Newborn Sessions: Why the First 15 Days Are Ideal — and Why It’s Still Beautiful After That

At Adriana Reyes Photography, we love those classic newborn portraits — the tiny curled-up poses, the peaceful sleep, the flawless little details that melt your heart. That’s why we always recommend having your newborn session within the first 15 days of your baby’s life — it truly is a special window.

21 day old baby boy

But we also know that life doesn’t always go according to plan. You might need more time to recover, your baby may have arrived earlier or later than expected, or your schedule (and energy levels!) might mean you can’t book right away. And that’s ok. Beautiful, meaningful newborn photos can absolutely still be captured when your baby is older — even up to around 2 months old.

Let’s break down why the first two weeks are ideal, and how we adapt sessions for babies up to 2 months.

Why We Recommend 0–15 Days Old First

There’s good reason most newborn photographers talk about this early window:

✨ Sleepiness & Flexibility
Newborns in those first two weeks tend to be deep sleepers and can curl up naturally — which makes it easier to achieve those classic, womb-like poses you’ve probably seen on Instagram feeds and websites

✨ Fewer Startle Reflexes
Very young babies tend to startle less and sleep more deeply during handling, allowing for smooth posing and gentle transitions between wraps, props, and setups.

✨ Those Classic “Newborn” Traits
This early stage is when babies are smallest, peacefully curled, and have that dreamy, quiet presence that feels like newborn photography – precious and fleeting.

When sessions happen in this window, we can create what many consider the “traditional” newborn portfolio: peaceful, posed images that show off those tiny features and curled positions in the most serene way.

What Happens After 15 Days?

Once your baby gets older — around 3–8 weeks — a few things start to change:

  • They spend more time awake and alert.

  • Muscles strengthen — which means they might not want to curl up as much.

  • Little expressions, big eyes, and more personality begin to emerge.

But that’s not a bad thing. It’s simply a different style — and a style that many families absolutely love. Instead of posed, sleepy portraits, we get:

💛 Beautiful wide-eyed moments
💛 Soft, alert expressions
💛 Sweet snuggles with parents and siblings
💛 A session that feels more lifestyle and interactive
💛 Memories of a stage you’ll miss in just weeks

Older newborn sessions are still incredibly precious — they just look and feel different, and part of what we do as your photographer is guide your expectations so you walk away with images you adore.

✨ In the end, there’s no wrong time to capture your baby. There’s only your time — and we’re here to make it beautiful.
— Adriana Reyes Photography

Adriana Reyes