One of the most common questions I receive from expecting parents in Perth is simple but important: what age is best for newborn photos?

It's a great question and the answer is more nuanced than most people expect. As a newborn photographer based in Hilbert, I work with families from Byford, Armadale, Mundijong, Serpentine and across Perth's south east, and I've photographed babies at many different ages and stages. Here's everything you need to know.

Hi, I’m Mia, a Perth newborn photographer based in Hilbert specialising in calm, baby-led studio sessions for growing families. My sessions are relaxed and fully guided, with plenty of time for feeding, settling and including siblings.

If you're expecting and planning newborn photos in Perth, you can enquire about availability here.

By Mia O'Neill | Four O Photography | Hilbert, Perth

The Ideal Age for Newborn Photography

The sweet spot for newborn photography is five to fourteen days old.

During this window, something magical happens. Babies are still deeply sleepy, their little bodies naturally curl into those beautiful tucked positions they held in the womb, and they're content to be gently settled, wrapped, and held during a calm, unhurried session.

Those tiny curled fingers. The way their whole body fits in the curve of your arm. The milk-drunk sleepy expressions that change by the hour. This is the stage that newborn photography is designed to capture and it moves incredibly fast.

By around two to three weeks, most babies begin to wake up to the world around them. They become more alert, harder to settle, and those naturally curled newborn positions start to disappear. The images are still beautiful just different. Which is why, if capturing that classic sleepy newborn look is important to you, timing really does matter.

Why Five to Fourteen Days?

There's a reason this window is considered the gold standard for newborn photography, and it comes down to a few key things.

Babies sleep deeply. In those first two weeks, newborns spend the vast majority of their time asleep. This makes sessions calmer, more relaxed, and allows us to take our time without rushing. We can settle baby, feed, cuddle, and move through the session at a gentle pace.

Their bodies are still flexible. Fresh newborns naturally hold those gorgeous curled positions from the womb. This gives us the most variety in how we can capture them tucked, wrapped, held, and everything in between.

The details are at their most fleeting. Those impossibly tiny fingernails, the way their whole hand wraps around your finger, these details change and fade within days. Capturing them in this window means preserving something that genuinely cannot be recreated.

Mum and dad are still in that raw, overwhelming first love. There is something about the look on a parent's face in those first two weeks that changes as the days go on. Not because the love changes but because the shock and awe of it starts to settle. I love capturing that look while it's still written all over their faces.

What If My Baby Is Older Than Two Weeks?

Please don't worry,  beautiful newborn images are absolutely still possible beyond two weeks, and I want you to know that.

Some babies remain wonderfully sleepy well past the two-week mark, particularly if they arrived a little early or are simply calm, settled babies by nature. Every baby is different, and I always assess where your little one is at on the day rather than rigidly sticking to a timeline.

Two to four weeks old, sessions are still very achievable at this age. Baby may be slightly more alert, which actually creates some wonderful wide-eyed moments and gorgeous eye contact shots alongside the sleepier images.

Four to eight weeks old, at this stage we shift the focus slightly toward lifestyle and connection images. Think baby on mum's chest, skin to skin with dad, being held and loved rather than posed and wrapped. These sessions are incredibly beautiful and emotionally rich,  just styled differently to suit where baby is at.

Beyond eight weeks, this is when we transition into what's often called a "baby session" rather than a newborn session. These milestone sessions are wonderful in their own right, capturing smiles, personality, and the next stage of your baby's journey.

No matter what age your baby is when you reach out, I will always be honest with you about what's achievable and what will look most beautiful for where they're at.

Does My Baby Need to Sleep Through the Session?

This is one of the most common fears I hear from Perth families before their session and I want to reassure you completely.

No. Your baby absolutely does not need to sleep through the session.

My sessions at my Hilbert studio are completely baby-led. We follow your baby's cues entirely. If they need to feed, we feed. If they need settling, we settle. If they want to be awake and curious, we work with that and capture those wide-eyed moments instead.

There is no clock-watching, no pressure, and no expectation that everything will go perfectly. Some of my absolute favourite images have come from sessions where baby was wide awake, slightly unsettled, and just needed to be held close by mum or dad. Real, breathing, honest moments, that's what I'm here for.

What About Siblings and Family Members?

Including siblings and other family members in your newborn session is something I warmly encourage, and it works beautifully at any age.

Toddlers and older siblings can be unpredictable and that's completely fine. We typically capture sibling shots early in the session when everyone is freshest, and then allow older children to settle elsewhere while we focus on baby. Some of the most heartwarming images I've ever taken have been of a big brother or sister holding their new sibling. 

Extended family, grandparents, close family members are also welcome. Just let me know in advance so we can plan the session flow accordingly.

How Long Does a Session Take?

My newborn sessions at my Hilbert studio are unhurried and relaxed, typically running between two and three hours. This allows plenty of time for feeding breaks, settling, outfit and wrap changes, and capturing a full range of images, baby alone, with mum, with dad, and as a whole family.

You will never feel rushed. The pace is entirely set by your baby, and I will guide you through every step of the session so you always know what's coming next.

And for families with toddlers, I also have a little playroom with toys to keep little ones entertained while we focus on baby. Fair warning though: most kids don't want to leave when the session is over. Sorry, not sorry, lol.

How Long Does a Session Take?

If you're expecting and you're based in Byford, Armadale, Mundijong, Serpentine, Bedfordale or surrounding Perth suburbs, I'd love to hear from you.

The best time to reach out is during your second trimester, so we can secure your spot before your due date arrives. But if your baby is already here, please still get in touch,  it's always worth asking.

Contact me here to check availability and ask any questions you have. No question is too small, and I promise to answer everything honestly. 🤍