A few weeks ago, a family arrived at my Wake Forest studio for their newborn photography session. As we were getting settled, the new parents mentioned that they weren’t sure they wanted to be in the photographs.

And I understood completely.

Should parents be in newborn photos?

I always encourage parents to be part of their baby’s newborn photos, even if they don’t feel completely camera-ready. These photographs aren’t only about remembering what your baby looked like—they show your child how tiny they once were in your arms and what it looked like to belong to your family from the very beginning.

Those first weeks with a newborn can feel like a blur. You are bone-tired. Your body doesn’t feel like your own. You’ve probably spent considerably more time thinking about feeding schedules and diaper changes than what you’re going to wear for photographs.

Sometimes it feels easier to say, Let’s just photograph the baby.

So I told them something I find myself telling new parents often:

These photographs aren’t only for you right now. They’re also for your child later.

Someday, she’ll want to see you there

I’ve been photographing babies and families for nearly 18 years, but I’ve been a mom even longer. My oldest is 20 now.

And one of the things both experiences have taught me is that photographs change as they age.

When we’re making them, it’s easy to see everything through the lens of right now:

I’m exhausted.

I don’t feel like myself.

I don’t know what to wear.

The baby is the important part anyway.

But twenty years later, those aren’t the things that matter.

You notice how impossibly small your child once looked in your arms. You remember the way they fit against your chest. You see the tiny hand wrapped around your finger.

And your child gets something you may not be thinking about when they’re two weeks old: the chance to see you at the beginning of their story.

They get to see the way you held them. The way their dad looked at them. The hands that soothed them. The people who were completely in love with them before they could possibly remember it.

They get to see what it looked like to belong to you.

And that’s something photographs of your baby alone simply can’t tell them.

You don’t have to feel your best to belong in the photograph

I never want to dismiss how vulnerable being photographed can feel after having a baby.

Your body has just done something enormous. You’re recovering. You’re exhausted. You may not quite recognize yourself yet.

So I’m not going to tell you that you should feel beautiful or that you should want to be photographed.

I’m just going to ask you to think beyond how you feel about the photograph today.

Because the value of a photograph changes with time.

Ten or twenty or forty years from now, you’re unlikely to care about many of the things that made you hesitate.

But your child may care very much that you were there.

You don’t have to have everything figured out, either

Part of my job as a newborn photographer is making this experience as easy as I can for you.

You don’t need to arrive perfectly rested. You don’t need an elaborate wardrobe. You don’t need to know what looks good on camera or what to do with your hands. And you certainly don’t need a newborn who promises to sleep peacefully through the entire session.

I’ll help you with all of that.

I keep wardrobe options here at the studio so you don’t have to find something new to wear unless you want to. I’ll guide you into poses that feel natural and flattering. We’ll stop when your baby needs to eat, be changed, or simply needs a little extra time in your arms.

You don’t need to show up knowing how to make beautiful newborn photographs.

That’s my job.

The mom from that recent session later left me a Google review and described the experience this way:

“The process was so easy, smooth, and completely stress free…as an exhausted first time mom, I didn’t even have to think about what we had to wear that day!”

And then, at the end:

“We will treasure these photos forever.”

That, right there, is why I encourage parents to step into the photograph.

Your newborn photos aren’t only about your newborn

Of course we’ll photograph all the things you already know you’re going to want to remember: those tiny fingers and toes, the sleepy expressions, the wispy hair, the way your baby curls up against you.

But a newborn photography session isn’t only about documenting what your baby looked like.

It’s about documenting who you were together at the very beginning.

Maybe this baby made you parents for the first time. Maybe they joined older siblings and changed the shape of a family that already existed.

Either way, this is the beginning of something new.

And you belong in that story, too.

So if you arrive at my studio and tell me, “I’m not sure I want to be in the pictures,” I won’t pressure you.

I understand.

But I probably will gently remind you:

These photographs aren’t only for you now. They’re also for them later.

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If you’re expecting a baby in Raleigh, Wake Forest, or the surrounding area and you’re looking for a relaxed newborn photography experience where you don’t have to have everything figured out before you arrive, I’d love to photograph this beginning for your family. Learn more about newborn photography with Christy Johnson Photography.

