Your baby will only be this tiny once, those first few weeks disappear so quickly! There is so much to think about when you’re expecting a new baby. The nursery, the tiny clothes, the car seat, hospital bags… and somewhere amongst all of that, you might be wondering whether you should book a newborn photography session.

So the answer? If beautiful newborn portraits are something you know you’ll treasure, it’s worth booking your session before your little one arrives.
And here’s why…

Those tiny newborn days really don’t last long

One of the reasons I love newborn photography so much is because babies change incredibly quickly. Those tiny fingers and toes. The little stretches. The sleepy expressions or windy smiles. The gorgeous curled-up positions.
They seem impossibly small when you first hold them but then, almost overnight, they aren’t!

Newborn sessions are ideally photographed when babies are around 5–14 days old, when they are often at their sleepiest and naturally curl up into those beautiful newborn poses. Babies can still be photographed as newborns up to around 8 weeks old, but the images and posing will naturally change as they become more alert and stronger.

But what if baby arrives early… or late?

This is one of the biggest reasons I recommend booking using your due date rather than waiting until your baby is born.
Of course, babies don’t tend to pay much attention to our carefully planned diaries and ver rarely arrive on their exact due date!

When you book your newborn session, I pencil you in around a week after your due date. Once your baby arrives, we can confirm the actual date and move your session if needed.
So if your little one decides to arrive a little early, or keeps you waiting, there’s no need to panic! Your session can be adjusted accordingly.

Booking early means you have a date reserved

Newborn photography is quite different from booking a regular portrait session.
There is a relatively small window when many parents want those classic sleepy, curled-up newborn photographs. For that reason, I limit the number of newborn sessions I take each month so that I can keep space available around clients’ due dates.

Booking in advance means that when your baby arrives, you’re not suddenly trying to find a photographer who has availability in the next week or two.
Instead, you can concentrate on the important stuff like feeding, cuddling, recovering and getting to know your new little person. I can take care of the photography!

Your baby’s comfort always comes first

I know that handing your tiny newborn over to a photographer can feel like a big deal especially if you’re a first-time parent.
That’s why safety and your baby’s comfort are my priority throughout the session.
My newborn sessions are baby led, which means I adapt the session around your baby rather than expecting your baby to fit into a rigid list of poses.
If baby needs a feed, we stop.
When baby needs a cuddle, we stop.
If baby doesn’t like a particular position, we move on.
The aim is to create beautiful photographs while keeping your little one comfortable, settled and safe.

It’s not just photographs of your baby

One of my favourite things about newborn sessions is that they aren’t just about photographing the baby on their own.
Your newborn session can also include parents and siblings, creating photographs of your family together at the very beginning of this new chapter in your lives.
Because let’s be honest — how often do we get beautiful photographs where everyone is actually in the picture?
Your baby will have hundreds of photographs taken on your phone.
But years from now, the photographs you’ll treasure may be the ones showing how tiny they were in your arms.

You can make the session personal to your family

I have a range of wraps, blankets, outfits and props available in the studio, and we can talk about colours and styles you particularly love when you book.
Whether you prefer simple and timeless photographs, beautiful props or a mixture of different setups, we can create a gallery that feels personal to you and your baby.

What happens during a newborn session?

A full newborn portrait session usually allows plenty of time — approximately 2–4 hours in the studio depending on the baby and your family size, so there is no need to rush.
We can take our time with feeding, settling and cuddles while working through a mixture of blanket photographs, poses, props, outfits and family images.
Depending on your session, we can create several different setups and photograph your baby from lots of angles, capturing all those little details you’ll want to remember.

And afterwards, you’ll receive a private online gallery of professionally edited images to choose from

“But what if I haven’t booked yet?”

Don’t worry, you’re not too late!
If you’re still expecting, you can book your newborn session using your due date and we’ll arrange the exact date once your baby arrives.
And if your baby has already arrived, get in touch anyway. I’ll always check my current availability and see what I can do.
There is also a Short & Sweet Mini Newborn Session available for parents looking for something simpler, with sessions suitable from around 5 days old through to 4 months.

Your baby won’t ever be this tiny again

This is probably the biggest reason to book.
You can buy the clothes.
You can decorate the nursery.
You can take thousands of photographs on your phone.
But you can’t press pause.
Those tiny newborn days pass incredibly quickly, and professional photographs give you something tangible to hold onto long after the sleepless nights have faded into a distant memory.

So if you’re expecting a little one and have been thinking, “Should we book a newborn photoshoot?”
I’d love to help you capture those first precious days.
📍 Sugar Plum Photography – Kingswinford, Dudley, West Midlands
Newborn sessions are available for families from Dudley, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge, Halesowen, West Bromwich and surrounding areas.
Planning your newborn session? Get in touch using the contact form and secure your due-date booking.