Photographers get asked this question often, especially by the parents who don’t want to leave their babies, even in a professional’s hands.
So, how long does a newborn photo shoot last? On average, a newborn photo session takes between two and four hours. Two to four hours seems to be the average time with all photographers worldwide. If the photographer lacks experience or has not prepared sufficiently, then it may last longer.
However, many factors could impact the length of the session; you may be surprised by some of them.
Because of the diversity of the baby photography industry, the table below will give you a general idea of how long a session can take based on the package you have chosen.
| Type of Photo Session | Duration of the photo session | Prices |
| 3-5 edited pictures | 1-3 hours | 50~100$ |
| 7-15 edited pictures | 2-3 hours | 100~500$ |
| 10-20 pics, including parents together and separate | 3-4 hours | 150~500$ |
| 10-20 pics, including parents and siblings (sometimes with dogs as well, if parents requested ) | 3-5 hours | 200$~750$ |
Many newborn photographers won’t wish to go over the 2-3 hours timescale for photo shooting.
Moving, changing props, being in front of constant harsh lighting, will exhaust the baby and all concerned after three or four hours of shooting.
Common factors that impact the length of the newborn photo session.
Newborn babies are different from older children, especially in the first two weeks when their behaviour is unpredictable.
These are some of the things that you need to prepare for during your newborn photo session;
- Changing the baby’s nappies because they pee and poo often.
- Mums need to feed the baby,
- Cuddling and putting the baby in props/positions.
- Changing the baby’s outfits,
- Settling the baby in poses with the parents.
- Getting siblings ready for shooting,(sometimes with dogs or other pets as well)
- And all mentioned above can repeat 2-3 times.
- The baby may have colic.
The list above may be obvious for experienced parents, or for those who ” being organized” is second nature.
New moms and dads will find these tips helpful.
Tips on how to save time on the photo session day;
No matter where the photoshoot is happening, at the studio or your home, you want to make sure you are 100% ready.
The photographer will share his or her tips on how to get the baby ready, to save time during the actual photo session.
Here are some of mine as a newborn photographer;
Check the weather the day before.
Yes…, even the weather can impact newborn photo sessions!
I recently had a couple that were supposed to drive an hour to my studio.
The drive ended up taking three hours due to many road closures, caused by the storms here in the UK.
In this case, you can reschedule the session with the photographer, and there should not be a problem with that.
No other plans on session day
If possible, don’t plan anything else on a session day.
Reserve that day for the photo shoot only, don’t let anything distract you from your baby’s photography process.
This small secret will help you to enjoy the photo session.
No plans for Daddy
That same principle applies to Daddy as well if he is going to get involved in the photo session.
Things can go so much quicker and smoother when your partner is around.
Keep the baby active;
If your baby is active in the first two weeks, try to keep the baby awake an hour or two before the session if you can.
Will my baby’s COLIC affect the photoshoot duration?
According to parents.com, about 25% of babies develop colic in their first weeks up to a couple of months old, but this is not a reason to cancel the newborn photoshoot.
Baby’s colic is always challenging, and new parents are often not ready for it. You’ll notice photographers being confident and patient when dealing with it.
Some photographers prefer to have the session in the morning for babies with COLIC, as baby’s tummy spasms are commonly worse in the afternoon.
In this case, you may find that you go beyond the four-hour mark, especially if you want to take advantage of all a newborn photo session can offer.
The photographers will usually take shots in between the COLIC’s spasms, returning to the shooting every time the baby calms down.
So many moms are excited when it comes to a professional photo shoot session of their baby, but don’t put too much hope in getting a lot of pictures done when your baby has COLIC.
The photographer will do the best he or she can not to disappoint you, but they will stop the session if they feel the baby has had enough.
Home newborn photo shooting versus studio; which one is more time-consuming?
Both styles of a photo session can be of the same duration. If the photographer has a studio, they may prefer you to come to them, but ultimately it will be your choice.
The photographers who come to your home usually have a system in place and can deal with all situations.
In this scenario, you need to manage as a parent to accommodate the photographer, provide enough space and anything else the photographer may require so that the session can flow well.
Most photographers will prefer their studio as everything is set up for the session, and if you are being charged by the hour, you may find this is a more cost-effective option.
Summary
As a well-organized parent or if you are just worried about your baby being exposed to a long, tiring process, I hope you found this article helpful on how to avoid unnecessary negative situations.
Related Questions:
What do I need for a newborn photoshoot?
The newborn photographer has all the gear needed for the session like camera, lighting, props and outfits.
So all you need is a good mood and patience.
Some photographers prefer parents to wear white outfits or dark tone colours, without any images and fonts on it.
Do I need to tip the newborn photographer?
It is not necessary to tip newborn photographers; everything is included in the price that you pay for the photo shoot.
What is the best time for newborn photo sessions?
The best time for the newborn photo session is when your baby is between five and 14 days old when the baby is the most sleepy.
During the first two weeks is the best period when you can achieve unique pictures, using different props and wearing gorgeous outfits