Sometimes you want to document the whole season.

And sometimes you just want to remember this one little thing.

Maybe your baby just learned to sit up and suddenly looks impossibly proud of herself. Maybe you’re pregnant and want a few beautiful portraits of this changing body, but want to keep things simple and focused just on you. Or maybe you’re welcoming a new baby and want photographs that tell the bigger story — not just what your newborn looks like, but what it feels like to be your family right now.

Those are different things to photograph. And they don’t necessarily need the same kind of session.

That’s why I offer two ways to work with me for maternity and baby portraits: Signature Sessions and Petite Sessions.

The Signature Session: when you want the whole story

Signature Sessions are my full portrait experience and are designed to give us time to slow down, settle in, and create a varied gallery of your family.

For a newborn session, that means photographs of your baby alone, siblings together, each parent with the baby, your whole family, and all of those tiny in-between moments that happen along the way.

For maternity or baby sessions, we have time for different combinations of family images, wardrobe changes, and plenty of room for little ones to warm up without feeling rushed.

Signature Sessions include wardrobe styling guidance, access to my studio wardrobe for mothers and babies, and a hand-edited gallery of 40+ images to choose from.

There’s no hard time limit. Most sessions run about an hour to an hour and a half, and newborn sessions go as long as needed to allow for feeding, soothing, and those sleepy baby poses.

Signature Sessions are the right fit if:

• You’re booking a newborn session.
• You want your whole family included.
• You want time for different groupings, interactions, or wardrobe changes.
• You want a relaxed session without watching the clock.
• You want the widest selection and the most flexibility in your image gallery.
• This feels like a chapter you want to document fully.

INQUIRE ABOUT A SIGNATURE SESSION

The Petite Session: when you want to remember one little moment

Petite Sessions are intentionally smaller.

These 30-minute weekday studio sessions are designed for one person. They’re perfect for maternity portraits or for documenting your baby anytime between 3 and 12 months — whether there’s a particular milestone to celebrate or you just don’t want this stage to slip by.

Think: the bump. The sitter stage. Those delicious baby rolls. The first birthday. That sweet little expression you know isn’t going to last forever.

Petite Sessions still include access to my studio wardrobe and the same gently guided approach and hand editing as my Signature Sessions. The difference is simply the scope: less time, one subject, and a smaller gallery of approximately 20 images.

Petite Sessions are the right fit if:

• You want to document one specific stage or milestone.
• The focus is just on you or your baby.
• You prefer something short and simple.
• You don’t need a large, varied gallery.
• You still want beautiful, thoughtfully created portraits without a full session.

INQUIRE ABOUT A PETITE SESSION

Still not sure?

Here’s the simplest way to think about it:

One person → Petite
More than one person → Signature

That’s genuinely it most of the time. If you’re an expecting mom who wants gorgeous maternity portraits of just herself, or you want to capture your seven-month-old’s chunky-roll phase without the whole production, then Petite is your session.

If you want your connection to your partner and your baby included (my specialty!), or you’re welcoming a new baby, Signature is the one.

And if you’re still on the fence after reading this, just reach out. I’m always happy to help you figure out what makes the most sense for where you are right now.

Contact Me for Details and Availability

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Christy Johnson Photography serves maternity, newborn, and baby’s first year families in Wake Forest, Raleigh, and the surrounding Triangle area.

When you’re pregnant, two weeks sounds like plenty of time.

Two weeks to settle in. Two weeks to get the hang of feeding. Two weeks to catch your breath before you think about scheduling anything else.

But after nearly 17 years of photographing newborns, I’ve learned that most parents underestimate just how quickly those first days pass.

One minute you’re bringing your baby home from the hospital. The next, you’re packing away newborn clothes that suddenly don’t fit anymore.

If you’ve been wondering about the best time for newborn photos, the answer for most families is within the first two weeks after birth. Here’s why photographers love this brief and beautiful season so much.

What Makes the First Two Weeks So Special?

In the early days after birth, your baby is still transitioning from life inside the womb.

Their tiny fists stay curled close to their face. Their knees naturally tuck toward their chest. They sleep deeply and stretch slowly, as though they haven’t quite realized they’re no longer floating in that warm, familiar space.

