How Long is the Newborn Session?

I get it, mama. Life with a newborn is tough, so you want to know exactly what to expect with your newborn session. A question I commonly get asked is, “How Long is a Newborn Session?”

The short answer is somewhere between one to three hours.

Here’s the deal. A newborn session is best done while your baby is sleeping. How long it takes your newborn to fall asleep and stay asleep largely determines the length of the session.

So, sometimes there is that unicorn baby. This is the baby that arrives asleep and stays asleep for the entire session. When this happens, I can complete the entire photo shoot in about one hour.

Let’s be honest. This doesn’t always happen.

Many babies arrive sleeping but wake up mid-session. They need feeding and soothing before they fall asleep again. Which is totally ok, normal, and expected! This situation can make a session last closer to two to three hours.

But don’t you worry. I have years of experience photographing newborns, so I have plenty of tips and tricks.

First, I encourage you to try and have awake time with your newborn before the session if possible.

Second, no rush feedings during the session are best. Let your little one eat all that they want!

Third, we use all the soothing techniques. If you use a pacifier with your newborn, bring it! And, I’ll admit it. I’m a pro at swaddling. This helps calm your infant and encourages sleep.

Last, I keep the temperature of the studio extra warm. Keeping the temperature around 80 to 85 degrees helps your little one stay cozy.

I work very hard to make sure your newborn session stays under the three-hour mark. Here’s why. As a parent of a newborn, I know you’re tired. After a session, you deserve to grab some lunch or just go back home.

And the best part? Now you can rest assured you will have photographs of your new baby’s perfection. This way you’ll never forget things like their tiny toes, baby peach fuzz, and how little they were in your hands.