Wondering when is the best time to take newborn photos? Get tips for when to take newborn photos, how to prepare for the photoshoot, and how to use those gorgeous photos to create a custom birth announcement!
This post is sponsored by Basic Invite. All opinions are my own.
Those early newborn days when my daughter was born are such a fog to me now. But I’ll never forget the day we took her newborn photos. She was 10 days old and I was struggling to breastfeed and recover from my C-section.
Putting on makeup and real pants for our newborn photos was the last thing I wanted to do, I had booked a newborn photographer as part of my pregnancy preparation and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!
It’s almost four years later and those newborn photos are some of my favorite photos we have. Her sweet tiny toes and smooth, velvety skin takes me back to those newborn days that are such a distant memory in my mind.
We have several of the photos hung up in our home and were able to use them for our newborn announcement we sent out. And of course, I used that same birth announcement to make her first Christmas ornament.
Whether you’ve already booked your newborn photographer or need to research and find one ASAP, today I’ve partnered with Basic Invite to share my best tips and tricks for getting those precious newborn photos and then creating the perfect birth announcement for your baby!
When to Take Newborn Photos?
Most photographers advise you to get your newborn photos taken 5 to 14 days after your baby is born. It can be easier to pose your baby when they are in that sleepy newborn state in the first two weeks.
It’s also early enough so your baby doesn’t have any baby acne just yet!
When we did our newborn photos, our 10-day old daughter was easily nursed to sleep and then we would move her into the cutest little baby poses. She slept through a big part of the photoshoot as the photographer clicked away capturing her innocence.
That being said, babies are still very sleepy for the first 6 weeks of life, so if you missed your window, it’s not too late! If you can’t get in with a photographer soon enough, you can always try your own DIY newborn photography at home.
How Do I Prepare for My Newborn Photos?
Once you have your newborn photography session booked, check in with your photographer about what kind of props and accessories they already have.
Put together three to four different outfit ideas that you can use for your baby. And when I say outfit, I mean very basic pieces. Think swaddles, headbands, and sentimental items.
Your newborn doesn’t need a full on shirt, pants, and shoes. A sweet headband and swaddle is enough to capture their delicate baby skin and face!
Keep in mind that the photoshoot may take between 1 to 2 hours. We had to take several breaks to feed my daughter. I also wanted a few different outfit changes and props so it took time to change her and then get her back to sleep.
Our photographer was so patient and managed to capture the most angelic photos of our girl! I mean, look at her!
What’s the Best Time of Day to Take Newborn Photos?
Check with your photographer on when they recommend getting newborn photos taken. Some families choose for the photographer to come into their home and take photos in the nursery or the master bedroom.
You’ll want to asses when you get good sunlight in those areas of your home and go from there.
We chose to go to our photographer’s studio and have the photos taken there. I wanted to use all of her props like buckets and backdrops because I think those are just the cutest! Instead of feeling like I needed to clean and stage my home, I felt it was easier for us to go to her.
Your photographer will know when the light will come into their studio the best, but I imagine early to mid-morning will work for most photos.
You can get additional tips in my newborn family photos post, including how to include older siblings in the photoshoot.
Creating Custom Birth Announcements
After you get your newborn photos back from your photographer it’s time to make custom birth announcements to send to friends and family! If your baby was born near the holidays you can also turn it into a Christmas card birth announcement!
Basic Invite has unlimited color options so you can customize your birth announcement to match your style. I love that you can personalize each and every element to make it exactly what you want!
You can also order a printed sample of your invitation or birth announcement so you get a physical copy before placing your final order. That way you can feel the paper in your hands and see the print quality before placing a big order.
I always get a little nervous when ordering printed anything online. What if the colors don’t look right? What if the paper isn’t the quality I was expecting? With Basic Invite I can see and feel the actual sample before proceeding with my big order, which I really appreciate!
I have to admit that I’ve skipped out on ordering our family Christmas cards the last year or so and the main reason is because I don’t want to handwrite and lick 100+ cards! The idea just seems so overwhelming and exhausting to me. (And really gross, frankly).
So I love that Basic Invite has an address capturing service. You can post a link on your social media channel asking for your friend’s and family’s addresses.
That information is then stored in your account and can be automatically added to your envelopes, saving you hours of hand addressing envelopes. The best part is—it doesn’t cost anything extra!
All of their envelopes are also peel and seal so no licking is required! I have to say that I think that might be my favorite feature ever!
In addition to newborn birth announcements, they also offer:
- Baby Shower Invitations
- First Birthday Invitations
- Baby Shower Thank You Cards
- Twin Birth Announcements
- Printable Baby Shower Games
- And More!
Right now, Basic Invite is offering 15% off birth announcements with the coupon code: 15FF51. I hope this helps you prepare for your newborn photoshoot and making those sweet baby birth announcements! Congratulations on your new little bundle!
My goal is to help tired parents get sleep, so the whole family can thrive!
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