When Is The Best Time For Your Baby Photoshoot?
Babies change remarkably quickly during their first year, which is why parents often ask us:
“When is the best time for a baby photoshoot?”
There isn’t one perfect age.
A newborn photoshoot looks very different from photographs taken at 1–2 months.
By around 3–6 months, expressions and interaction can become a bigger part of the photographs.
Later comes the sitter stage, followed by the first-birthday stage as baby becomes increasingly mobile.
The best time depends on which stage of your baby’s first year you would most like to remember.
Here’s how baby photographs can change throughout the first year
1. Newborn — Remembering How Tiny They Were
The newborn stage is about remembering just how tiny your baby was during those earliest weeks.
Depending on what baby is comfortable doing during the session, photographs may include sleepy portraits, wrapping, tiny details and photographs with Mum, Dad and siblings.
If you love the distinctive look of newborn photography, this is the stage to photograph.
Planning a newborn session?
2. 1–2 Months — Still Little, But Beginning To Change
If the newborn weeks have already passed, you haven’t missed the opportunity to photograph your baby.
At 1–2 months, babies may be more awake, stretch out more and show different expressions from the early newborn stage.
Rather than trying to recreate every newborn pose, we photograph your baby at the stage they are now, working with what they are comfortable doing on the day.
Parents and siblings can join too, allowing the session to include both baby portraits and photographs of your new family together.
Baby already 1–2 months old?
👉 See our 1–2 Month Baby & Family Photoshoot packages.
Not sure how different the photographs will look?
👉 See Newborn vs 1–2 Month Baby Photoshoot: What’s The Difference?
3. Around 3–6 Months — Expressions & Interaction
As babies grow, expressions and interaction can become a much bigger part of the photographs.
Depending on what your baby is comfortably able to do, we may photograph them lying down, during tummy time, interacting with Mum and Dad, together with siblings and as part of the whole family.
Around this stage, the photoshoot often becomes less about creating a particular “baby pose” and more about photographing baby’s expressions and their connection with the people around them.
This is also why many parents use the session to update their family photographs at the same time.
👉 See what this stage can look like in our 3–6 Month Baby Photography Portfolio.
Planning to include everyone?
4. What About A 100 Days Baby Photoshoot?
Some families choose to mark baby’s 100-day milestone with a professional photoshoot.
From a photography perspective, the interesting part isn’t the exact number of days. It’s that photographs around this stage can look noticeably different from newborn portraits as baby’s expressions and interaction begin becoming a bigger part of the session.
A 100 Days photoshoot can include:
✓ Baby portraits
✓ Baby with Mum and Dad
✓ Siblings with baby
✓ Family photographs
✓ Baby Milk Bath photography, if you prefer something more playful
You don’t have to choose only one style. Classic baby and family portraits can be photographed during the same session as a Baby Milk Bath setup.
5. Can We Do Baby Milk Bath At 100 Days?
Yes.
Baby Milk Bath photography is one of the styles available for families who would like something more playful at this stage.
It can be combined with classic baby and family photographs, so the entire session doesn’t need to be photographed in the milk bath.
👉 Browse our Baby Milk Bath Photography Portfolio to see examples.
Not sure which style you prefer?
👉 See Dry or Milk Bath Baby Photography — Which Should I Choose?
6. The Sitter Stage — When Baby Can Sit
Once baby is able to sit independently or with minimal support, there are even more possibilities for photographs.
Sitting portraits can be particularly lovely for showing baby’s expressions and emerging personality, while Mum, Dad and siblings can still be incorporated throughout the session.
Every baby reaches this stage at a different time, so rather than choosing a photoshoot based purely on age, we recommend planning around what your baby can comfortably do.
Families who prefer something more playful can also choose from some of Bambini’s themed sitter setups.
7. Around One Year — Celebrating How Much Has Changed
By baby’s first birthday, the photographs change again.
Your baby’s personality is usually a much bigger part of the session, and depending on what they are comfortably able to do, we simply adapt the photographs around them.
This can be a lovely time for:
✓ Individual baby portraits
✓ Parent-and-child photographs
✓ Sibling photographs
✓ An updated family portrait
✓ Birthday or Cake Smash photographs
For many families, the first birthday becomes as much a family milestone as a baby milestone — particularly when you compare the photographs with those taken when baby first arrived.
👉 Browse our 1-Year-Old Baby Photography Portfolio.
👉 Or see our Family Photoshoot packages if you’d like to photograph everyone together.
8. So, What Is The Best Age For A Baby Photoshoot?
There isn’t one best age for a baby photoshoot. The best time depends on the stage you would most like to remember.
Newborn — for those earliest tiny details and sleepy newborn portraits.
1–2 months — for a slightly older but still very young baby, with photographs adapted to the stage baby is now at.
Around 3–6 months — for increasing expressions, interaction and photographs with parents and siblings.
The sitter stage — for sitting portraits, expressions and emerging personality.
Around one year — to celebrate baby’s first birthday and how much your baby and family have changed.
If the stage you originally planned has already passed, don’t worry about trying to recreate it.
Photograph the baby you have now. Every stage gives you something different to remember.
Planning A Baby & Family Photoshoot?
Tell us your baby’s age, what they are currently able to do and who will be joining the session, and we’ll help you plan photographs that suit the stage your baby is at now.
👉 View Family Photoshoot Packages
👉 Browse Baby & Kids Photography
