Your baby is 4 to 6 weeks old and you are wondering if they are too old for a newborn photo shoot. It’s a common question I get asked by so many parents who are either frustrated they haven’t been able to capture their beauty of the new babay with their own camera or phone, or simply want to know if now is the right time to book a session after hospital delays or last-minute planning to get some beautiful, frameworthy memories.

My answer is always – Absolutely not. It’s never too late to take beautiful photos of your new baby.

While there are a few differences when photographing older newborns compared to those in the first couple of weeks, these changes often bring wonderful new opportunities.

• Curled Up, Sleepy Shots

Newborn shoots are typically scheduled within the first 14 days for those iconic, curled-up, sleepy poses. During this time, babies are naturally sleepier, haven’t developed the startle reflex as strongly, and are easier to settle into those sweet, peaceful poses.

After 2 weeks, babies start to become more alert, needing to feed more often, and their startle reflex may make it harder to position them in some traditional poses. Often we still get some lovely sleepy photos, like these of Harry at 4 weeks, but the range becomes less as they are more likely to wake up if they are moved around and often need their parents interaction to reassure them.

• More Eyes Open Photos

The beauty of photographing a baby past the newborn stage is that we can capture more wide-eyed moments. There’s nothing more precious than seeing your baby gazing up at you with curiosity, showing the first glimpses of their personality. And the older they get, you might even get their first smiles like here with Freddy at 4 weeks —another magical moment to capture.

• More cuddles

These are often my favourite photos in a baby gallery, the ones where the baby is cuddled up to the new parents. With older babies, the more of these photos you are likely to receive in your gallery, as we will have done less of them on their own. Often they will fall asleep when held, even if they haven’t fallen asleep in their pose, so you get some really wonderful, intimate photos of baby cuddled up against you fast asleep, like here with Ava at 4 weeks.

• More time for Mummy

Every birth experience is different, and recovery times vary. For some mothers, having a few extra weeks before a photo shoot can make a world of difference. It gives you time to heal, settle into motherhood, and feel ready to welcome a photographer into your home. My clients often find the experience relaxing and enjoyable, not matter what age the baby is, but for some knowing you have that extra breathing room can bring a sense of calm.

• Natural Changes in Baby’s Skin

As your baby gets older, some babies may develop milk spots or baby acne, but rest assured—this is completely normal and can be beautifully captured or, depending on the extent of it, gently edited if preferred. In the case of Harry in this shoot, he had mild baby acne which we discretly removed without making him look too ‘fake’.

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With every stage of your baby’s life, there’s a unique charm and beauty. Whether they’re sleeping soundly or showing those first glimmers of personality, there’s no wrong time to create frame-worthy memories.