Calgary Newborn Photography Studio | Jillian Faulkner Photography

Meet Chima - Photographed at 6 weeks old

Becoming a new parent during the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely come with it’s own set of challenges. Many new parents either missed out on having a professional newborn photography session due to lockdown restrictions in their city or were hesitant to bring their newborn baby into a studio space they were unfamiliar with.

Then there were the expecting mothers that held off on booking a newborn photo shoot because they weren’t sure if lockdown restrictions would be lifted and ended up booking a newborn photography session after their newborn had arrived home from the hospital but well beyond the typical 7-14 day timeframe because I typically book 4 weeks out. New parents continue to call me asking if it’s too late to have a newborn session and are wondering if they should just wait until their newborn baby reaches their next milestone.

7-14 days old is the most optimal time to have newborn photos taken.

The great news is that it’s never too late to have professional images taken of your brand new baby and although typical newborn sessions do take place around the time your newborn is 7 to 14 days old; I do photograph newborn babies of all ages. I believe that all parents should be able to have gorgeous newborn photos to grace the walls of their home so whether you decide to book your newborn in at 6 days, 6 weeks or at 6 months, I can photograph a variety of beautiful newborn and family photos for you documenting this very special time for your family!

But it’s never too late to have professional images taken of your brand new baby!

professional newborn and family photography taken by Calgary family portrait photographer Jillian Faulkner in studio.

Older newborn babies are more likely to be wide awake during their session.

When your newborn baby is 6 to 14 days old your newborn is more flexible and does tend to enjoy tighter swaddling which allows me to capture some of the more common newborn poses. They are easily curled up, wrapped and can be photographed naked in different newborn photography props which is sometimes harder to achieve with an older newborn baby.

That being said, you will see in the images throughout this blog post that stunning imagery can still be created. This adorable, sweet newborn baby boy was 6 weeks old when he came into my photography studio for his newborn session. He took a little longer to settle but once we had him all snuggled up in multiple newborn wraps, he was quite content. His gorgeous big brown eyes just gazed right into my camera and his big sister showed him tons of love with snuggles and kisses on the forehead.

With order newborn babies I will recommend to families that they book the full newborn photography experience that includes family photos in addition to photos of only your newborn baby. Older newborn babies are more likely going to be wide awake for the duration of the photography session so family photos taken together will not only help to comfort your older newborn but having those family photos capturing the connection between parents and siblings and the new addition to the family will be cherished for many years to come.

studio session with 6 week old newborn baby boy and photographed with parents by calgary newborn photographer Jillian Faulkner

If your newborn arrived early - the 3 to 5 week mark is the perfect time to have your newborn photo shoot.

When I am photographing newborn babies that are older, I will let them lead the session by allowing them to move around a bit to get comfortable so I can create and photograph those nice relaxed and natural poses. Having older babies positioned on fur layers using multiple fabrics or having parents hold their brand new baby awake or sleeping are just some of the ways we can document this special time. I promise you won’t regret having gorgeous images capturing their stunning eyes and numerous facial expressions.

If your newborn baby arrived ahead of time, the 3 to 5 week mark is actually the perfect time to have your professional newborn photo shoot. This is because premature newborns have had the extra time to gain some weight and to adjust to life with their family outside of the neonatal intensive care unit.

Alternatively, when your newborn baby turns 6 months old we can also plan to photograph your baby in studio. Milestone baby photo shoots are perfect for documenting this special stage where babies are usually sitting up on their own, providing lots of giggles, showing us their big gummy single-tooth smiles and not to mention their cute cubby rolls. It’s also the perfect time to have them photographed with their new favourite stuffy or snuggle toy.

It won’t be long before your little one is off and running to go and explore the world so I do also recommend at a 6 month baby photo session to invite grandma and grandpa to join in on the fun. At this age, infants are usually quite content to sit on grandparents laps which can provide us with an excellent opportunity to document the new addition to your family with extended family members.I truly believe it is never too late to schedule a professional photography session for newborns, older babies or young toddlers!

professional newborn session baby photos taken with older sibling in studio at Jillian Faulkner Photography

So if you are still worried that you missed out on the perfect time to have a newborn photography session, don’t be! Get in touch with me below and we can discuss all the possibilities for a customized portrait photography session for your baby!

Curious to know what the best age is to have professional baby photos taken, visit the link below.

Mother’s day is going to be here before you know it! If you are looking for a special gift for your mom or know of a mother that deserves to be spoiled with a portrait session with her kiddos, be sure to sign up for my studio newsletter. My newsletter subscribers receive priority booking for my Mother’s day promotion along with all other future limited edition sessions. I would love to share with you today as well some gorgeous motherhood images from this very talented San Diego Motherhood Photographer. Her work is stunning and truly captures the connection between mother and child!

Jillian Faulkner is a published and award winning maternity, newborn, child and family photographer located in Calgary, Alberta. Jillian Faulkner Photography was established in 2010 and is an active member of the National Association of Professional Child Photographers and the Professional Photographers of Canada.