Scheduling Sessions - Newborn Photographers

Has anyone found a good system for scheduling newborn sessions?

I aim for a window of 2-14 days post birth, which makes it hard to pinpoint in advance since it's a small window based on a moving target. Currently we pick a tentative date based on due date, 14-day window, and my availability, but just wondering if anyone has found a better way.

Thanks!

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I don't think there's a good answer. Unless you're inundated with newborn sessions, you should have a little flexibility. I now have a 2 week old and she was sleeping 23 hrs per day for a good stretch.

I think 2 days is way too short. For women with c-sections, they don't get out of the hospital with the baby for 3 days. And our hospital did afternoon discharge, so basically the 3rd day is gone. Earliest would be the 4th day. Also, for the first couple of days, the baby sometimes likes to cluster feed (feeding very frequently) which can really hamper a session.

The photographer we hired always shoots (pun intended) for 7 days past birth with a little flexibility on either side. She took her photos at Day 7 and I took mine on Day 8. I think from about Day 5 to about Day 10, the baby was the sleepiest. Pretty much anecdotal evidence for me, but the pro saying 7 days lends some credibility to that.

A week at minimum would be more suitable. Its hectic enough as it is without having to worry about taking baby out for a photo shoot.

Personally, I hated taking 'newborn' pics, & tried to wait a month. 6 months was even better! ; )

What I've heard from professional photographers in the past like Kelly Brown at http://www.littlepiece​sphotography.com.au is they set the date as the client's due date and they book 3-4 sessions per week on weekdays. Weekdays are less hectic for stay at home photographers/moms, kids are at school and moms are at home on maternity leave. Since only 3-4 sessions are booked per week, if a baby comes late or early you still have 3-4 days free during the week to move around the schedule accordingly. There is no way to definitively set up a schedule for this type of photography. I know Kelly Brown is able to maintain her schedule doing one session/day with weekends off. Just an example though.