Chesapeake Newborn Photographer / When To Schedule Your Lifestyle Newborn Session

As a Chesapeake newborn photographer, potential clients often ask me when to book their session!  I love to help with all the questions and this one is such a good one because babies don’t keep (as much as we wish they would!!).  Their tiny features change so quickly and it’s important to get that session on the calendar so you can document them before they do!

Looking for tips from a Chesapeake newborn photographer on when to schedule your lifestyle newborn session?

Sharing them below:

When to book your lifestyle newborn session:

The sooner, the better.  It’s never too early to get on my calendar, especially during the busy seasons (which for me, are summer and fall!).  I book my newborn clients based on due date and only take a limited amount a month since I also have family and maternity clients.  Ideally, the second trimester is a good timeframe and this also means that you can spend your last trimester finishing those final details in the nursery and resting before the baby’s arrival.

The best timeframe for your lifestyle newborn session:

The sweet spot for lifestyle newborn sessions seems to be about two weeks old.  We can definitely make it work past that if the family isn’t quite ready, but that’s what I try to shoot for to get those sweet, sleepy newborn shots.  It also ensures that we get those delicate features before they change.

As a NICU mama myself, please know that I understand extenuating circumstances and can absolutely work with you on the timeline.  I have photographed newborns well past two weeks and the outcome is still just as beautiful.  Part of the reason that I love lifestyle newborn sessions is that they are meant to be authentic and true to life, so they are truly flexible to what you need.

How long does a lifestyle newborn session take:

My lifestyle newborn sessions are typically about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes.  I always tell parents to feed the baby before right before the session in hopes for a full and happy baby, but these sessions are meant to be flexible.  Allotting for the timeframe ensures that we have time to settle baby down and feed again, if needed.

Best time of day for lifestyle newborn sessions:

I am a natural light photographer and love as much light as possible for my indoor sessions, so I schedule the session around when the light will be the best.  For sessions in my studio, the light is best between 11 and 2, so sessions will be scheduled around that time.  If you are having an in-home session, I will have you send me pictures of the room(s) that you want to photograph in, and we will decide on the best time to schedule the session based on light.

Do I schedule the session on baby’s due date:

I have all my newborn clients schedule their session on their due date as an estimate on when our session will be.  That way I ensure that I have space on my calendar during that timeframe, and then you can just reach out to me once baby is here and you are settled, and we can pick a date that works for both of us!

Lastly, as a reminder, it’s never too early to get on the calendar! Checking that off the to-do list early will ensure that you get a space to document your sweet little baby once he or she arrives, and I promise that is something that you will not regret.  If you are looking for more information on lifestyle newborn sessions, you can check out my post here on “What to Wear to Your Newborn Session” or here on an “In-Home vs. Studio Session”.  

If you are interested in chatting about booking a lifestyle newborn session, you can inquire here or email me at ashleybricknerphoto@gmail.com.  I would love the opportunity to work with you!!

If you liked this post, you might like these other ones linked below:

What to Wear for Your Virginia Beach Newborn Session

Studio Vs. In-Home Newborn Session