Is it too late to book my newborn photo shoot?

“We love your style. Love your images. But our due date is in two weeks. Can we still book our newborn photo shoot with you?”

A few months before your baby arrives, you’ll find your to-do list seems to grow longer each day. While planning and purchasing all of the things you’ll need to care for your baby, it’s really easy for hiring a photographer to get bumped to towards the end of the to-do list.

Diapers, wipes, crib, sound machine, lotions, potions – check!
Photographer – “I’ll take care of that tomorrow.”

When Should I Schedule My Newborn Photo Session?

It’s a great question. After all, you don’t know exactly when baby will arrive, so how can we choose a date now?

Our Louisville KY newborn photography studio receives around 20 requests to schedule newborn and maternity portrait sessions each week. Most of those babies will have due dates 5-6 months from now. But we also receive phone calls or emails each week from parents who’s baby is already at home, and mom wants to book a session with us faster than you can say ASAP.

I can feel mom’s urgency and panic. She’s know her sweet baby is growing by the minute, she loves our work, and doesn’t want to miss out on having portraits while he’s still little because of waiting too long to book.

I personally take as many last minute requests as I can, because I know how important your baby’s first photographs with you will be to them years from now. I never want to turn any family away, but it happens.

To guarantee a date for your newborn photo shoot, I always recommend contacting us in your second trimester.

Once booked, I will mark your due date on our calendar so that I have a good idea of when to be available (and not to overbook!). Before you head home from the hospital, we will schedule your photo shoot to take place between baby’s 2nd and 3rd weeks of life.

What if my baby is already born? Can we still schedule a photo shoot?

I do my absolute best to work in last minute requests. If I have availability, I want you to know that you’re still in good hands and will receive all of the same help in planning that our studio is known for. We will work quickly to help you with styling for the family (we have clothing that mothers can borrow), assist in finding top hair and make up artists, and I take care of all of the little details so that you can feel comfortable, look amazing, feel pampered, and know it’s going to turn out great!

Can I share with you the amazing bundle of love that is baby James?

His parents were planning on family portraits when James was a wee bit older, but work had other plans. Work would require one of James’ parents to work overseas for a bit, and mom and dad had their hearts set on having family photographs with their sweet baby before this happened. His parents knew that these early days would be gone in a blink, and they didn’t want to miss out.

When I received mom’s message from our website, I gave her a quick call that day to find out how we could best help. (No dilly dallying in customer care here. I hate bad customer service, don’t you?) I worked a little calendar magic, clothing magic, and had everything ready and planned so that mom, dad, and baby James could walk into the studio that same week feeling relaxed and comfortable, knowing every detail had been thought of and taken care of for them.

Their session was filled with genuine moments that would make any mom and dad heart full to the brim. There were loads of baby snuggles, knowing that work would have them apart for a little while. (Another reason their first photographs as a family were extra important.)

We have the most beautiful album being hand-made for their family, which includes gold debossing of James’ name on the front cover.

So can we pull off an incredible photo session for your newborn baby if they’re already born? Yes, as long as we have availability.

Here are just a few favorites from baby James’ newborn photo session with his parents. Isn’t that little chin dimple the best?!

If you are due within the next few months or maybe you just brought your baby home from the hospital, I’m glad you’re here. Parents typically reserve newborn sessions in their second trimester, so that we can photograph all of your baby’s fresh, new details in their 2nd-3rd weeks of life. Looking for a maternity photo session? Those are best photographed between weeks 30-35.

My hope is that you love what you see, and after your session you’ll see how incredibly easy we’ve made this for families. With over a decade of experience, we’ve thought through all of the details and taken care of them, so you don’t have to.

Follow along on Instagram for behind the scenes and more.
Want details about a Louisville KY maternity, newborn, or family portrait session? Say hello here!