Let’s talk about photographing “older” newborns… A month ago I never dreamed I’d be writing this post, but a month ago I had no idea what self-quarantine or shelter in place would mean for me, my family, my community, or my business. And here we are. It’s no secret the Covid-19 Coronavirus has thrown our universe into a tailspin. We’re under a new normal for the time being and as a small business owner who’s family is very much reliant on my income, I’m faced with an uncertainty I hadn’t expected. I have clients who booked me for their newborn sessions months in advance. I have mamas who are delivering babies any day now and are likely filled with additional anxiety about what delivery will look like. I have babies turning one and milestones that wish to be celebrated and documented. But now is the time to hunker down and be still. And I respect that and understand it. I have made the difficult decision to cancel my Easter mini sessions for next weekend. I have postponed milestone sessions and family sessions. I had my last newborn in last week. And now I wait, as do we all, for what comes next.
So let’s talk about what the possibilities are for “what’s next” for my wee ones and their families. My usual time frame for photographing newborns is sometime in the first two weeks of baby’s life. That is the time baby is typically sleepiest and “curly” from the womb, so an ideal time for their first portrait. However, that is not going to be an option for us right now, and that’s ok. I have for years photographed babies well past this usual time frame for a host of reasons – NICU babies who don’t come home until 4 months old; babies who needed a little more time to settle into life and week 3 or 4 made more sense for families; babies who’s parents didn’t realize they’d want professional newborn portraits until they held that squishy baby in their arms and thought “holy cow I have GOT to document this amazing human we created!” And that’s when I come in. I have never turned down a baby for being “too old.” In fact, I am featured in the TAOPAN (The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn) Magazine with one of my older babies! So I ask my parents to not fret. To focus on a healthy delivery and time spent getting to know their newest family member. Snuggle and snooze and be still. We will have time for portraits later. And when that time comes – whether it’s 4 weeks or 4 months – just know that I will be ready to document this time for you and your family with open arms.
Here are some of my “older” newborn portraits from the past few years…I think you’ll agree, cuteness doesn’t expire!