This is the stage newborn photographers are referring to when they talk about the “newborn phase.”

It’s not simply about your baby’s age.

It’s about a brief season when your baby still carries many of the characteristics that make newborn portraits so timeless and recognizable.

As the weeks pass, babies begin to unfurl. They become more alert, more expressive, and more interested in the world around them. Their sleep becomes lighter and less predictable.

It’s all wonderful (and worthy of photographing, don’t get me wrong!)

But it’s different.

And once this stage passes, it doesn’t come back.

Why Timing Matters for Newborn Photos

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the photographs created during days 5–14 often have a different feel than those taken later.

During this window, babies tend to be sleepier and more settled, which allows for those peaceful, curled-up portraits many parents imagine when they think of newborn photography.

As babies grow, sessions naturally shift. We capture more eye contact, more expressions, and more of their emerging personality.

Both stages are beautiful.

But if your heart is drawn to those classic newborn images – the tiny fingers, sleepy stretches, and womb-like poses – the first couple of weeks are often the ideal time.

The Most Common Thing Parents Tell Me

There is one phrase I hear over and over again:

“I didn’t realize how fast it would go.”

Not because parents aren’t paying attention.

Quite the opposite.

Those early weeks are full.

You’re recovering. You’re feeding around the clock. You’re learning your baby’s cues. You’re soaking in every tiny detail while somehow also functioning on very little sleep.

It’s a beautiful blur.

And because you’re so immersed in it, it can be difficult to see how quickly your baby is changing day by day.

After photographing hundreds of newborns, I’ve learned that parents rarely regret taking newborn photos.

What they sometimes regret is waiting until they had “more time.”

Because somehow, that time never quite arrives.

How to Make Sure You Don’t Miss the Window

The good news is that preserving this season doesn’t require stress or complicated planning.

In fact, the best time to book your newborn photographer is during pregnancy.

When you reserve your newborn session with me during pregnancy, I hold space on my calendar around your due date. Once your little one arrives, we’ll choose the actual session date within that ideal newborn window.

If you’re wondering exactly when to reach out, I’ve written a full guide on when to schedule newborn photos that walks you through the timing in more detail.

Planning ahead means one less thing to think about once you’re holding your baby in your arms.

What a Newborn Session Actually Looks Like

One concern I hear from first-time parents is that they’re worried a newborn session will feel stressful or overwhelming.

The reality is quite the opposite.

My Wake Forest studio is designed to be calm, comfortable, and baby-led.

There is no rushing.

There is no expectation that your baby will perform on cue.

We pause for feedings. We stop for cuddles. We follow your baby’s lead throughout the session.

Before your session, I’ll help with wardrobe planning and answer any questions you may have. On session day, I’ll gently guide you through everything, from posing to soothing techniques and transitions.

You don’t need to know what to do.

You simply get to show up and love on your baby.

Thinking Beyond the Newborn Stage

Many families begin by planning newborn photos, only to realize how quickly the entire first year unfolds.

One moment you’re counting kicks. The next you’re celebrating first smiles, sitting up, and first birthdays.

That’s why some families choose a newborn session on its own, while others choose the First Year Anthology, which allows us to document pregnancy, newborn days, and baby’s first year as one cohesive story.

There’s no right or wrong choice.

The important thing is preserving the moments that matter most to your family.

A Note for Expecting Parents

If you’re reading this while pregnant, take a deep breath.

You do not need to have every detail figured out today.

You don’t need to know exactly what you’ll wear.

You don’t need to know which images you’ll love most.

You simply need a little bit of planning.

Because one day you’ll realize your baby doesn’t curl up quite the same way anymore.

And you’ll be glad you took the time to preserve those tiny details while they were still here.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re expecting and considering newborn photos, I’d love to help you plan a relaxed, meaningful experience that feels true to your family.

You may also find these resources helpful:

• When Should You Schedule Newborn Photos?
• What to Expect From a Newborn Photography Session
• How Much Does Newborn Photography Cost?
• Are Maternity Photos Worth It?

When you’re ready, you can learn more about newborn sessions or reach out to reserve your spot.

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