There is no wrong time to photograph your child!

Parents often ask me “When is the best time to photograph my baby?” Life is so hectic the first year of your child’s life. You are most likely focused on sleep, diapers and feedings. It can sometimes be difficult to focus on anything else. This is why often times my answer is that whenever it’s convenient for you, is the right time. Children grow and change so fast, especially in the first year. When possible I suggest photographing your child at multiple times through the first year to capture as many changes and milestones as possible.

The most popular and ideal time to photograph your baby is during the first 2 weeks after it’s birth, at 6 month and for their first birthday. Below I’ll touch on what makes these time periods special and what we’ll usually capture at our sessions.

Newborn

If you plan to only photograph your child once this first year, this is what you should capture! Your baby is the smallest he or she will ever be, they will never fit in your arms the way they do the first few weeks after their birth. You want to remember this time forever. The tiny fingers and toes and the sleepy curled up poses, they are all so adorable. And what could be more precious than capturing your older child holding their new baby brother or sister or you cuddling your first child- the one that made you a mom or dad. These are images you will cherish for a lifetime.

I suggest booking your newborn session while you are still pregnant. Ideally these session will occur when your baby is still pretty sleepy, typically during the first 5 days to 14 days after birth.

6 Month

At 6 months so much has changed. Your baby is now full of personality. Smiling, giggling and very curious about their new world. For the most part, they will stay where we place them, which will allow us to get some really cute posed images. Most babies are also learning to sit up around this time so we usually capture their new skills to document this new milestone.  It’s also a great age to capture their bond with their family members. No one will know how to get them to smile and laugh as much as their parents and siblings. These bonds will last a lifetime and capturing these early moments are so special.

1st Birthday

There is so much to celebrate at his age. You have made it through the first year of parenthood and your baby has grown so much! They will now be on the move, crawling, maybe standing and some will even be walking. Many parents decide to celebrate this momentous birthday with a cake smash session. These sessions include a family portrait session and then of course time to smash and eat their cake!

First Year Package

The first year will go by so quickly and it will be difficult to remember the little details. To help you capture and freeze these moments in time, we do offer a first year package. First year packages include newborn, 6 month and 1st birthday sessions. We capture as many milestones as possible so you can cherish them for a lifetime. To find out more about this package please contact us!

Thinking about booking a newborn session? It’s never too early! I suggest booking your newborn photography session in your second trimester to guarantee that I can photograph your family. When possible, I will try to accommodate later bookings as well. I only book a certain number of sessions per month, to ensure that I have availability around each due date. Newborn sessions are best when scheduled 5 – 14 days after the birth of the baby. We understand that this is not always possible and are happy to schedule babies at any age.

We also book 6 month, 1st year, cake smash session, maternity, family or package including more than one session. To find out more about how our sessions work please contact me!

Monica Alman photographs newborns, families, children and maternity session in Gaithersburg, Potomac, North Potomac, Bethesda, Derwood, Frederick, Olney, Silver Spring, Darnestown, Chevy Chase and other locations in and around Montgomery County Maryland and Northern Virginia.