting, curly-footed, newborn moment, so we pencil in a session a couple of weeks past their due date and touch base after the birth. Others prefer to wait until their child is a little older to make the most of those delicious, chunky baby rolls and growing awareness of their surroundings. Generally, around 3 – 4 months seems to be a good moment to plan for a baby shoot. However, if you’re feeling the urge and are inspired to invest in a portrait session, the time is right.
We’ve found the following stages to be the most popular:
Newborn (up to 2 weeks old): If you’re all about those precious, sleepy, curled-up poses, the early days are unmissable. Plus, it’s a surreal feeling to see yourself as a new parent through the camera lens.
3-6 months: For those heart-melting smiles and baby rolls, this age range is fantastic and probably the most common for baby shoots. They’re becoming more interactive and expressive, as well as mostly still being happy to be held in arms – which is great for capturing those cuddly, skin-on-skin moments.
6-9 months: Babies around this age range are usually sitting up and starting to move around. These sessions involve a little more dynamism as they are so curious and able to more physically explore their world. Massive proud parent moment at this age seeing your baby grow into themselves.
12 months: We often have clients wanting to document this milestone as a gift to themselves or their partner, capping off a huge year of development and change for both parent and child.
Toddlerhood: We adore toddlers, although they sometimes get a bad rap (!). Their incredible personalities, wild emotions, gorgeous expressions, and adoration for their parents and siblings are a joy to document.
Whether you’re a new parent, an experienced parent, or somewhere in-between, seeing yourself ‘parenting’ from the outside can be a powerful experience. So, whenever you decide to book a photoshoot, it’s the perfect timing for you.
What is the best age to book baby photos?
