Guide to 1 Month Old Newborn Photography Sessions

Many new parents ask: “My baby is now 1 month old. Can I still do a newborns photography session for her?” The short answer is NO, it is absolutely not too late. While most newborn sessions are typically done when a baby is under 2 weeks old, you should never worry that your baby is “too old” for newborn photos. Most photographers consider any baby under about 6 weeks of age to still be a true newborn.

What to Expect During a One Month Old Session

There are a few things we need to think about when you are considering a newborn session for your one month old baby or older newborn. Every baby is different, but in my experience, babies over 1-month-old tend to stay awake during their newborn photoshoot. Because the baby is much more awake and alert at one month old, the session does allow us to get beautiful wide awake images.

If you are hoping for more posed sleepy style of photos, an older newborn can make those trickier to get. This doesn’t mean it’s not possible, but we may need to wait longer to get some sleepy images. Realistically, you will most likely have some awake images in your final gallery, but these are often some of the favorites!

Key Differences in Older Newborns

• Alertness: Baby is much more awake and alert at one month old compared to a two-week-old.
• Skin: Baby acne starts to flare up around 1 month old as hormones regulate, typically right around 3-5 weeks old.
• Size: Baby is much bigger at a month old and may not fit as well in certain props.
• Flexibility: Younger babies are the sleepiest and are still incredibly flexible; older babies are starting to chunk up and might be less flexible for specific poses.

The Baby-Led Photography Approach

The goal is to capture the unique and special moments of your little one during their newborn photoshoot. Since every baby is different, sessions are always baby-led. This means the photographer won't force your baby into poses that she's not comfortable with or wait for hours for her to fall asleep just to get the perfect shot.

If she's feeling a bit unsettled, we can wrap her up in a swaddle for comfort. If she's calm and content, we won't need to swaddle her. When she starts to feel tired, swaddling helps her fall asleep so we can capture some precious photos of her all swaddled up into a cute little bundle. Then, when she falls into a deeper sleep, we can loosen the swaddle and get some snuggly sleepy shots.

Common Reasons to Wait to do Newborn Photos

There are certain factors that need to be considered when deciding when to do your session. Here are some of the more common reasons that might mean waiting to do your session is a better option:

• NICU Time: If your baby needs some extra love and care in the NICU when they first arrive, sessions are always delayed until baby is home safe and all is well.
• Recovery: Mom may need extra time to heal. Mom’s physical and mental health is way more important than when the newborn session occurs.
• Last Minute Decisions: Sometimes parents didn’t realize they wanted newborn photos until after having the baby, which might mean the baby is older by the time a spot opens in the schedule.
• Illness: Sickness in the family is one of the best reasons to wait, as the health and safety of all newborns is the top priority.

Comparison of Newborn Development for Photography

• Under 2 Weeks: Sleepiest stage, high flexibility, fits easily into most props.
• 1 Month Old: More awake, potential baby acne, larger size with cute baby rolls, but requires more time for sleepy poses.