What’s the best age for newborn photos? Kelowna Newborn Photographer

There’s something so special about those first few weeks with your newborn—the newborn bubble. Sure, you might not be getting much sleep, and those hormones are sending your emotions on a rollercoaster. But those tiny fingers, delicate yawns, and the way they curl up so perfectly in your arms—these are the moments you’ll want to hold onto forever, the ones that make your heart ache in the best way. That’s where newborn photography comes in—capturing those early days so you can relive them for years to come.

So one of the main questions I get asked as a newborn photographer is: When is the best time to do newborn photos?

Ideally, the best age for newborn photos is 7-10 days old. During this time, newborns are the sleepiest, usually less fussy, and super cuddly. Plus, that 3-week newborn acne phase hasn’t kicked in yet!

At this stage, babies naturally stay in those adorable squishy positions much more often. And let’s face it—they’ll never be this little again. I know that’s probably a bittersweet reality for your mama heart.

I always recommend reaching out during your second trimester to pencil in your due date so we can aim for that sweet spot of 7-10 days.

But what happens if life gets busy? Let’s be honest—there’s a lot on our plates during pregnancy, and sometimes booking a newborn session in advance doesn’t happen. I’m here to tell you—that’s okay! The thing about babies is they just keep getting cuter and cuter.

I’ve had babies as young as 6 days ,2 weeks, and even as old as 10 weeks come into the studio for a newborn session. If you feel like you’ve missed the “ideal” newborn window, don’t worry. While older babies can sometimes be a bit more awake or fussy, there’s a bright side—you’re more likely to capture photos with their eyes open, and if we’re lucky, we might even get a few sweet smiles! Some of my favorite photos are the ones where babies make eye contact.

Waiting a bit longer also gives you the chance to feel more like yourself after birth, which is something many parents appreciate.

At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what feels right for you. Just know that having photos of your baby during those early days is something you’ll treasure forever. Whether it’s right after they’re born or a little later when they’re more alert, what really matters is capturing those memories.

Those first few weeks fly by in a blur—I know that feeling all too well. It’s so easy to forget just how tiny they were. That’s when you’ll be so grateful to have those photos to look back on and relive all those precious moments.