As an experienced Point Breeze newborn photographer who has been photographing babies for almost fifteen years, my answer is no! Three months is not too old for a newborn photo session.
I often hear from parents who worry that they have completely missed their chance for newborn photos because their baby is already a few months old. Life with a new baby can be overwhelming, and the first weeks can pass by in a blur of feedings, sleepless nights, and simply figuring out your new routine. So I completely understand if you never got around to booking a newborn photo session!
Below, I will talk about some of the pros and cons of photographing your baby at three months old, and I will also share images from a recent session with a sweet baby boy and his parents in their beautiful home in the Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
We spent most of the session inside their bright and cozy living room and nursery. Their home had the most beautiful natural light, which always makes photographing in a home feel extra special. Since it was an unusually warm and sunny winter day, we even stepped out onto their porch for a few photos together as a family of three.
I truly believe that three months old is still a wonderful time to photograph your baby.
However, it is important to mention that I am a lifestyle photographer and I do not place babies into the elaborate poses that some studio newborn photographers specialize in. My approach is much more natural and relaxed, and I do not need your baby to be only a few days old for the photos to be beautiful.
Photographers who focus on posed newborn sessions usually need babies to be in a deep sleep in order to achieve those positions. Because of that, many studio photographers prefer to photograph babies when they are between four and ten days old.
If you love the look of posed newborn photos with lots of swaddles, props, and carefully styled setups, it is very important to reach out to your photographer well before your baby is born so you can reserve a spot on their calendar.
As an in-home lifestyle photographer, my sessions are much more flexible. Many of the families I work with do not contact me until after their baby has already arrived. While it is always helpful to schedule before your due date, I do my best to fit families in whenever possible.
In the last few months, I have had more than a handful of families plan to do their newborn session when baby was under two weeks old and tiny and new. Then, life happens. Unfortunately, a few babies and/or the parents came down with illnesses, a couple had some difficult labors and births, and the others realized that the first few weeks with a newborn can be very challenging and stressful, and decided they needed more time before scheduling their session.
Whatever the reason, it is more than ok to postpone your lifestyle newborn session!
There are actually some wonderful benefits to waiting until your baby is a little older for photos.
The perks of photographing your baby at three months old
- Mom has had more time to recover and settle into life with a new baby.
- Parents often feel more confident and relaxed once they have had a few months to adjust to their new routine.
- Your baby is more awake and interactive during the session. I love capturing those wide-eyed expressions.
- By three months, babies are starting to fill out and develop those sweet baby rolls.
- You may even catch some early smiles once baby is 4+ weeks old!
A few possible downsides
- Your baby is no longer brand new and tiny.
- If you prefer very posed newborn style photos, it becomes much harder to achieve those positions as babies grow.
As a lifestyle newborn photographer, I will admit that it is hard for me to come up with many true downsides. At three months, babies are still very little and incredibly sweet to photograph.
This particular session was such a perfect example of how relaxed and meaningful an in home session can be. Their house in Point Breeze was filled with soft winter light, and we moved comfortably between the living room, the nursery, and their sunny front porch.
Mom shared this incredibly kind review on my Google Reviews about her experience:
“Mary Beth is amazing to work with from start to finish. She captured our family and our three month old in our home, and the entire experience was incredibly stress free. She worked around our son’s needs, feedings, naps, and all, to capture beautiful, authentic moments of our new life as a family of three. If you want photos that feel real and personal, Mary Beth is the best. Highly recommend.”
Reviews like this mean so much to me because they perfectly describe the experience I want every family to have. My goal is always to create a calm and easy session where parents can simply relax and enjoy time with their baby.
If you are expecting a baby or if your little one has already arrived, please feel free to reach out. Whether your baby is two weeks old or three months old, it is never too late to document this special season of your life.
I photograph babies and families throughout Point Breeze and all of the surrounding Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and I would love to welcome your family onto my schedule.
If you’re looking for a newborn or baby photographer in Pittsburgh, please get in touch to inquire about a session! I’d love to plan a photo session for your new baby!
Here are some other blog posts that you might want to check out!
Are you on Instagram? I’d love to connect with you there!
All images by Mary Beth Miller Photography
Mary Beth Miller Photography specializes in family and newborn photography in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and many of the surrounding areas. Mary Beth has over fifteen years of experience photographing families, newborns and babies in Pittsburgh, including the South Side, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, the North Shore and Northside. Her style is very relaxed and natural and your family session will feel like a stress-free Sunday afternoon with your family!
