Newborn vs. 3-Month Baby Photos: Which Milestone Should You Capture First?
As a Madison photographer who specializes in capturing families at every stage, there's one question I hear often from expectant parents: "Should we schedule newborn photos or wait until our baby is a bit older at 3 months?" It's a great question, especially when you're trying to budget both time and finances during this whirlwind season of life.
While both stages offer beautiful photo opportunities, if I had to recommend just one milestone to capture first, I'd say newborn sessions win for me!
The Magic of Newborn Photography
There's something truly remarkable about those first two weeks of life. Your baby is still curled up in those womb-like positions, their skin is so soft with wrinkles and markings from the womb and they have that distinct "just arrived" newborn look that vanishes almost without warning.
The Fleeting Smallness
Perhaps the most compelling reason to prioritize newborn photography is to document just how incredibly tiny your baby is right now. Those miniature fingers wrapped around your thumb, feet that fit in the palm of your hand, and the way they curl up so perfectly small—these physical traits change dramatically in just a few short weeks.
During newborn sessions, I love incorporating size reference elements that help preserve this scale forever:
Your hands cradling their entire body
Their tiny hand wrapped around your finger
Special family heirlooms that showcase their smallness
Parents' wedding rings slipped over their toes
These simple comparisons become treasured reminders of just how small they once were, especially when those same feet are eventually running through your home and then one day walking across a graduation stage.
The Newborn Details
Those first two weeks also feature so many fleeting details that deserve to be remembered:
The fuzzy shoulders and backs that often shed their soft hair by month one
The wrinkly skin that smooths out so quickly
Those reflexive newborn expressions and stretches
The way they tuck their legs up close to their chest
The perfect little fingers and toes before they fill out
As a mother myself, I remember being so enthralled with studying every tiny detail of my newborn. Having these details preserved in photographs helps you revisit these precious, easy-to-forget features years later.
The "Just Born" Look
There's a distinct "freshly arrived" quality to newborns that's impossible to recapture. Their expressions, the way they sleep with their arms thrown overhead, their milk-drunk smiles—these are unique to the newborn period and change remarkably quickly as they become more alert and aware of their surroundings.
Honoring the Mother's Journey
Newborn photography isn't just about capturing your baby—it's also about documenting the incredible transformation of motherhood. The postpartum period represents a profound physical and emotional journey that deserves to be honored and remembered.
Those tender images of a mother holding her newborn close capture something truly sacred—a body that just performed the miracle of bringing life into the world. Although in the moment you feel weird in this "new" body, that little pouch in the front is so sweet to look back on and see how powerfully cool it really was. Whether it's the gentle way you cradle your baby against your chest, your hands supporting their tiny head, or the look of wonder in your eyes, these photographs celebrate the strength and beauty of your postpartum body.
Many new mothers tell me that seeing themselves through my lens—captured with care and artistry during this transformative time—played an important role in their healing journey. There's something powerful about looking back at these images months or years later and remembering not just how small your baby was, but the amazing strength you possessed in those early days of motherhood.
The Joy of 3-Month Photography
While I do advocate for newborn sessions as a priority, 3-month photos have their own special charm. By this milestone, your baby has:
More alert periods with eye contact
Genuine social smiles (not just the reflex smiles of the newborn stage)
More head control, allowing for different poses
Developing personality traits beginning to shine through
Parents who have settled into a bit more of a rhythm with their little one
Three-month sessions capture a baby who is engaged with the world in a completely different way than a newborn. The connection and interaction possible in these images make them wonderfully complementary to newborn portraits.
When You've Missed the Newborn Window
Sometimes life with a new baby is overwhelming, and scheduling newborn photos just doesn't happen within that ideal two-week window. If you're reading this with a 3-week-old or older baby, please know that beautiful portraits are still absolutely possible!
While we might not capture the exact same curled-up newborn poses, we can still document your baby's smallness and early expressions with a "fresh baby" session up to about 6 weeks. After that, we shift toward capturing their emerging alertness and personality.’ Just know there's never a wrong time to document your child—each age brings its own magic.
Planning Your Madison Baby Photography
If you're expecting or have recently welcomed a little one, I'd love to help you document these precious days. Whether you choose a newborn session or 3-month milestone, we'll create images that help you remember just how small they once were and how completely they changed your world.
In light and joy,
Alexandria, Sunday & Co Photography
Looking for more information about baby milestone sessions? Reach out with your questions!