We know how quickly babies change, which is why timing each session thoughtfully makes all the difference in capturing those unforgettable stages. Here’s a guide to when we recommend booking each milestone to get the most out of your experience.

Maternity

The ideal time for maternity portraits is between 34–37 weeks. Your bump will be beautifully round, and you’re likely to still feel comfortable enough to enjoy the experience. We avoid booking too close to your due date so we don’t risk missing this special milestone altogether.

Newborn

Newborn's naturally retain the curled-up, fetal positions they had in the womb during the first two weeks following their birth - often referred to as the "newborn scrunch." This natural tendency allows us to capture those adorable, curled-up poses that highlight the baby's delicate features and tiny size.

True Newborn portraits are therefore captured within that precious first 2 weeks. We recommend securing an appointment well in advance for 5 - 10 days after your due date, with priority and flexibility to change this depending on little one’s arrival.

The ideal window for true newborn portraits can vary based on your baby’s birth weight and can only be finalised after birth:

- 6lb and under at birth - up to 21 days

- Between 6lb - 8lb - up to 14 days

- Over 8lb - ideally within 7/10 days

Newborn experiences are limited each month - last-minute bookings cannot be guaranteed.

This is simply a guide, and every baby is different. While nothing can be guaranteed, the sooner we can meet your little one, the better. If you experience any complications during birth, please don’t worry. We’ll work with you to ensure we capture beautiful images, whatever the age of your baby.

Under 4 Months

If your baby is already past the 14-day mark for True Newborn portraits, we usually recommend waiting until around 16 weeks (4 months).

At this stage, they’re still very much a precious little baby - but a little stronger, more expressive, and beginning to hold their head up during tummy time. It’s one of our favourite ages to photograph! In those early weeks, babies are busy adjusting to the world and finding their rhythm. Take your time to settle in and soak up those first precious weeks - we’ll be right here when the time feels right.

Of course, this is simply a recommendation - we’d love to meet your little one whenever you’re ready.

4 - 8 Months

At this stage, your baby is beginning to show their blossoming personality - full of smiles, curiosity, and playful expressions. The ideal time for a session in this window of time is when your baby is happy on their tummy, normally around 4 months old.

During these months, your little one will reach so many exciting milestones - from rolling over and pushing up during tummy time, to sitting confidently, babbling, and sharing their very first giggles - this is one of our favourite stages to capture.

Babies are engaged, expressive, and often filled with giggles - making for a relaxed, joyful session with beautiful variety. Even from as early as 4 months, we can start to see delightful changes - stronger tummy time, more eye contact, and early social smiles.

It’s a magical time to celebrate how much your little one is growing and changing.

8 - 12 Months (Including First Birthday)

Your baby becomes increasingly active and expressive during this window - a time filled with exciting developmental leaps and characterful moments. From sitting, crawling, clapping to peekaboo games and standing with pride, it’s a truly enchanting stage to capture.

For First Birthday sessions, we recommend booking around a month before their birthday. This ensures your gallery and products are ready in time for any celebrations. That said, we also love welcoming birthday boys and girls on the day itself - it’s such a fun way to begin their big day. However you choose to mark the moment, this milestone is a beautiful celebration of your baby’s incredible first year.

12 Months & Beyond

From 12 months onwards, toddlers enter a stage of discovery, independence, and endless curiosity. Whether they’re taking their first wobbly steps, babbling proudly, or simply soaking up the world around them - it’s a time rich with emotion and energy. Every toddler session is guided at your little one’s pace. We create space for both playful exploration and quiet, tender moments - capturing everything from cheeky grins to thoughtful glances. Toddler milestones are perfect anytime your child is on the move, and these portraits often become treasured keepsakes of a fleeting stage. Their confidence is growing, their personality is shining and their story quickly unfolding.

Overall Recommendation - Every Baby, Every Parent & Every Family is unique - the best time is...when you're ready!

Our most popular Milestone Club timeline includes:

– Newborn/Baby (within the first 14 days, or alternatively around 4 months)

– Sitter (around 8 months, or when your baby can sit confidently without support)

– First Birthday or Toddler Session (to mark that joyful one-year milestone)

Parents, siblings, grandparents and even the family pooch are all welcome and encouraged to join every experience, including maternity.

We believe family portraits are more than just pictures - they’re a legacy. You don’t get many opportunities to be in the frame with your little ones, which is why we’re strong advocates for getting involved and being present in the memories you’re creating.

"One day, all your children will have is photographs, make sure you're in them. No matter what your hair looks like, your makeup, or your body, they wont care about any of that, they will just want to see you."Let us help you give them that gift.

For your maternity milestone experience, it's not about how much you show - it’s about how you feel. Our goal is to create portraits that highlight your bump in a way that feels natural, comfortable, and truly you - whether you're fully clothed, softly draped, or somewhere in between. We offer a small selection of simple gowns for you to choose from - designed to photograph beautifully and keep the focus on you and your connection with baby. You’ll have the privacy of the studio to change at the start of your session, and we’ll gently guide you throughout to help you feel relaxed, confident, and radiant.

We only offer a limited number of Newborn Experiences each month to ensure every family receives the time, care, and attention they deserve. Booking in advance - secures your place in our diary while we still have availability for your due date month. By reserving your session ahead of time, we’re able to offer flexibility if your baby arrives earlier or later than expected. However, once your little one has arrived, we can’t always guarantee last-minute availability, as our diary tends to fill quickly. Booking early means one less thing to worry about - and peace of mind knowing your baby’s first portraits are beautifully taken care of.

As specialists in newborn photography, we completely understand that babies don’t always arrive on schedule - and that’s absolutely fine! The date we initially book in our diary is simply a placeholder based on your due date. Once your little one arrives (whether earlier or later than expected), just keep in touch and we’ll adjust your session date accordingly. We allow room in our schedule to be flexible, so there’s no need to worry - we’ll make sure your experience is perfectly timed to capture those precious early days.

The ideal window for true newborn portraits isn’t just about age — it can also vary based on your baby’s birth weight, which affects how curled, sleepy, and settled they may be for their session. For this reason, we can only finalise your session date once your little one has arrived.

As a general guide:

– 6lb and under at birth – portraits can usually be captured up to 21 days

– 6lb to 8lb – ideally within 14 days

– Over 8lb – best scheduled within 7–10 days

Booking in advance allows us to hold space in our diary around your due date, while staying flexible once baby is here. Just let us know when they arrive, and we’ll help you time the session perfectly to capture them in that beautifully sleepy, snuggly newborn stage.

Absolutely — we know your furry friends are just as much a part of the family, and they’re more than welcome to be included in your session! We just ask that you let us know in your booking details so we can plan ahead and ensure the studio is ready to welcome them too. With a little preparation, we’ll create beautiful portraits that include every member of your family — paws and all.