When to Take Newborn Photos: What Age is Best?

The best age for newborn photos depends on the type of photos you want. I recommend taking posed newborn photos during the first two weeks after birth. For awake or lifestyle newborn photos, babies can be photographed up to five or six weeks old.

Below I’m showing real examples of babies I photographed during newborn sessions from one week old through almost five weeks old, so you can see how newborn photos can look at different ages.

Many parents ask me when they should schedule their newborn photoshoot. The biggest question to consider is whether you want sleepy, posed newborn photos or a more awake and lifestyle-focused session.

What Age Is Best for Posed Newborn Photos?

I recommend scheduling posed newborn photos within the first two weeks of life. Babies under two weeks old are often sleepier and easier to settle into curled newborn poses than older babies.

During those first two weeks, many babies still naturally curl their legs and bodies into positions similar to how they were positioned before birth. This can make traditional newborn posing easier during the session.

If you want sleepy newborn photos using wraps, baskets, beds, or other newborn props, I recommend scheduling the session during those first two weeks whenever possible.

What Age Is Best for Lifestyle Newborn Photos?

Lifestyle newborn photos can usually be taken later, often up to five or six weeks old. Older newborns may spend more time awake, make more eye contact, stretch their arms and legs, and interact more with their parents.

That works especially well if you want more natural photos focused on your baby’s expressions, connection with parents, and awake moments rather than mostly sleepy poses.

Newborn Example: Under One Week Old

Sweet little Judith was just 6 days old at her newborn photoshoot, but that didn’t stop her from opening her eyes nice and wide for the camera!

In my experience, babies under a week old often sleep for most of their newborn photoshoot, although sometimes we’re lucky enough to get those wide-open eyes too. They are usually pretty flexible and let you position them in almost any pose since they spent the better part of a year curled up in their mommy’s tummy.

We went for a more lifestyle approach for her newborn photos. Her mom, dad, and 2 year old big sister joined in for family photos during her newborn session. At 6 days old, Judith slept for most of her newborn session, woke up once to eat, and then went right back to sleep.

Newborn Example: One Week Old

Ryder was just over one week old at his newborn session, 9 days to be exact, and this is one of my favorite ages to photograph! At 9 days old, babies are often still super sleepy and want to sleep through most of the photoshoot, which gives me plenty of time to photograph them in different poses and props.

This little guy was surprisingly awake when he arrived at my studio, so I started with what we call “mugshots,” aka baby headshots LOL! They are so funny because newborns can change expressions in the blink of an eye.

It didn’t take long for Ryder to fall asleep on my cozy blanket with the warm heat covering his body and the shusher machine soothing him. Once he fell asleep, he was out for the count, and I was able to photograph him in so many different positions and props!

Newborn Example: Two Weeks Old

At around two weeks old, babies are still generally sleepy for much of their newborn photoshoot and can often be photographed in a variety of newborn poses and props. This is one of my favorite ages because you start getting that wonderful combo of sleepy baby + chunky cheeks!

Callum was two weeks when he came to my photography studio for his newborn session. Mister Callum was awake when we started his photoshoot, so I laid him on his back and photographed some headshots.

After Callum fell asleep, I posed him on my posing table in a variety of newborn poses. He was also still sleepy enough to pose on my newborn bed, which I reserve for sleeping babies for safety reasons.

The best part about this age is that babies are also starting to pack on a little more weight, so you might see a few rolls here and there. Babies don’t automatically wake up night and day after the two-week mark, but this is usually around the age when I start seeing more awake time compared with younger newborns.

At two weeks old, he was still sleepy for much of his photoshoot and was able to be photographed in several newborn poses and props.

Newborn Example: Three Weeks Old

At three weeks old, babies may be a little more alert during their newborn sessions, but I still photograph plenty of three-week-old babies who sleep through most or even all of their photoshoot.

Here we see Lakyn who was 23 days old at her newborn session, and this tired little girl slept through almost the entire thing LOL. I’m not even sure this sweet pea woke up once while she was at my photography studio!

Lakyn is a great example that being over two weeks old does not mean you can’t still get sleepy newborn photos with poses and props.

At 23 days old, I was able to photograph her on my soft blankets, pose her on my newborn bed, and wrap her up in a swaddle. Her little chubby rolls were already starting to come in, and my heart could hardly stand it!

Three week old babies are still rather flexible and willing to fold up into any position you place them in. They may not prefer to do things like having their hands tucked directly under their cheek, but as you can see from the image above, this angel had no problem sleeping with her hands under her face at 23 days old.

Newborn Example: Four Weeks Old

Don’t ever let your baby’s age stop you from taking newborn photos! This little guy was 33 days old (4 weeks) when his parents brought him in for his newborn photoshoot. Little Josiah here flashed us the most precious smile with his sweet hands tucked under his face. In newborn photography, sometimes we try to perfect the image while other times, we go with the flow.

The older babies get, the more we go with the flow. At four weeks old, newborn babies are starting to have preferences, find certain positions more comfortable, and stay alert for a longer duration of their photoshoot.

Would you be surprised to find out he slept for the entirety of his newborn session?! I was LOL! I definitely figured this 4-week old newborn baby would be more alert at his session, but he was mister sleeping beauty the whole time!

Newborn Example: Five Weeks Old

Milo came to my photo studio for his newborn session when he was 5 weeks old (41 days). You can see how adorably chunky they are at this age, with their little rolls showing off and stealing the show. I just love getting “older” babies in my studio because they’ve had some time to pack on a few ounces and get some chunky cheekies.

Oftentimes at this age, babies will be awake for a portion of their photoshoot, and it’s a great opportunity to capture their little blossoming personalities and beautiful eyes. However, this little man decided he needed some beauty rest and slept for his entire photoshoot!

Just because a baby is a little older than usual doesn’t mean you automatically will have a “failed” newborn session. You just have to go with the flow and follow baby’s lead.

Sometimes 5 week old babies want to sprawl out and stretch while others want nothing more than to curl up in a ball. A great newborn photographer will work with your baby in any position they prefer to be in.

Newborn Example: Six Weeks Old

Are you ready for the most adorable baby name?! This little guy is Captain, and he was 47 days old at his newborn photoshoot. Many wouldn’t consider this a newborn photoshoot anymore, but I most certainly would. He still fits in most of my newborn props, and slept for a portion of the session.

My favorite part of working with “older” babies is getting to see their cute little expressions and capture their personalities that are starting to develop. You can’t always guarantee open eye images with 1-2 week old newborns, but I almost always can count on seeing a 6-week old’s eyes at some point during the photoshoot.

Sometimes babies at this age prefer to be swaddled, and this guy definitely still did! He was the calmest and happiest while wrapped up, so as I always say…what baby wants, baby gets. I think you can tell by his smirk just how smitten he was.

At six weeks old, some babies want to wiggle around and have room to be free while some want to be snuggled up in a bundle. The important thing is that your newborn photographer is flexible with your newborn baby and allows them to decide what they want.

I go with the flow with six week old newborn babies, and you can see how sweet these sessions can turn out! Never consider your baby too old to be photographed, you just need to find a photographer that works with any age!

The best age for newborn photos really depends on the type of photos you want. If you love sleepy, posed newborn photos, the first two weeks are ideal, but babies can still have beautiful newborn sessions at three, four, five, or even six weeks old.

No matter your baby’s age, I follow their lead and create the session around what they are comfortable doing that day.